Help Jonah with Kidney Transplant expenses

At the age of 10, Jonah was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome FSGS (Focal segmental glorerulosclerosis), a disease that causes complete kidney failure in BOTH kidneys. This resulted in the need for a kidney transplant and being placed on the National Kidney Registry list. Although Jonah tried different medications to see if he would have positive results while waiting for his transplant, he had to start the process of peritoneal dialysis at 15 years old, which led to infections and having to start hemodialysis.

In January 2017, after 5 years of being on the transplant list, Jonah’s great-aunt, Alice, selflessly offered to donate her kidney to him, as she was a good match.

Sadly, 4 years after the transplant, Jonah’s body started to reject the kidney due to the Nephrotic Syndrome attacking the kidney. Between doctors’ visits and hospital stays, OSF told them that the prognosis was not good.

After a lot of discussion, Jonah decided to get a second opinion from Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN. At Mayo, Jonah was given hope. He was placed on the transplant list again and started hemodialysis at home, 5 days/week, with his fiancé Hali by his side.

After 2 years of waiting on the transplant list, Jonah’s mother, Jo Anna, entered a program where she would donate her kidney as a living kidney donor, to an anonymous recipient. This was done in the hope that Jonah would be the recipient of a kidney from another anonymous living donor participating in the same program. On March 23rd, 2022, Jo Anna underwent surgery to donate her kidney, and 2 days later Jonah received the news that he would be receiving a kidney in April, at the Mayo clinic in Minnesota!

Jonah will be hospitalized for a week after the transplant and will then need to stay close to the Mayo clinic for at least 4 weeks, due to daily blood draws for kidney function and overall health progress.

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover this extended “off-site” stay and the expenses are starting to grow. We are raising money to pay for his lodging, meals, travel, etc.