Kirsten von Wedel - Ongoing Medical and Financial Hardship

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am reaching out with great humility and hope on behalf of my dear friend Kirsten, who continues to face significant challenges with her health and finances. Her strength and resilience are remarkable, but the burden of ongoing medical treatments and financial setbacks has brought her to a critical crossroads.

In October 2024, Kirsten underwent a vital stent operation, requiring her to be on two blood thinners for a year. Combined with additional blood thinners administered during her dialysis sessions every other day, this has made her long-awaited kidney and pancreas transplant (a gruelling 12-hour surgery) impossible for now.

At best, the surgery may happen at the end of 2025—dependent on both a suitable donor and her health being robust enough for the transplant. This delay has destabilized her carefully planned recovery and financial outlook.

The side effects of dialysis have been severe. Kirsten has endured a heart attack, 2 strokes, and constant physical exhaustion. Despite her inability to work, she remains determined to find moments of joy, especially during time spent with her beloved daughter Charlotte.

In the past, your generosity through GoFundMe has been a lifeline, helping Kirsten cover essential living costs and medical needs. Friends have also chipped in direct including myself from time to time and others have provided other assistance wherever possible, but the ongoing stress of being so dependent has been very tough for her. Unfortunately, the prolonged delays, housing loss, and mounting financial pressures have left her in urgent need of financial help.

Her monthly Universal Credit income of approximately £400 barely stretches to cover essentials:

£330 goes to storage for her household items after losing her home.

£10 is allocated to her phone, her only means of communication.

The small remainder is used for food, often limited to meat-free stews made with seasonal vegetables...

Despite these challenges, Kirsten remains focused and determined. When she can, she is preparing to present her case at a tribunal hearing against the DWP in January and pursuing other legal claims in the hope of achieving stability and fairness for herself and Charlotte.

This campaign is a heartfelt call for financial support. Every donation—large or small—will go directly towards living expenses including dialysis friendly foods and disabiity adjustments.

Your kindness has already carried Kirsten through so much, and I ask that we come together once again, especially during this holiday season, to help lift her through these incredibly challenging times.

Kirsten has shown extraordinary courage, but she cannot do this alone.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and donating to this campaign. Your generosity means more than words can express and offers hope to someone who truly needs it.

With deepest gratitude,

Sally