Jarrad Kirk’s Kidney Transplant

10/10/23 UPDATE: Jad is currently in the hospital fighting what looks like pneumonia and fluid imbalance. He became very ill very quickly yesterday while hiking. He is trying to stay positive, but things have been overwhelming lately as doctors continue trying to find a match for a kidney donor and keep him stable in the meantime.

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According to a 2020 report from the National Institutes of Health, the average cost of a kidney transplant in the United States is $442,500.

Hello. My name is Daisy Wyatt, and I'm raising money for my best friend to get the kidney transplant that he needs in order to stay alive. Jarrad "Jad" Kirk has been a kind, loyal, and steadfast fixture in my life since we met at Goodpasture Christian School as goofy 16-year-old kids with no concept of mortality and all the time in the world.

In late 2022, when applying for life insurance, Jad had some routine medical tests come back indicating that something was happening with his kidneys, despite his feeling as healthy as ever. He quickly found himself at Vanderbilt Medical Center for the issue to be investigated. After a few months of testing, Jad was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy, an autoimmune kidney disease for which there is no cure and no reliable treatment option.

For Jad, this disease has proven to be fast-moving, unrelenting, and cruel.

All attempts by Jad’s doctors to slow the progression of his disease have been utterly unsuccessful. Over the course of about 10 months, Jad has gone from hiking, weight-lifting, tending his patio garden, and doing other things he loves to taking high-dose steroid medication and undergoing kidney dialysis while his doctors search for a match.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money not only for Jarrad's impending overwhelming medical bills but also to cover unanticipated expenses associated with his transplant, as well as afford him the time that he needs to heal and recuperate without fear of financial consequences.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for anything you can do to help support my best friend as he bravely faces this life-threatening disease. On behalf of all of us who love Jad, we are so grateful for anything you are able and willing to give.