Help Support Blake's Kidney Transplant

Hi, I’m Shawna, and I’m the proud mom of a brave 16—soon to be 17—year-old son named Blake.

We’re now heading into the next chapter of Blake’s kidney transplant journey. While he continues his daily dialysis treatments at home, the medical expenses have quickly become overwhelming. And as we prepare for transplant, the financial burden is only growing.

We’ve decided to reopen this GoFundMe to help ease the weight of some of the costs that come with this stage of Blake’s care, including:

And those are just a few.

We are so grateful for the support we've received already and humbled by those who continue to walk beside us in this journey. Every donation, share, and kind word means more than you know.

Thank you for standing with Team Blake.

Blake's Story:

At the end of January 2023, we noticed small reddish-purple spots on Blake’s feet and ankles. At first we thought they were bug bites — they would fade and come back for a few weeks. Then one day, his ankle became swollen and painful. We assumed maybe he twisted it while being a normal 14-year-old boy, out exploring with friends.

The next day, it was worse. He could barely walk. We made an appointment with his doctor — and that’s where everything changed.

Blake was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), now known as IgA Vasculitis, a rare inflammatory disease that affects small blood vessels — typically occurring in children. We were told it usually clears up on its own in 4–6 months with maybe a recurrence.

But this wasn't the case for Blake...

By late February, his joint pain was so severe he couldn’t walk or bend his limbs. The spots had turned into large, rashes that spread up his legs, abdomen, and arms. It reached a point where I had to feed him because he couldn’t bend his elbows enough to lift a fork.

We sought a second opinion, and that led to a discovery that changed everything — protein had started leaking into his urine, indicating kidney involvement.

Between March 2023–May 2023:

We were referred to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, NY. On March 1st, Blake saw both a rheumatologist (for his vasculitis) and a nephrologist (for his kidneys). Weekly blood work followed to monitor kidney function and protein levels.

On May 4th, a kidney biopsy revealed damage to the filters in his kidneys (Glomeruli). He was officially diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy — a more serious form of IgA Vasculitis that affects the kidneys long-term.

Over the summer and fall of 2023, Blake’s condition stabilized. His labs looked okay, and the rashes had cleared. But in November 2023, the vasculitis came back — worse than ever. Lab results showed more kidney damage: his body was spilling more protein and not filtering out the waste properly.

A second biopsy in February 2024 revealed his kidneys were functioning at about 70% — Stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). He was put on medications to slow the progression, but we were warned that dialysis or transplant might be necessary for him in the future probably in his twenties.

By late March 2024, Blake began retaining fluid and developing high blood pressure. A second opinion in Buffalo could provide no other options that what Golisano was already doing — but his body was not responding to treatments, with the exception of the IgA Vasculitis which has not been since but is currently considered "dormant" and has the potential to rear its ugly face again.

By August, his kidneys had deteriorated to Stage 3b CKD, and then suddenly to Stage 5 (End-Stage Renal Failure). He was admitted to the hospital multiple times, overloaded with fluid and struggling with his blood pressure. The medications weren’t working.

Blake started Hemodialysis (HD) on October 3, 2024, through a catheter placed in his chest. In the mean time we trained for his dialysis chose of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) — which could be done at home while allowing him to continue somewhat a normal as possible life. He underwent daily HD then was cut back as he started PD.

As of Thanksgiving 2024, Blake has been officially on home dialysis via PD — connected to a machine for 10.5 hours every night while he sleeps, with one fluid exchange during the day. He was finally able to return to school, and even reduce many of his medications. He has had no reoccurrence of edema, his blood pressure is better managed and he is now even back to being apart of the track team at school, granted he is very limited in what he can do.

Now Blake Needs a Kidney Transplant

As of March 26, 2025, Blake has completed his kidney transplant evaluation and is now officially in search of a living donor.

Despite everything he’s been through — the hospital stays, missed school, painful setbacks — Blake remains hopeful, strong, and determined to live a full life. He’s handled this life with a resilience no teenager should ever have to summon—but he’s tired. And he needs a transplant to survive.

Despite the challenges, Blake is still Blake—kind, funny, thoughtful, and full of dreams.

A living kidney donor gives Blake the best chance at a full life—and we are searching. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please reach out to us. Even sharing this page could connect us with the right person.

This journey is not one we can walk alone. Your donation, your share, your words of encouragement—they mean the world to us. Thank you for standing with Blake and giving him a fighting chance.

With deepest gratitude,

Shawna & Team Blake