Help The Wilbur family Fund a Life-Saving Kidney Transplant

Hello everyone, (At the bottom there is a link to what happened with our Hershey transplant program experience❤️‍)

My name is Jessica, and I’m a mother of two incredible ten-year-old sons (Skyler & Austin) and a wife to a wonderfully supportive husband (Titus). As a domestic violence counselor and university student, (Go Nittany lions!)I strive each day to balance my responsibilities while facing the challenges of being on dialysis for the past 15 years. I’m currently on the transplant list at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, but I’m unable to move forward until I complete essential testing and evaluations.

This journey is no easy feat, especially since my family and I live in Erie, PA—about 6.5 hours from the hospital. We travel to Philadelphia at least three times a month, managing countless medical appointments, dialysis sessions, and the everyday demands of family life⚽️ ⚾️ , including time off from school, using up my PTO each month⏳️, paying for a home sitter each time we leave for an appointment . Each trip is crucial for my health and future, yet it brings added financial strain and stress on our family’s limited resources.

I’m reaching out today with a heartfelt request for your support in covering the costs associated with my kidney transplant journey, including:

- Medical testing and necessary follow-up appointments

- Frequent travel expenses to and from Philadelphia

- Temporary lodging during appointments and recovery

- Out-of-pocket medical expenses and any unforeseen costs

Your support, no matter the amount, would mean the world to me and could make a profound difference in my journey to receive the care I need to stay present for my family. A transplant would offer a much longer life expectancy than dialysis, which, although it's kept me alive for 15 years, has taken a toll on my heart and body. My fistula—the site where needles are inserted—has required multiple surgeries over the years, and the scar tissue has made each treatment more painful and challenging. My heart has grown enlarged from the hypertension that comes with kidney failure, and my PTH levels have reached 2000, requiring additional surgery. Despite the hardships, every day has been worth it to be here with my loved ones. I’m hopeful for the opportunity to receive a transplant to give me more years with them, and your generosity could help make that hope a reality.

If you’re unable to donate, I would be incredibly grateful if you could share this campaign to help spread the word.

Thank you from the depths of my heart for being a part of this journey with me. With your support, I hold onto hope that I can finally receive the life-saving kidney transplant I’ve been waiting for all these years.

I'm really going to miss my colleagues and clients, but I'll do my best to get back home as soon as possible! I'm planning to conduct some appointments over Zoom and continue hosting the support group, acting as a backup counselor until I can be back in person. ❤️

Here is the link that discusses what happened when we went through Hershey medical center's kidney transplant program. https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2024/10/penn-state-health-liver-kidney-transplants-milton-hershey-medical-center-patients-hospitals-pennsylvania/

Again thank you so much everyone!