Jeancarlo's Post Kidney Transplant Expenses

Hello everyone it's me Jeancarlo,

As many of you know, I am suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease (Stage 4 ESRD), if you’d like to catch up with how it all started click this link (https://therealdiligent.tumblr.com/post/613697764707155968/chapter-1-lost-ones), it will give you a quick but  partial picture as to what things have been like since being diagnosed in November 2019. 

The end of February 2020 came swinging, and ready to literally take me out. I won’t make this long, but it went something like this, One Thursday night I couldn’t breathe, we waited but things got worse, this was the beginning of a onslaught attack, in short these were the cases in order and each came with varying levels of pain:

 Blood clots were found in both my lungs (1 in each, caused by my dialysis port), Fluid and inflammation surrounded my heart, Fluid filled a majority of my right lung cavity, Fluid filled the lower portion of my left lung cavity . (None of it was COVID,thank God).
(This was the first bag out of my right lung cavity, no wonder i couldn't breathe..)

These all required different procedures, during which I was put on blood thinners, received 3 blood transfusions, 3 chest tubes to drain fluid, and 4 large needles through my ribs in order to drain fluid. I was in the hospital pre COVID madness and during COVID madness. Roughly 40 days. (I still had to do my weekly dialysis sessions during all of this, yay)
(Right ribs with stitches) 
(Left ribs)
(Right ribs)
(Right ribs + Upper ribs needle locations) (Sorry no pictures of the Chest tube)

I started Dialysis in January 2020 and my weekly dialysis sessions had been extremely challenging, mainly because i leave the clinic with bad abdominal pain and just felt drained. This pain usually took a day and a half to go away, and in that time my appetite was gone and I just wanted to lay around and pretty much medicate. I was and currently am making my way out of being malnourished.  I was going to dialysis sessions 3 times a week for 3 hours and 45 min. It was brutal, painful, and annoying. In the beginning I was still able to work, so I chose to schedule my sessions starting at 6am, and for the most part I made it to work and was able to lead and get things done. Well until the end of February, obviously, work had to end. Currently I’m going to treatment 4 times a week, which allows me to have shorter sessions and in doing so avoid the abdominal pain and draining feeling. So far so good since making this change.



Getting regular dialysis treatments is helping my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me a second chance to achieve the purpose for what I was placed on this earth to accomplish. 

However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor.  However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
For more information on Kidney Disease, Organ Donation, stats on how many people currently have it, those that are at risk etc, visit KIDNEY.ORG

As family members lined up and offered up this gift, some just weren’t my blood type and at that point we were discussing what options we had in the case that the willing individuals weren’t a match.( There are options). Little did we know that 3 months into being diagnosed God would have a donor step up and be the perfect blood type and tissue match!

There is a lot I am leaving out to keep things short, but if you know me, I like to tell stories with as much detail as possible so you feel like you were there. This journey has been tough and has weighed heavy on us and only by God’s strength, favor, grace,  our faith, the many praying, and ALL of our medical teams have we been able to continue to fight. We are new parents, dealing with all the phases of this health challenge, plus a pandemic, come on 2020, sheesh. ;)

 Now that I’ve summarized the first half of 2020 in our health journey, here is an update on our progress and the purpose of this GoFund me page.

As of a month ago, all the operating rooms are reopening and we are able to get things rolling again, I’ve been healing slowly from the chest tubes, its like I broke my ribs the doctors say, so it will take 3-6 months for healing. It's been terrible, not knowing if the pain is something getting worse or just the healing process, but imaging shows progress in all areas. My Donor, who will remain anonymous for now, has been screened and tested to choose which of Her kidneys I will be receiving (7/15/20), and my case is on the docket for review tomorrow (7/17/20), and hopefully by the end of the day we will have a date for surgery. Yessssss!

There have been and will be many costs associated with my kidney transplant and post transplant treatment. Although insurance does cover some things completely there are other medical and non-medical costs that will be challenging for us to meet.  The recommended post transplant treatment are called immunosuppressants (anti-rejection drugs). Anti-rejection medications are critical in maintaining the transplanted organ. During the first year after transplant, anti-rejection drugs can cost from $1,500 to 1,800 per month. After the first year, the costs are reduced significantly. That is roughly between $15k and $22k for the first year after transplant. 

Some of the Non-medical costs when planning for a transplant could include: 
Food, and lodging.
Transportation, to and from your transplant center, before and after your transplant. Dialysis session transportation (Gas)
Plane travel to get to your transplant hospital quickly
Childcare
Lost wages if your employer does not pay for the time you or a family member spends away from work
If your transplant center is not close to your home, lodging close to the center before and after your surgery. Some centers offer free or low-cost hospitality houses for you and your family.

Ways in which you can help besides financially:

Prayers- Our families mental health through this process, Unity
Who do you know that has a connection to this, and you know is willing to donate?
Do you have skills in writing donation requests letters to businesses, and organizations, would you help be a voice for our need?
Prayers- Our Medical team and all that goes into this surgery, mental health of all the nurses and doctors.
Share, share , share our story and this gofund me page.
Groceries and Meals post transplant (Please reach out to us via text or FB messenger as our food choices and diet is limited)
Prayers- That we may continue to have God’s favor both the donor and I, and that we may see clearly what are purpose is with this second opportunity at life.

I am raising funds from unknown and known individuals so that I can maintain this gifted organ properly in the year after transplant.  I am knocking at your door to help us save my life, and I look forward and hope for your kind support. 
Anything will help, know and trust that these funds are going directly to help Harelyn, Chloe, and I continue to enjoy each other, and continue to season and  light up the world. Thank you in advanced to God for the second chance, my donor for the gift and Her disposition, and all of you for your generous donation. We love you. 
(Chloe turning 1 on 7/21/20, Dad you sure talk a lot!) :)