Medical Funds
Donation protected
Well, I'm swallowing my pride and trying this site out.
A little about me. At age 14 I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and full renal failure. Right after my 15th birthday I was put on dialysis. My high school years were spent in and out of the hospital. When I was 17 my mother donated one of her kidneys to me. I had some issues and related surgeries after that, but no more dialysis.
After 7 years the kidney failed and I was back in the hospital and put back on dialysis. Things seemed to go downhill quickly that time around. Working a few years, and only being in my mid 20s, I could barely walk and was sick all the time. I was on the donor list but nothing was coming up. Due to my failing health my doctor recommended asking relatives to consider donating a kidney. My older brother did not hesitate! We went through all of the testing and then went through the transplant surgery. Things seemed to be working great! It was a great match! But after a couple of months I got very sick. During the testing, they missed an antibody that my brother had in his system that I did not. It entered my system and treated my own blood cells as a disease and was killing them. I was receiving transfusions weekly and in and out of the hospital for months while going through tests to try and figure it out. After five months I was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to see if they could help. The doctors said that I may not live much longer so this was the last resort. Saying goodbye to my two baby girls before getting on that plane was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life!
After weeks of torture (tests) the doctors at the Mayo Clinic found the fix!
It was a slow and rough progress but it worked. I have had very few issues since then. I have had this kidney for almost 13 years!
Now, at age 40, problems have arose. My wife had to take me to the emergency room in the middle if the night due to severe vertigo, headache and vomiting. My blood pressure was insanely high and my kidney function was not doing well. I spent most of the week in the hospital to get the blood pressure under control. A week after getting back home I was back in the emergency room for the same problem. I have now been diagnosed with a new disease to add to my kidney disease and hypertension. I have menier's disease. From what the doctor says, and what I have researched, it can be manageable with the medicine and strict diet. So far it isn't easy to walk across a room and I am afraid to drive. I hope it gets better!
I went from no medicine a month ago to now taking 10-12 pills a day. I have been at one of my three doctors' offices twice a week and the hospital bills are just now starting to show up. I hope to be back at work soon, after overa month off, but will be missing for "bad spells" and continued doctor visits.
I have a job (same company for almost 8 years) and don't expect anyone else to take care of my family. That is my job. But, like I said at the beginning, I am swallowing my pride and asking for help to get through a rough time.
Anything you can do to help my family is greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
A little about me. At age 14 I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and full renal failure. Right after my 15th birthday I was put on dialysis. My high school years were spent in and out of the hospital. When I was 17 my mother donated one of her kidneys to me. I had some issues and related surgeries after that, but no more dialysis.
After 7 years the kidney failed and I was back in the hospital and put back on dialysis. Things seemed to go downhill quickly that time around. Working a few years, and only being in my mid 20s, I could barely walk and was sick all the time. I was on the donor list but nothing was coming up. Due to my failing health my doctor recommended asking relatives to consider donating a kidney. My older brother did not hesitate! We went through all of the testing and then went through the transplant surgery. Things seemed to be working great! It was a great match! But after a couple of months I got very sick. During the testing, they missed an antibody that my brother had in his system that I did not. It entered my system and treated my own blood cells as a disease and was killing them. I was receiving transfusions weekly and in and out of the hospital for months while going through tests to try and figure it out. After five months I was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to see if they could help. The doctors said that I may not live much longer so this was the last resort. Saying goodbye to my two baby girls before getting on that plane was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life!
After weeks of torture (tests) the doctors at the Mayo Clinic found the fix!
It was a slow and rough progress but it worked. I have had very few issues since then. I have had this kidney for almost 13 years!
Now, at age 40, problems have arose. My wife had to take me to the emergency room in the middle if the night due to severe vertigo, headache and vomiting. My blood pressure was insanely high and my kidney function was not doing well. I spent most of the week in the hospital to get the blood pressure under control. A week after getting back home I was back in the emergency room for the same problem. I have now been diagnosed with a new disease to add to my kidney disease and hypertension. I have menier's disease. From what the doctor says, and what I have researched, it can be manageable with the medicine and strict diet. So far it isn't easy to walk across a room and I am afraid to drive. I hope it gets better!
I went from no medicine a month ago to now taking 10-12 pills a day. I have been at one of my three doctors' offices twice a week and the hospital bills are just now starting to show up. I hope to be back at work soon, after overa month off, but will be missing for "bad spells" and continued doctor visits.
I have a job (same company for almost 8 years) and don't expect anyone else to take care of my family. That is my job. But, like I said at the beginning, I am swallowing my pride and asking for help to get through a rough time.
Anything you can do to help my family is greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Organizer
Chris Burns
Organizer
