Gregory’s Kidney Transplant Journey

Hi, my name is Tonia Douglas. I am the wife of Gregory Douglas.

 Imagine watching your loved one once, so full of life and, now their health begins to deteriorate within a matter of months right before your eyes.  This is what my husband Gregory and I experienced once COVID-19 struck. In July 2020 my husband and I both contracted COVID-19. This was at the tip of the uncertainty of what happens once you contracted this devastating, life threatening illness. Before vaccines and immunity! Before anyone knew the affects it would have on the body, both mentally and physically.

    Prior to COVID, my husband and I were already living with limited physical conditions resulting from serving in the United States Armed Forces. During his period of COVID-19, Gregory suffered additional health issues such as Major Depression, CHF (Congestive Heart Failure), Heart Surgery, Uncontrollable Type 2 Diabetes, increased High Blood Pressure, Eye Surgery, Pneumonia and Gout, to name a few. In a 6 month period, Gregory was admitted to ICU every month (sometimes more than once a month).  Due to the seriousness of his health conditions, in less than one month, Gregory experienced drastic weight loss from 235 lbs to 160 lbs.   As a long sufferer, Gregory remains under several doctor's care as a result of the COVID virus. Outside of the 911 calls and transports to the ER, my niece and I had to pick Gregory up from the floor and transport him ourselves to the ER.  At that time, he was experiencing an episode of Syncope, which is an incurable but treatable condition that causes the blood pressure to quickly drop without warning, causing unconsciousness. Even with treatment by medication, the episodes will continue to happen unexpectedly.   The medication is not for daily consumption.  It's only used following the episodes to rapidly stabilize the blood pressure. 

    While dealing with my own physical and mental health issues, his health and welfare has become my first priority. After many hospital admissions and doctor visits, Gregory was diagnosed with End-Stage Kidney Failure in May 2021 and placed on dialysis. Gregory now relies on his dialysis treatment in order to survive.  EVERYDAY for 9 hours he’s connected to a machine which serves as his kidney functions. As dialysis takes a toll on the physical body, the life expectancy of a dialysis patient is 5 years and the average wait time for a deceased kidney donor is 5 to 7 years, unless the donor is a living donor.   Next month marks 2 years for Gregory as a dialysis patient.  Everyday, is a race for more time to live.  

    Married for 38 years and witnessing the devastation this ordeal has been for my husband, I’ve decided to go through the process of being a potential kidney donor.  Gregory has been accepted to a transplant center outside of our hometown. Our appointments are either early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. In order to beat the high traffic volumes we have to leave very early or stay overnight in the city near his treatment center. We also have to make arrangements for our grandson whom we have raised from birth as well as accommodations for our 3 pets. Scheduled or not, day or night, no matter the time, we must be available to travel at any given notice.  

    Due to the many challenges we’ve had to face, continue to face and, the unforeseen circumstances we're experiencing, we have exhausted all of our own financial resources as well as those that have been made available to us.  As private as we have always been, we have now opened the door to our lives to others seeking help.  This entire process has created a great deal of stress for us, both physically and mentally.  To help alleviate some of the financial stress, which includes, travels to and from appointments (before surgery, surgery, and recovery), many, many, medical bills, expensive indefinite anti-rejection medications, after surgery home care and, basic living expenses (house payment, utilities, car payments, etc).  We're asking you as family, friends, neighbors and others who, are willing to help for any size donation that your heart is willing to contribute to help us along this journey.   Any size donation is a huge help and, no donation is too small.

To inquire about a kidney donation on my behalf:    

Please contact:   

  

University North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill 

Amy Woodard, RN, BSN, CNN,

Living Donor Coordinator 

Telephone:  1-984-974-7568

UNC Center For Transplant Care 

[email redacted].edu

Lastly, if you’re not already an organ donor please, take some time to research and reconsider. The average organ donor can save eight lives when their life has come to an end.  Be someone's hero and save their life.           

"Thank you all" for taking the time to read, support and share our story to your social media outlets in hopes that someone (my Angel/Hero) will see this post and have the desire to donate a kidney and save my life.    "Thank you all" for your continued thoughts and much needed prayers.