Ernesto Jr's "Road to a Donor" Fund
Donation protected
Here' a little story about me.
My name is Ernesto "JR" and I am 42 years old. I have a 19 year old son named James (who is studying @ Cal State East Bay to be a Special Need’s Teacher) and finally my 12 year old daughter, Hailey, who loves to compete in dance and also loves Science.
I HAVE KEPT SOMEWHAT QUIET ABOUT THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF MY HEALTH AND MASKING IT WITH SMILES AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. I AM FINALLY COMING AROUND TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I AM NOT WELL, IM ACTUALLY SICK, VERY SICK. I AM AT THE END STAGE (LAST STAGE - STAGE 5) OF MY RENAL DISEASE & FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE. KIDNEY FAILURE
I worked for the City of Palo Alto for 11 years as a Youth & Teen Development Coordinator and Coached basketball for both Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School. I later started working for the County of San Mateo's homeless population were I was a Case Worker for the Family/Children's Homeless Shelter called FIRST STEP. There I helped homeless families with housing, food and job search. I was later promoted to Case Manager for the County's Veteran's Program working at the VA Menlo Park. I was doing the SSVF Housing Vets program for Samaritan House where I also helped civilian families who needed rental assistance as well as medical and food assistance. On the side, I started my non-profit 501c Youth Basketball Program in my local community in 2007 where each season I would have 120 kids and families active in my basketball camps and competitive AAU Teams. I love community services and volunteering! =)
As you can see, I am very much into creating & helping community and youth development. I helped coordinate many fundraisers for the local children's homeless shelters as well as teaming up with the New Haven Teacher's Association on various events and charities for the past 8 years.
After being diagnosed with Kidney Failure, the life style i was used to completely stopped. I dont smoke, dont drink and never ever did any drugs. I am not diabetic so this was a SURPRISE! I am on medical leave now from the job that I LOVED and my beloved Union City Raptors Basketball Program is now retired. For those who know me, you knew my typical work day was my 9am-5pm job followed by 6-9pm coaching basketball four days a week followed by Sat/Sun all day tournaments. Some weekends you can find me either DJing events with my 2 kids(who DJ also) or watching my daughter compete with her Dance Studio. Somewhere in between all this, i am working on my hobby which is car show events and traveling!
My days/weeks now consist of four days a week (4-5 hours per day) of Hemo-Dialysis. After each treament I am weak and super fatigued and lay on the couch for a few hours just resting & trying to recover. Thurs and Saturdays are my free days where all i want to do i spend it with kids and Sharon. Sundays I'm pretty weak and fatigued and just recover/rest at home in bed. I am in a wheel chair 4-5 days a weak cause I am so exhausted.
I am on a fixed income thru disability and with the HIGH COST of hemo-dialysis and medications I am afraid I will have to cut 1 day of treatment and shorten the hours per week to afford it. With less treatments, quality of life with go down and so will my health.
On a fixed income thru disabilty, I recieve almost nothing after life expenses are spent (rent, food, car payment, kids, etc....) OMG what do we do?? !!! Medicine per month is out of pocket about $300 per month. Dialysis is roughly $4,000 PER MONTH for just treatments (I am on Kaiser Platinum by the way). Patients here without insurance pay $25-30K PER MONTH! When I got sick in early January 2015 with a Perotinitis Infection in my perotoneal dialysis cathedor, My 1 week hospital stay and 4 surgeries was $45,000 WITH KAISER INSURANCE. All my savings went to pay off that bill.
Sadly, I need help with upcoming medical expenses and procedures ONLY. Dialysis and Medicine fees are outrageous. Any amount will help and if you can not, it's ok! Kindly & please just send me a prayer or good vibe! And if you see me at the store, car show or movie theater, give me a hug, i like those too = )
If you are interested in getting tested to be a match for a donor transplant, lmk and i can get your info = )
Junior
My name is Ernesto "JR" and I am 42 years old. I have a 19 year old son named James (who is studying @ Cal State East Bay to be a Special Need’s Teacher) and finally my 12 year old daughter, Hailey, who loves to compete in dance and also loves Science.
I HAVE KEPT SOMEWHAT QUIET ABOUT THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF MY HEALTH AND MASKING IT WITH SMILES AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. I AM FINALLY COMING AROUND TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I AM NOT WELL, IM ACTUALLY SICK, VERY SICK. I AM AT THE END STAGE (LAST STAGE - STAGE 5) OF MY RENAL DISEASE & FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE. KIDNEY FAILURE
I worked for the City of Palo Alto for 11 years as a Youth & Teen Development Coordinator and Coached basketball for both Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School. I later started working for the County of San Mateo's homeless population were I was a Case Worker for the Family/Children's Homeless Shelter called FIRST STEP. There I helped homeless families with housing, food and job search. I was later promoted to Case Manager for the County's Veteran's Program working at the VA Menlo Park. I was doing the SSVF Housing Vets program for Samaritan House where I also helped civilian families who needed rental assistance as well as medical and food assistance. On the side, I started my non-profit 501c Youth Basketball Program in my local community in 2007 where each season I would have 120 kids and families active in my basketball camps and competitive AAU Teams. I love community services and volunteering! =)
As you can see, I am very much into creating & helping community and youth development. I helped coordinate many fundraisers for the local children's homeless shelters as well as teaming up with the New Haven Teacher's Association on various events and charities for the past 8 years.
After being diagnosed with Kidney Failure, the life style i was used to completely stopped. I dont smoke, dont drink and never ever did any drugs. I am not diabetic so this was a SURPRISE! I am on medical leave now from the job that I LOVED and my beloved Union City Raptors Basketball Program is now retired. For those who know me, you knew my typical work day was my 9am-5pm job followed by 6-9pm coaching basketball four days a week followed by Sat/Sun all day tournaments. Some weekends you can find me either DJing events with my 2 kids(who DJ also) or watching my daughter compete with her Dance Studio. Somewhere in between all this, i am working on my hobby which is car show events and traveling!
My days/weeks now consist of four days a week (4-5 hours per day) of Hemo-Dialysis. After each treament I am weak and super fatigued and lay on the couch for a few hours just resting & trying to recover. Thurs and Saturdays are my free days where all i want to do i spend it with kids and Sharon. Sundays I'm pretty weak and fatigued and just recover/rest at home in bed. I am in a wheel chair 4-5 days a weak cause I am so exhausted.
I am on a fixed income thru disability and with the HIGH COST of hemo-dialysis and medications I am afraid I will have to cut 1 day of treatment and shorten the hours per week to afford it. With less treatments, quality of life with go down and so will my health.
On a fixed income thru disabilty, I recieve almost nothing after life expenses are spent (rent, food, car payment, kids, etc....) OMG what do we do?? !!! Medicine per month is out of pocket about $300 per month. Dialysis is roughly $4,000 PER MONTH for just treatments (I am on Kaiser Platinum by the way). Patients here without insurance pay $25-30K PER MONTH! When I got sick in early January 2015 with a Perotinitis Infection in my perotoneal dialysis cathedor, My 1 week hospital stay and 4 surgeries was $45,000 WITH KAISER INSURANCE. All my savings went to pay off that bill.
Sadly, I need help with upcoming medical expenses and procedures ONLY. Dialysis and Medicine fees are outrageous. Any amount will help and if you can not, it's ok! Kindly & please just send me a prayer or good vibe! And if you see me at the store, car show or movie theater, give me a hug, i like those too = )
If you are interested in getting tested to be a match for a donor transplant, lmk and i can get your info = )
Junior
Organizer
Ernesto Jr Sarmiento
Organizer
Hayward, CA