Granny Trisha's Kidney Fund
Donation protected
Granny Trisha's Kidney Transplant
There comes a time in life when you realize that you need help. I have come to that time. I’m Bill Proffitt asking for some needed financial help with my wife Trisha Proffitt’s kidney transplant. Granny Trisha has been the light of my life and our family’s life for over 30 years through three children and four grandchildren. Throughout her life, she has been a fighter and inspiration for all of us in our family. I am encouraging you in joining me making sure Granny Trisha has the funds needed for this expensive and lifesaving operation at Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) in Seattle, WA.
Friends and family encouraged us to create this GoFundMe page to help with the tremendous financial burden that accompany Granny Trisha’s kidney transplant. While our medical insurance will cover the medical aspects of both the donor and recipient, there are many additional costs. Removing the financial worries allows Trish and our daughter Katie who is donating the kidney to focus their energies on a successful transplant and recovery.
Granny Trisha has been battling Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for some time. Over the last year, her kidney function numbers have been dropping steadily. She has now reached CKD Stage 5 or end stage. The kidney transplant procedure is the first line treatment for CKD. Granny Trisha is now working with the Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) in Seattle, WA for the transplant procedure.
I am Granny Trisha’s designated attendant and caregiver. I am a retired US Army First Sergeant disabled in the service to our country. I retired from the Army Medical Department as a medic, which comes in handy for the job ahead.
Both Granny Trisha and I are retired, living on fixed pensions making this very difficult on us.
My dad was a jazz musician, and always said "Live Music Is Best". In this case, a live donor kidney is best. Kidneys from live transplant donors usually last a lifetime. Harvested kidneys are a giant unknown, and do not last as long as a kidney from a live donor. In addition, transplanted kidneys do not last as long in people who have started dialysis since dialysis has its own issues. The live donor kidney transplant is the preferred treatment.
Our daughter Katie has graciously offered to donate one of her kidneys. Katie’s siblings have offered to donate as a backup. We are in the process of Katie’s evaluation.
Our family is very fortunate for the medical insurance coverage however, this still leaves our family very short of the significant costs not covered by the insurance.
Costs such as:
+ Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) requires both Granny Trisha and me as caregiver to live temporarily in Seattle away from our home in southwest Thurston County for at least 30 to possibly 60 days after the surgery for possible medical complications.
+ VMTC additionally requires Katie and her caregiver to live temporarily in Seattle away from her husband and 2 school age children for about 14 to 21 days to ensure she is healing well enough to return home. She will finish her recovery at home with her family.
+ Housing in Seattle is very expensive, especially in the downtown area where the Transplant Center is located.
+ Travel costs between our home and VTMC for continuing testing, evaluations, appointments, and exams. It is about 150 miles round trip plus the $30/day parking while at the hospital. After Trisha comes home, there will still be 12 appointments per month tapering off as she heals.
+ Travel costs for Katie and her caregiver from Portland to Virginia Mason Transplant Center for her testing, evaluations, appointments, and exams. It is 370 miles round trip with the same $30/day parking costs.
+ The loss of wages for Katie both before the surgery and up to 30 day to 60 days after her surgery. Her work does not provide sick time or make up lost wages.
No donation is too small. If you cannot contribute financially, please share the link through your social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
As you can tell by the 5+ years waiting time for a deceased donor kidney, there are not enough live donors to go around. If you would like information on donating a kidney, please call the VMTC Kidney Donor Information Line Transplant Program toll free at (800) [phone redacted] ext. 11201 or direct at (206) [phone redacted]
For more information on kidney transplantation
Please go to the website of the Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC)
Virginia Mason Transplant Center Web Page
Thank you very much from the entire Proffitt Family
There comes a time in life when you realize that you need help. I have come to that time. I’m Bill Proffitt asking for some needed financial help with my wife Trisha Proffitt’s kidney transplant. Granny Trisha has been the light of my life and our family’s life for over 30 years through three children and four grandchildren. Throughout her life, she has been a fighter and inspiration for all of us in our family. I am encouraging you in joining me making sure Granny Trisha has the funds needed for this expensive and lifesaving operation at Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) in Seattle, WA.
Friends and family encouraged us to create this GoFundMe page to help with the tremendous financial burden that accompany Granny Trisha’s kidney transplant. While our medical insurance will cover the medical aspects of both the donor and recipient, there are many additional costs. Removing the financial worries allows Trish and our daughter Katie who is donating the kidney to focus their energies on a successful transplant and recovery.
Granny Trisha has been battling Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for some time. Over the last year, her kidney function numbers have been dropping steadily. She has now reached CKD Stage 5 or end stage. The kidney transplant procedure is the first line treatment for CKD. Granny Trisha is now working with the Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) in Seattle, WA for the transplant procedure.
I am Granny Trisha’s designated attendant and caregiver. I am a retired US Army First Sergeant disabled in the service to our country. I retired from the Army Medical Department as a medic, which comes in handy for the job ahead.
Both Granny Trisha and I are retired, living on fixed pensions making this very difficult on us.
My dad was a jazz musician, and always said "Live Music Is Best". In this case, a live donor kidney is best. Kidneys from live transplant donors usually last a lifetime. Harvested kidneys are a giant unknown, and do not last as long as a kidney from a live donor. In addition, transplanted kidneys do not last as long in people who have started dialysis since dialysis has its own issues. The live donor kidney transplant is the preferred treatment.
Our daughter Katie has graciously offered to donate one of her kidneys. Katie’s siblings have offered to donate as a backup. We are in the process of Katie’s evaluation.
Our family is very fortunate for the medical insurance coverage however, this still leaves our family very short of the significant costs not covered by the insurance.
Costs such as:
+ Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC) requires both Granny Trisha and me as caregiver to live temporarily in Seattle away from our home in southwest Thurston County for at least 30 to possibly 60 days after the surgery for possible medical complications.
+ VMTC additionally requires Katie and her caregiver to live temporarily in Seattle away from her husband and 2 school age children for about 14 to 21 days to ensure she is healing well enough to return home. She will finish her recovery at home with her family.
+ Housing in Seattle is very expensive, especially in the downtown area where the Transplant Center is located.
+ Travel costs between our home and VTMC for continuing testing, evaluations, appointments, and exams. It is about 150 miles round trip plus the $30/day parking while at the hospital. After Trisha comes home, there will still be 12 appointments per month tapering off as she heals.
+ Travel costs for Katie and her caregiver from Portland to Virginia Mason Transplant Center for her testing, evaluations, appointments, and exams. It is 370 miles round trip with the same $30/day parking costs.
+ The loss of wages for Katie both before the surgery and up to 30 day to 60 days after her surgery. Her work does not provide sick time or make up lost wages.
No donation is too small. If you cannot contribute financially, please share the link through your social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
As you can tell by the 5+ years waiting time for a deceased donor kidney, there are not enough live donors to go around. If you would like information on donating a kidney, please call the VMTC Kidney Donor Information Line Transplant Program toll free at (800) [phone redacted] ext. 11201 or direct at (206) [phone redacted]
For more information on kidney transplantation
Please go to the website of the Virginia Mason Transplant Center (VMTC)
Virginia Mason Transplant Center Web Page
Thank you very much from the entire Proffitt Family
Organizer
Bill Proffitt
Organizer
Olympia, WA
