Michele's kidney donation
Donation protected
Our aunt Sheila has borne more than her share of health issues. In her late thirties while raising a young family she became a Colon Cancer Survivor. As Sheila was in her late forties she received a wondrous gift of a liver transplant. The transplanted liver was vital as she has genetic Polycystic Kidney-Liver Disease. She is now in her early 50’s and due to the Polycystic Kidney-Liver disease her kidneys are functioning at around 14%.
Finding a kidney match for Sheila has been a long and difficult journey. Sheila has been on the kidney donation list for 3 years. It has been heartbreaking to see Sheila in this condition. She has always been more like a big sister to us rather than an aunt. She is a mother to two sons and has always been beloved. My sister Michele wanted to do something to help and decided to find out if she was a match. She was relieved to find out that she matches and will be able to donate one of her kidneys to her.
The reason for this GoFundMe is that the surgery will take place in Hershey, PA and Michele lives in Gainesville, FL with her husband and two girls. Because of this, there are additional costs associated with the donation in the form of many out-of-pocket expenses that will not be covered. The surgery itself is covered by The Living Donor Program at Hershey Med. and Sheila’s health insurance. This fund will help to cover some of the additional costs, which will include travel and lodging (airfare, lodging, meals, etc.) for Michele while she goes to and stays in Hershey. Michele has previously travelled to and will again need to travel to Hershey multiple times for all this donation. The reasons for the travel are; testing and consultation, pre-op, surgery, follow-up at 6 months, and follow-up at one year. After surgery, Michele will stay in Hershey for at least 2 weeks for recuperation and post-op appointments before returning to FL. Luckily we have family around Hershey that will be able to check on her and possibly stay with her during her recuperation.
Michele is a stay at home mother and while she is away for the surgery and follow up, her first and fourth grade girls will need to be placed in after-care at school while her husband is working.
By law, it is illegal for living donors to financially benefit from organ donation. Any funds that will be unused or raised in excess will be donated to Sheila and her family to assist with medical expenses
Finding a kidney match for Sheila has been a long and difficult journey. Sheila has been on the kidney donation list for 3 years. It has been heartbreaking to see Sheila in this condition. She has always been more like a big sister to us rather than an aunt. She is a mother to two sons and has always been beloved. My sister Michele wanted to do something to help and decided to find out if she was a match. She was relieved to find out that she matches and will be able to donate one of her kidneys to her.
The reason for this GoFundMe is that the surgery will take place in Hershey, PA and Michele lives in Gainesville, FL with her husband and two girls. Because of this, there are additional costs associated with the donation in the form of many out-of-pocket expenses that will not be covered. The surgery itself is covered by The Living Donor Program at Hershey Med. and Sheila’s health insurance. This fund will help to cover some of the additional costs, which will include travel and lodging (airfare, lodging, meals, etc.) for Michele while she goes to and stays in Hershey. Michele has previously travelled to and will again need to travel to Hershey multiple times for all this donation. The reasons for the travel are; testing and consultation, pre-op, surgery, follow-up at 6 months, and follow-up at one year. After surgery, Michele will stay in Hershey for at least 2 weeks for recuperation and post-op appointments before returning to FL. Luckily we have family around Hershey that will be able to check on her and possibly stay with her during her recuperation.
Michele is a stay at home mother and while she is away for the surgery and follow up, her first and fourth grade girls will need to be placed in after-care at school while her husband is working.
By law, it is illegal for living donors to financially benefit from organ donation. Any funds that will be unused or raised in excess will be donated to Sheila and her family to assist with medical expenses
Organizer and beneficiary
Emily Martz Irwin
Organizer
Dauphin, PA
Michele Martz
Beneficiary
