Jonny's Journey: Kidney Transplant
Donation protected
This page was created to help our son, Jonathan Catena, pay for his kidney transplant, after care and anti-rejection medications.
Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Please share this page with your social media community.
You can read about Jonny's journey below....oh yeah and the updates. :)
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Well, here we are. Jonathan is getting ready for the next chapter. I (Jon's mom) am at the final stage of testing to be his donor. If I am a match (last round of testing is next Friday), we plan to schedule surgery within the next few months. Good times.
For those who don’t know, Jon was diagnosed with kidney disease (autoimmune glomerulonephritis)
when he was 13. His disease progressed over time. As luck would have it, his kidney function fell below 10% after his freshman year in college (GO BEAVS!); he started dialysis October 2013.

Jon made every effort to live on his own but the disease took its toll. In July 2016, Jon came home to focus on his health, pursue his much-needed transplant and finish school (yes, he is still working towards becoming a dentist!!).
Jon's kidney function is minimal at best now. If he produces urine it’s maybe a thimble’s worth. No output means no fluid intake. Sucks. Dialysis does what it can but most of the time Jon’s exhausted. He works but is just miserable more times than not.
Being so close to transplant is super exciting but the reality is this:
Jon's medical expenses will be astronomical. He will probably be in medical debt for the rest of his life.
We've already received a blow from insurance. Jon has to pay $7,150.00 out of pocket before insurance will pay 100% for dialysis. New year, new rules. Yay.

As a dialysis patient, Jon is permanently disabled but he refuses to give up. He works full time to earn his keep. Jon has Medicare in addition to our private insurance. However, post transplant, Medicare will only pay for Jon's life saving immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications for 36 months. By then he will be 26 and removed from my insurance.
Without insurance, Jon will have to pay out of pocket for his anti-rejection medications for the life of his new organ.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the first-year billed charges for a kidney transplant are more than $262,000; anti-rejection medications cost around $3,000 per month.
Insurance will cover some costs but not everything.
If I'm a match, Jonathan and I will require a dedicated caregiver each (we have that covered). Jonathan will need 24-hour care for 8 weeks post-transplant (also covered).
If I’m not his donor, I will be his caregiver. Jon will have to go to UCSF Medical (110 round trip) at least twice a week for the first 4-6 weeks (depends on his health/the health of his new kidney). Transportation isn't an issue and he will always have a roof over his head, and food in his belly.
We have planned as far as we can for the transplant. What we don’t know is how much everything will cost which is where this GoFundMe page comes into play.
With an unstable healthcare system and looming medical bills, it’s hard to imagine what tomorrow will bring so I am swallowing my pride and reaching out to my tribe.
Funds raised will pay for Jonathan's current medical bills as well as any and all expenses related with his kidney transplant.
Cross your fingers, toes, and eyeballs! Here we go.
We will share updates as they come in.
Much love.
Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Please share this page with your social media community.
You can read about Jonny's journey below....oh yeah and the updates. :)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, here we are. Jonathan is getting ready for the next chapter. I (Jon's mom) am at the final stage of testing to be his donor. If I am a match (last round of testing is next Friday), we plan to schedule surgery within the next few months. Good times.
For those who don’t know, Jon was diagnosed with kidney disease (autoimmune glomerulonephritis)
when he was 13. His disease progressed over time. As luck would have it, his kidney function fell below 10% after his freshman year in college (GO BEAVS!); he started dialysis October 2013.
Jon made every effort to live on his own but the disease took its toll. In July 2016, Jon came home to focus on his health, pursue his much-needed transplant and finish school (yes, he is still working towards becoming a dentist!!).
Jon's kidney function is minimal at best now. If he produces urine it’s maybe a thimble’s worth. No output means no fluid intake. Sucks. Dialysis does what it can but most of the time Jon’s exhausted. He works but is just miserable more times than not.
Being so close to transplant is super exciting but the reality is this:
Jon's medical expenses will be astronomical. He will probably be in medical debt for the rest of his life.
We've already received a blow from insurance. Jon has to pay $7,150.00 out of pocket before insurance will pay 100% for dialysis. New year, new rules. Yay.
As a dialysis patient, Jon is permanently disabled but he refuses to give up. He works full time to earn his keep. Jon has Medicare in addition to our private insurance. However, post transplant, Medicare will only pay for Jon's life saving immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications for 36 months. By then he will be 26 and removed from my insurance.
Without insurance, Jon will have to pay out of pocket for his anti-rejection medications for the life of his new organ.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the first-year billed charges for a kidney transplant are more than $262,000; anti-rejection medications cost around $3,000 per month.
Insurance will cover some costs but not everything.
If I'm a match, Jonathan and I will require a dedicated caregiver each (we have that covered). Jonathan will need 24-hour care for 8 weeks post-transplant (also covered).
If I’m not his donor, I will be his caregiver. Jon will have to go to UCSF Medical (110 round trip) at least twice a week for the first 4-6 weeks (depends on his health/the health of his new kidney). Transportation isn't an issue and he will always have a roof over his head, and food in his belly.
We have planned as far as we can for the transplant. What we don’t know is how much everything will cost which is where this GoFundMe page comes into play.
With an unstable healthcare system and looming medical bills, it’s hard to imagine what tomorrow will bring so I am swallowing my pride and reaching out to my tribe.
Funds raised will pay for Jonathan's current medical bills as well as any and all expenses related with his kidney transplant.
Cross your fingers, toes, and eyeballs! Here we go.
We will share updates as they come in.
Much love.
Organizer
Patricia Catton
Organizer
Santa Rosa, CA
