Operation Get Kelly a Kidney
Donation protected
My sweet BIL Kelly needs a kidney. Some background on his condition:
Back in March 2020 Kelly was diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy- it’s a chronic disease that slowly eats away at the kidneys and there is no cure. However Kelly’s kidneys are not functioning properly and the disease is progressing rapidly. He is on the donor list but honestly he doesn’t have the 6-7 years to wait. He needs a kidney IMMEDIATELY as dialysis has only diminished his quality of life, keeping him tied to a dialysis machine three times a week for four hours at a time. His best chance for survival is finding a Living Donor. The more people we get tested the better chance he has. He is type O+ and a match would be ideal however any blood type may work. There is a donor program called “Pairing Exchange” where if a kidney is donated on his behalf he will receive a kidney once a match becomes available. I (Erin) have been approved as a paired donor for him already.
His insurance company will cover the medical costs for the donor, and for him. The only problem is, he is on a time crunch. His insurance company kicks him off after six months of dialysis (which he started in December), after which he will be eligible for Medicaid. This greatly impacts his ability to get a transplant. Medicaid only covers a certain amount, and only at certain hospitals, and doesn't cover much, if any, of the anti-rejection drugs needed for life after transplant (the first year's course of medication by itself can cost up to $35,000!). Ideally, we will find a match for him quickly and get him his new kidney before Medicaid kicks in. However, we need to keep plan B in the back of our heads. They are working at getting secondary insurance, but we don't want to have to forego surgery because we can't pay for it!
So- the purpose of this GoFundMe fundraiser is to raise money to pay for Kelly's upcoming treatments, surgery, and post-op medications. If we are lucky enough to have him get his new kidney soon and be able to maintain his insurance, whatever leftover money after paying his medical costs will be donated so that others in our position can afford surgery in the future!
If you would like to be a living organ donor please fill out the required forms at www.uchealthlivingdonor.org.
Back in March 2020 Kelly was diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy- it’s a chronic disease that slowly eats away at the kidneys and there is no cure. However Kelly’s kidneys are not functioning properly and the disease is progressing rapidly. He is on the donor list but honestly he doesn’t have the 6-7 years to wait. He needs a kidney IMMEDIATELY as dialysis has only diminished his quality of life, keeping him tied to a dialysis machine three times a week for four hours at a time. His best chance for survival is finding a Living Donor. The more people we get tested the better chance he has. He is type O+ and a match would be ideal however any blood type may work. There is a donor program called “Pairing Exchange” where if a kidney is donated on his behalf he will receive a kidney once a match becomes available. I (Erin) have been approved as a paired donor for him already.
His insurance company will cover the medical costs for the donor, and for him. The only problem is, he is on a time crunch. His insurance company kicks him off after six months of dialysis (which he started in December), after which he will be eligible for Medicaid. This greatly impacts his ability to get a transplant. Medicaid only covers a certain amount, and only at certain hospitals, and doesn't cover much, if any, of the anti-rejection drugs needed for life after transplant (the first year's course of medication by itself can cost up to $35,000!). Ideally, we will find a match for him quickly and get him his new kidney before Medicaid kicks in. However, we need to keep plan B in the back of our heads. They are working at getting secondary insurance, but we don't want to have to forego surgery because we can't pay for it!
So- the purpose of this GoFundMe fundraiser is to raise money to pay for Kelly's upcoming treatments, surgery, and post-op medications. If we are lucky enough to have him get his new kidney soon and be able to maintain his insurance, whatever leftover money after paying his medical costs will be donated so that others in our position can afford surgery in the future!
If you would like to be a living organ donor please fill out the required forms at www.uchealthlivingdonor.org.
Organizer and beneficiary
Erin Wevers
Organizer
Lakeville, MN
Kelcey Kittleson
Beneficiary