New Kidney for Leigh Ellen

Simple facts about Leigh Ellen are that she has been a dedicated nurse for over 27 years, a loving wife to Dan, a dependable stepmother to Miranda and Dominic, an avid reader of history, a well-traveled woman, and an appreciator of the arts. She is a hard-working woman who loves deeply and strives to be a bringer of good in a world that is difficult to exist in.

A more complex fact about her is that she has PKD – polycystic kidney disease. PKD is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and lose function over time. It was known throughout her life that she would eventually need a kidney transplant. However, the time came sooner than expected. Dan and Leigh Ellen were diligent and preparing their savings. With another year, they might have been financially more prepared for all the expenses that come with a major medical procedure. But as the saying goes, “Man plans, and God laughs.”

On September 6th Leigh Ellen collapsed at work. She was transferred from the ER at her work to a nearby hospital to stay briefly. She was officially in Kidney failure. Then began the process of dialysis 5 days per week for 4 hours per day. A physically and emotionally draining process which now takes up a large portion of her life. Both her and Dan work full time and have tried their best to keep up, but with dialysis at roughly $2,000/month as well as testing to get on the transplant list, preparing for the surgery, the recovery time... well, it is time to ask for help.

That is why we, her family, are asking you to help meet our goal of $75,500. This will help to cover the surgery and medical costs not covered by insurance, and the 4-6 months of off work recovery time both Dan and Leigh Ellen will need to take once the kidney transplant is done. It is a long process ahead, and while we understand no one is in their ideal financial situation, but any aid that you can provide will be immensely helpful in getting Leigh Ellen on the road to a healthy recovery.

We will be providing updates on our progress and including information and education on what PKD entails. We are open and will attempt to verify or answer any questions you may have. That said, please ask with discernment about our privacy and dignity.