My name is Debra Terry. I am setting up this fund on behalf of my daughter, Denise Turner. She is a loving mom to a sweet seven year boy, JT, and a loving wife to her husband, James Turner.

Denise has had kidney disease and been on dialysis for about 6 years. She worked with this illness for many years. She loved working with people and loved what she did. Nothing would get in the way of her performance and the people she called family.

The last few years were difficult and her and her husband made the decision to have her stop working and focus more on her health. Her weight loss and health journey was not easy, but she successfully lost enough weight to qualify for a transplant. She would constantly say “this is for JT and my family”. If you know my daughter, she is a nurturer by nature. She always tries to make sure everyone around her is okay, whether through being that listening ear, or providing. It’s our time to do this for her! Once she made the requirements, she struggled with finding a donor. She struggled with the feelings of “how do I ask for help”. One day a complete stranger, who is now considered family, Gail reached out to her in a Facebook group to offer the “Gift of Life” “I want to be your donor” Gail said.

The day they found out they were matches, was such a blessing. Now my daughter actually has a chance at life, one more day. We consider Gail family now. They are now on this journey together. Their surgery date is scheduled for November 3, 2021. Here is where we humbly need your help and support to get through the surgery recovery months ahead for them both.

1. Cover cost of remaining portion of surgery

2. They will be using Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia for the transplant surgery. We will have to relocate to Georgia for a month. During this time rejection risk is high, she has to be close to her team of doctors there. She will also go to appointments twice a week for the first month.

3. Her husband, James, will have take off from work. He is listed as the hospital care partner. The stay in the hospital can range from 3 days to upwards 3 months, depending on Denise’s recovery. Once Denise is approved for discharge, James will to drive back and forth from Alabama to Georgia, in order to check on her well being, and for JT to see her on the weekends, due to him being in school.

4. Rejection medication is very costly. We are asking for help in this area. She will have to take the short term meds for 6 months. After that she will be on a normal regimen of medication.

5. Gail will have to travel to the hospital for her surgery as well. She lives in Ohio. She will not be able to work for a few weeks. We are asking for support in this area as well.

Let me say thank you to her village in advance. This has been a hard road for her and her family. We have waited so long for this blessing. We humbly accept any donation, big or small. We are thankful. That puts us one step closer to the finish line.