Dr Allie Smith Needs a Kidney Transplant

Young physician needs a kidney transplant so she can finish residency and resume caring for others. Lupus reared its ugly head during her internship, but she persevered well into her second year of training.

She tells her story below:

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her." Luke 1:45 is scripture I have clung to since my teenage years.

"Hey there! My name is Alison, but most call me Allie. I was diagnosed with lupus just before my 18th birthday. Working closely with my physicians to adjust medications, I was able to complete college and eventually earned my Doctor of Medicine. From the beginning, lupus caused countless obstacles, most of which I successfully navigated, but nothing could have prepared me for all that occurred after I began my internal medicine residency training.

In January of 2024, I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and started on hemodialysis. I adjusted my expectations and career plans, thinking I could continue my training by doing home dialysis in the evenings after work. Little did I know that I would spend the rest of the year in and out of the hospital. I became so ill that I had to be placed on the ventilator twice. Eventually, it was discovered that I also had Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). My initial diagnosis of autoimmune lupus was hard to accept, but this new finding was devastating news. However, after all the tears, I recalled Luke 1:45 and knew that God was not done with me and would fulfill his promises to me. Amazingly, the right medication has significantly restored my lung function and I no longer require oxygen supplementation!

My work family became my medical team. They went above and beyond to save my life, and for that, I am so grateful. After four months in the hospital, I was deemed stable enough to return home but not yet medically released to work. Currently, I am preparing for a kidney transplant which will enable me to return to residency. As you can imagine, this places a major financial burden on my family and me. My amazing work family includes the physicians, nurses, therapists, as well as the graduate school support staff. They have been supportive throughout this entire journey. Once I used all the available banked sick leave, I am facing huge insurance, hospital, and other medical costs. I am grateful for the support through this GoFundMe to help with my current expenses. Any dollar amount is truly appreciated. Also, please keep me in your prayers, as I am a strong believer in the power of prayer.