Kirby's Smile
Donation protected
This GoFundMe is something I have set up for one of the most amazing, compassionate, caring, selfless, positive, kind, and strongest people I have ever met - my best friend Kirby Gunnarson.
Kirby has a surgery she needs on August 4th, 2020, and she needs help with the enormous financial burden. We were informed on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, that it is going to cost nearly double the originally quoted price. This devastating news is yet another setback in a long line of hurdles Kirby has had to overcome.
Let me give you a bit of insight on all that Kirby has had going on for most of her life:
At the age of 12, Kirby was diagnosed with Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease (MCKD). MCKD is a disease that causes cysts to form in the center of the kidneys and scarring of the tubules of the kidneys. It also causes the kidneys to malfunction and ultimately to quit working at all.
Soon after Kirby’s diagnosis, her kidneys began hardening. The hardening continued until it caused the need for dialysis, beginning at the age of 14. Kirby’s mom, Linda, donated a kidney in 1999, and Kirby was able to forgo dialysis for almost 3 years. Unfortunately, Kirby’s body rejected the kidney, and she was forced back on dialysis until her dad, Donovan, donated a kidney in 2007. Kirby's body also rejected his kidney in less than a year after transplant. Once again, Kirby returned to regular dialysis until she received a cadaver kidney in 2014. Like her other 2 transplants, that transplant also ended in rejection.
Kirby and her family then found out that she has Mast Cell Disease. That was why her body rejected the transplants and it makes future transplants impossible. Since her last transplant rejects, Kirby goes to dialysis 3x a week and will never be able not to be on dialysis.
A year after Kirby's first transplant she was also diagnosed with a bone disease called Avascular Necrosis. Avascular is the death of bone tissue due to the lack of blood supply that can cause tiny breaks in the bone and eventually cause the bones to collapse. This disease was caused by all the medications she needed for the kidney transplants she had. Because of the disease, Kirby has had multiple bone surgeries and had spent over a year in a wheelchair.
Currently, Kirby needs to have surgery to remove all her teeth so that she may have dentures. Due to Kirby's bone disease, she is limited to options on what replacements she can have, so this surgery is the only option.
Kirby’s teeth began rotting at a very young age from excessive acid from vomiting caused by daily dialysis. In addition to them rotting, her bone disease has also been a cause of the teeth to rot and some of them to loosen. Kirby has been in a lot of pain over the last year due to her teeth rotting and the infections all her medical conditions have caused. Kirby only has Medicare for insurance and that is for the end stages of renal failure. She cannot afford insurance due to the underlying diseases she has.
As stated earlier, Kirby's surgery is set to happen on August 4th, and it is expected to be paid in full on the day of surgery. Any amount you could give will help and I hope you can find it in your heart to help this amazing woman out, even in these difficult times.
Kirby has a surgery she needs on August 4th, 2020, and she needs help with the enormous financial burden. We were informed on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, that it is going to cost nearly double the originally quoted price. This devastating news is yet another setback in a long line of hurdles Kirby has had to overcome.
Let me give you a bit of insight on all that Kirby has had going on for most of her life:
At the age of 12, Kirby was diagnosed with Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease (MCKD). MCKD is a disease that causes cysts to form in the center of the kidneys and scarring of the tubules of the kidneys. It also causes the kidneys to malfunction and ultimately to quit working at all.
Soon after Kirby’s diagnosis, her kidneys began hardening. The hardening continued until it caused the need for dialysis, beginning at the age of 14. Kirby’s mom, Linda, donated a kidney in 1999, and Kirby was able to forgo dialysis for almost 3 years. Unfortunately, Kirby’s body rejected the kidney, and she was forced back on dialysis until her dad, Donovan, donated a kidney in 2007. Kirby's body also rejected his kidney in less than a year after transplant. Once again, Kirby returned to regular dialysis until she received a cadaver kidney in 2014. Like her other 2 transplants, that transplant also ended in rejection.
Kirby and her family then found out that she has Mast Cell Disease. That was why her body rejected the transplants and it makes future transplants impossible. Since her last transplant rejects, Kirby goes to dialysis 3x a week and will never be able not to be on dialysis.
A year after Kirby's first transplant she was also diagnosed with a bone disease called Avascular Necrosis. Avascular is the death of bone tissue due to the lack of blood supply that can cause tiny breaks in the bone and eventually cause the bones to collapse. This disease was caused by all the medications she needed for the kidney transplants she had. Because of the disease, Kirby has had multiple bone surgeries and had spent over a year in a wheelchair.
Currently, Kirby needs to have surgery to remove all her teeth so that she may have dentures. Due to Kirby's bone disease, she is limited to options on what replacements she can have, so this surgery is the only option.
Kirby’s teeth began rotting at a very young age from excessive acid from vomiting caused by daily dialysis. In addition to them rotting, her bone disease has also been a cause of the teeth to rot and some of them to loosen. Kirby has been in a lot of pain over the last year due to her teeth rotting and the infections all her medical conditions have caused. Kirby only has Medicare for insurance and that is for the end stages of renal failure. She cannot afford insurance due to the underlying diseases she has.
As stated earlier, Kirby's surgery is set to happen on August 4th, and it is expected to be paid in full on the day of surgery. Any amount you could give will help and I hope you can find it in your heart to help this amazing woman out, even in these difficult times.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sara Kolby
Organizer
Fridley, MN
Kirby Gunnarson
Beneficiary