Hi Dear friends and family,

I am starting this gofundme to help support Nathan and his parents Laura and Dan during his transplant journey. As many of you are aware, Nathan was born with a rare genetic condition called Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), this condition caused Nathan to be born with kidneys that are full of cysts meaning they are enlarged and do not work as they should. Nathan has been in and out of hospital for his entire life and is on multiple daily medications and injections. Despite these efforts the time has come that he will be needing a kidney transplant as his native kidneys are failing.

As we are learning the transplant journey is quite complicated, he will be having his first operation to remove his native kidneys in the new year, he will then need to remain in Vancouver on dialysis for several months allowing his body to recover and then he will be able to receive his new kidney sometime in the Spring. The donor for his new kidney is not set in stone yet but is likely to be Laura or Dan (mom or dad), this also requires another 6-8 week period in hospital for recovery and monitoring all while one of his parents is also recovering from a major surgery in a different hospital.

This whole process will be even more stressful as Noelle, Nathan’s sister, will be needing to stay in Nanaimo for school so will involve a lot of travel back and forth to support Nathan through his journey and also to support Noelle to finish her year of school in her home community.

I am starting this fundraiser with the hope of raising money to cover the accommodations in Vancouver, which is subsidized but not fully covered, and to relieve some financial stress associated with the travel. Additionally, both Laura and Dan will be unable to work throughout this time and will also be covering all the regular costs at home as well as the costs of living out of their homes.

We are so grateful to any contributions and would appreciate if everyone could share widely. Anything helps and is greatly appreciated.