Kidney Living Donor Expenses
Donation protected
UPDATE:
Wow! In the span of 24 hours, you all have exceeded my goal, which means that my travel expenses are fully covered. I'm humbled and grateful.
Now - let's raise some funds for Chris, who I understand also has out-of-pocket expenses! I'm going to increase the goal; please understand that I will only retain $3000 of the donations.
ORIGINAL STORY:
On March 29, 2018, I'll be donating my left kidney to Chris Komlenic, who was told by his doctors that a living donor would be the best (and perhaps only) way he would prolong his life.
I went to high school with Chris. We were in band together. He reminded me recently that we took Chemistry together. We weren't particularly close. But when he and I talked about a year ago about his need for a donated kidney, I felt compelled to discover if I could be a match. I was added to his potential donor list and then contacted by his medical team last October to move forward with testing.
I was not, initially, considered to be a good donor for Chris because I live in Vermont and he lives in Pennsylvania. However, local donor options did not pan out, and after 21 vials of blood, a 24-hour urine collection (!), and a full day of testing in PA (x-ray, EKG, cat scan), we have received the green light to move forward with the donation.
While the medical expenses of the donation will be covered by Chris's insurance, donating a kidney away from home comes with costs. In addition to the trip I already took to PA (flight, rental car), I will need to be in PA for two weeks (pre-op, surgery, and post-op). I will be renting an apartment in PA and also will have travel expenses and need to pay for pet care while I'm gone.
I know many people in Chris's life are eager to help in any way they can. Financial support of these costs, which are not covered by insurance, would be greatly appreciated.
Should I raise funds beyond my goal, I will give the money to Chris to help with his out of pocket medical expenses.
.
Wow! In the span of 24 hours, you all have exceeded my goal, which means that my travel expenses are fully covered. I'm humbled and grateful.
Now - let's raise some funds for Chris, who I understand also has out-of-pocket expenses! I'm going to increase the goal; please understand that I will only retain $3000 of the donations.
ORIGINAL STORY:
On March 29, 2018, I'll be donating my left kidney to Chris Komlenic, who was told by his doctors that a living donor would be the best (and perhaps only) way he would prolong his life.
I went to high school with Chris. We were in band together. He reminded me recently that we took Chemistry together. We weren't particularly close. But when he and I talked about a year ago about his need for a donated kidney, I felt compelled to discover if I could be a match. I was added to his potential donor list and then contacted by his medical team last October to move forward with testing.
I was not, initially, considered to be a good donor for Chris because I live in Vermont and he lives in Pennsylvania. However, local donor options did not pan out, and after 21 vials of blood, a 24-hour urine collection (!), and a full day of testing in PA (x-ray, EKG, cat scan), we have received the green light to move forward with the donation.
While the medical expenses of the donation will be covered by Chris's insurance, donating a kidney away from home comes with costs. In addition to the trip I already took to PA (flight, rental car), I will need to be in PA for two weeks (pre-op, surgery, and post-op). I will be renting an apartment in PA and also will have travel expenses and need to pay for pet care while I'm gone.
I know many people in Chris's life are eager to help in any way they can. Financial support of these costs, which are not covered by insurance, would be greatly appreciated.
Should I raise funds beyond my goal, I will give the money to Chris to help with his out of pocket medical expenses.
.
Organizer
Jennifer Garrett-Ostermiller
Organizer
Huntington, VT
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