Help Me Reach My Life-Saving Kidney Transplant in Ohio

Hi, my name is Jack, and I’m reaching out for help during the most challenging time of my life.

In 2022, as a freshman at UCLA, I was diagnosed with kidney disease caused by Lupus, an autoimmune condition that attacks my organs. After a biopsy, I learned I had stage 3 kidney disease, and despite medication, my health has declined rapidly.

Over the past 2 years, I’ve been hospitalized multiple times. In April of 2023, I was rushed to the ER due to dangerously high potassium levels. I was diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis, and my kidneys were under attack. A month later, just after my 21st birthday, I was back in the hospital with severe anemia and fluid overload that caused hemorrhaging in my lungs. I needed a blood transfusion and spent time in the ICU. Doctors removed over 30 pounds of fluid from my body to stabilize me.

Since then, I’ve been in end-stage renal failure. I now rely on dialysis three times a week, which keeps me alive but comes with major limitations and long-term risks. Notably, due to scheduling of treatments I do most of my classes online.

My doctors have told me that my best chance for a healthier, more independent life is a kidney transplant. A kidney transplant would mean so much more than just better health—it would give me my life back. For the past two years, I’ve been doing classes and taking exams from hospital beds, juggling my education with dialysis treatments and unpredictable health crises. I’ve missed out on the full college experience, unable to walk around campus, sit in a classroom, or simply be with other students. With a new kidney, I could return to UCLA in person, pursue my degree with strength and stability, and live without the constant fear of fluid overload or food restrictions. I could travel again, laugh more freely with friends, and finally feel like myself. This transplant is my chance to move forward, not just survive.

Transplants are expensive. Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for surgery, post-transplant medications, and ongoing care are overwhelming. I’ll also need to relocate temporarily to be near my transplant center, which adds to the financial burden.

I’m asking for your support to help cover:

• Transplant-related medical costs not covered by insurance

• Anti-rejection medications I’ll need for life

• Temporary housing near the transplant hospital

• Travel expenses and caregiving support for post transplant appointments and recovery

Your donation — no matter the amount — brings me closer to a second chance at life. A transplant would allow me to regain my strength, finish college in person, spend more time with loved ones, and simply enjoy life again.

There’s a kidney waiting for me in Ohio—a real, life-saving chance that could change everything. Ohio has one of the shortest wait times in the nation, and I was told that once I am listed, after my Medicare is approved, it will only be a matter of weeks for me to get the phone call. After 2 years of dialysis, hospital stays, and fighting to stay stable, this transplant offers hope for a healthier future. The only thing standing between me and this new beginning is the cost. I’m doing everything I can to raise the funds for surgery, recovery, and the medications I’ll need to keep my body from rejecting the kidney. This opportunity means more than just surviving—it means finally living again. With your help, I can get to Ohio and receive the transplant that’s waiting for me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your kindness and support mean more than words can say.

With gratitude,

Jack