Jeff's New Kidney

In 2013, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease called Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), which is a fairly rare kidney disease in which scar tissue develops on the parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood. The results of this is that my kidneys slowly stopped working like they should.

The doctors have tried several different treatment options to try and slow the progression of the disease, including steroids, immunosuppressants, and chemotherapy, but none of these have worked. In July of 2019, I had bariatric surgery to help loose weight to see if that would help, and alas, it did not, although I did loose about 140 pounds.

In February of 2021, my kidney doctor felt it was time to refer me out for a transplant. The idea is to get me a new kidney before I have to go on dialysis. We are hoping for a living donor as the prognosis is much higher with a living donor and can often happen much sooner than waiting for a deceased donor. 

This is the hard part for me. I have always had a difficult time asking for help, but this is going to be expensive, even with insurance. My insurance covers not just my procedure and testing, but a lot of my donor's testing and procedure. I am on a fixed income and am very limited in how much I can work to earn and save up money towards this procedure. I know that some of the copays and fees will need to be paid up front, and others I will be able to pay over time, as I learn more, I will update everyone. I know I have a CT scan, echocardiogram, stress test, hematologist, chest x-ray, and a MASSIVE panel of labs coming up soon that will be in excess of $700.

These funds will go directly to paying the medical bills from my testing and surgery, as well as those that I am responsible to pay for my donor. They will also help with travel expenses for testing and procedures as some of those will be done in Charleston and may necessitate overnight stays. As I don't have a final figure at this time, the goal listed is a guess. Anything that I receive that is greater than what I need will be donated to the American Kidney Fund (97% of the money they raise goes to patients and programs). 

I know that money can be tight right now, so there are other ways to help.

1. Boost the signal to spread the message further out.
2. If you are interested in being a potential live donor, click on this link and fill out the living donor form to see if you are a potential candidate. Living Donor Form Link 
3. Good thoughts, prayers, positive energy, encouraging words, love, hope, emotional support are ALL welcome. 

 At the moment, my situation is not critical. However, that could change at any moment. My kidneys have been holding steady for the last 6 months or so, but they could deteriorate and my condition worsen with little to no warning.