Rachel Dixon, new kidney, new life
Donation protected
Hi there friends and family, I have the honor of setting up this account on behalf of my sister, Rachel Dixon. I am so grateful that miracles happen every day and that I have had the privilege to be a part of my sisters journey.
In setting up this account, I want to provide a space for our people, our community to support and love Rachel.
As many of you know, Rach is a private beautiful woman who loves a simple life. Her story up until now has been very quiet. Only truly shared in glimpses with a few people. I am taking this opportunity to share her story and to inspire you to support her in her journey.
Rachel is the strongest woman I know. Up until now, she has always persevered, quietly living with an illness that was stealing her vitality and her life from her. In 2006, when she was 36 years old she started feeling really crummy. We all thought she had the flu. After being hospitalized, and many tests later she was diagnosed with Lupus. It was a weird year for our family, she looked alright but felt like crap, achy, sore, unable to do the same things that she "normally" used to do. She quickly had to start taking a ton of medication. She carried it all in a small piece of luggage. It became a part of her, there was Rachel, her purse and her bag. Again, hard to see and understand. Hospital visits started becoming a normalacy. Sometimes, Rachel and I, just to keep things light would joke about not wanting to taking any "field trips." (aka trips to the ER) Humor aside, she had several hospital stays, several set backs in her health. During one of her hospital stays in 2010 her team of doctors told her that she had the worst form of Lupus, Lupus Nephritis which attacks the kidneys.
In 2012, again during a hospitalization the team told her that the lupus had become so severe and had affected the kidneys so much, stage 4, that she would need to begin dialysis immediately. Dialysis. And High dosages of Prednisone.
Anyone who knows my dearest sister, Rachel Dixon, knows that she has been blessed with a beautiful, fiery, determined spirit. During the stormiest time of her illness she completed her MBA, bought a house, maintained full time work (other than a short period of time when she was on disability) and generally kicked butt.
Dialysis began during her hospitalization. She called it the "blood spa." Again, moving through a tough situation with her smile and just enough humor to get her through it. There were many days that she did not want to go to dialysis. But, she had to. Her life depended on it. She continued to choose life.
Rachel's kidneys recovered for a short period of time. The doctors thought she was a walking miracle, even saying to all of us "once you start dialysis you don't stop it just doesn't happen." Well, it did. During this short time, she went on her first vacation in a long time. She was free to do things that she never thought she would do again.
In 2014, she started feeling lethargic and crummy again. Knowing the feeling all to well, she knew, and the doctors knew. Time to start back up again. Something was different this time for Rachel. As you all know, she and Jesus have always been close. She knew in her heart that God had bigger plans for her. And it was up to her to utilize the gifts that God has given to her, those being her brilliance and determination to accomplish the next goal.
In December of 2014 she began extensive testing to be considered on the organ donor list through the University of Washington Medical Center. One of the best in our nation. She began her research and devoted time after work and on the weekends to this research. Life with a new kidney, brought many more questions, thoughts, fears and dreams to the surface.
On Friday, August 28th 2015 Rachel received the call that she had been waiting for, "Rachel this is the University of Washington Medical Center, we have the perfect kidney for you. " Whoa...Life became really real at this moment.
After a blur of phone calls, prayers, traveling at light speed during the night to reach Seattle by the next morning, Rachel went into surgery on Sunday August 30th at 3:30 pm to receive her kidney transplant. As you can imagine time between the phone call and surgery was emotional, tearful, exciting and prayerful.
So many prayer warriors. So many angels called upon.
We knew going into surgery that it could take up to 5 hours.
We all were in surgery waiting room, waiting, watching the screen, "Patient in surgery."
8:15 came and went, I looked at Drake (Rachel's man) and he looked back at all of us, "She's ok, she is still in the timeframe. It's ok. She is ok."
Seconds later, the screen changed, "surgery ending" seconds after that "patient to main recovery."
Dear Jesus!!!! Thank you Jesus, she did it!!!!!
We jumped up and down, hugged one another, cried, thanking GOD!!!!! Wow.
Closest thing I have ever experienced to a birth. You know, that moment of life and death. And then, a new life is born and on our planet.
RACHEL HAS A NEW LIFE!!!!!
So, why did I take you on this journey?
Because, this new life requires tending to.
She needs you and me and her family. Her life will be beautifully different in many ways.
Her new life comes at a cost; medical costs, different prescriptions that she will take for the rest of her life and an extended time staying in Seattle as she heals and recovers and ongoing medical costs.
Again, Rachel has always been private, since she was diagnosed. And now her story is out. She needs our help and support.
How can you help? In anyways big and small that you can, through this go fund me account. As well as your continued prayers and love.
Please post and re-post to spread the word!!!
In great appreciation and love,
Rachel's sister, Cecelia
In setting up this account, I want to provide a space for our people, our community to support and love Rachel.
As many of you know, Rach is a private beautiful woman who loves a simple life. Her story up until now has been very quiet. Only truly shared in glimpses with a few people. I am taking this opportunity to share her story and to inspire you to support her in her journey.
Rachel is the strongest woman I know. Up until now, she has always persevered, quietly living with an illness that was stealing her vitality and her life from her. In 2006, when she was 36 years old she started feeling really crummy. We all thought she had the flu. After being hospitalized, and many tests later she was diagnosed with Lupus. It was a weird year for our family, she looked alright but felt like crap, achy, sore, unable to do the same things that she "normally" used to do. She quickly had to start taking a ton of medication. She carried it all in a small piece of luggage. It became a part of her, there was Rachel, her purse and her bag. Again, hard to see and understand. Hospital visits started becoming a normalacy. Sometimes, Rachel and I, just to keep things light would joke about not wanting to taking any "field trips." (aka trips to the ER) Humor aside, she had several hospital stays, several set backs in her health. During one of her hospital stays in 2010 her team of doctors told her that she had the worst form of Lupus, Lupus Nephritis which attacks the kidneys.
In 2012, again during a hospitalization the team told her that the lupus had become so severe and had affected the kidneys so much, stage 4, that she would need to begin dialysis immediately. Dialysis. And High dosages of Prednisone.
Anyone who knows my dearest sister, Rachel Dixon, knows that she has been blessed with a beautiful, fiery, determined spirit. During the stormiest time of her illness she completed her MBA, bought a house, maintained full time work (other than a short period of time when she was on disability) and generally kicked butt.
Dialysis began during her hospitalization. She called it the "blood spa." Again, moving through a tough situation with her smile and just enough humor to get her through it. There were many days that she did not want to go to dialysis. But, she had to. Her life depended on it. She continued to choose life.
Rachel's kidneys recovered for a short period of time. The doctors thought she was a walking miracle, even saying to all of us "once you start dialysis you don't stop it just doesn't happen." Well, it did. During this short time, she went on her first vacation in a long time. She was free to do things that she never thought she would do again.
In 2014, she started feeling lethargic and crummy again. Knowing the feeling all to well, she knew, and the doctors knew. Time to start back up again. Something was different this time for Rachel. As you all know, she and Jesus have always been close. She knew in her heart that God had bigger plans for her. And it was up to her to utilize the gifts that God has given to her, those being her brilliance and determination to accomplish the next goal.
In December of 2014 she began extensive testing to be considered on the organ donor list through the University of Washington Medical Center. One of the best in our nation. She began her research and devoted time after work and on the weekends to this research. Life with a new kidney, brought many more questions, thoughts, fears and dreams to the surface.
On Friday, August 28th 2015 Rachel received the call that she had been waiting for, "Rachel this is the University of Washington Medical Center, we have the perfect kidney for you. " Whoa...Life became really real at this moment.
After a blur of phone calls, prayers, traveling at light speed during the night to reach Seattle by the next morning, Rachel went into surgery on Sunday August 30th at 3:30 pm to receive her kidney transplant. As you can imagine time between the phone call and surgery was emotional, tearful, exciting and prayerful.
So many prayer warriors. So many angels called upon.
We knew going into surgery that it could take up to 5 hours.
We all were in surgery waiting room, waiting, watching the screen, "Patient in surgery."
8:15 came and went, I looked at Drake (Rachel's man) and he looked back at all of us, "She's ok, she is still in the timeframe. It's ok. She is ok."
Seconds later, the screen changed, "surgery ending" seconds after that "patient to main recovery."
Dear Jesus!!!! Thank you Jesus, she did it!!!!!
We jumped up and down, hugged one another, cried, thanking GOD!!!!! Wow.
Closest thing I have ever experienced to a birth. You know, that moment of life and death. And then, a new life is born and on our planet.
RACHEL HAS A NEW LIFE!!!!!
So, why did I take you on this journey?
Because, this new life requires tending to.
She needs you and me and her family. Her life will be beautifully different in many ways.
Her new life comes at a cost; medical costs, different prescriptions that she will take for the rest of her life and an extended time staying in Seattle as she heals and recovers and ongoing medical costs.
Again, Rachel has always been private, since she was diagnosed. And now her story is out. She needs our help and support.
How can you help? In anyways big and small that you can, through this go fund me account. As well as your continued prayers and love.
Please post and re-post to spread the word!!!
In great appreciation and love,
Rachel's sister, Cecelia
Organizer and beneficiary
Cecelia McClellan
Organizer
Portland, OR
Rachel Dixon
Beneficiary