Paige’s “Dialysis Drive”
Donation protected
Paige's Story:
Paige is eleven years old. She is the oldest of 5 children in the Turner family.
When she was 15 months old, Paige was diagnosed with an auto immune disorder that prevented her kidneys from functioning properly. Over the next ten years she has suffered through the trials of an ever-escalating medical situation involving years of various treatments, surgeries, blood transfusions, and harsh medications. She has experienced long hospital and ICU stays when her chances for survival became bleak.
Just before Paige’s fifth birthday, both of her kidneys had to be removed to prevent further life-threatening
complications. Her dad, Aaron, donated a kidney to Paige when she was 6 years old. Unfortunately, despite everyones best efforts, the transplant soon failed. Again, with a second transplant 2 years later, the medications and treatments were unsuccessful in stopping Paige's over-reactive immune system it, too, also failed quickly. The medications only resulted in many difficult side effects such as pain, hair loss, stunted growth, blood clots, and lymphoma cancer.
Paige's team of oncologists found that the only hope to curb her stage 3 cancer was to reduce her immunosuppressive medications to let her body fight it naturally. At that time, Paige's team of doctors at Primary Childrens Hospital informed Aaron and Vanae that their daughter’s auto immune disorder was the worst case that many of them had seen.
Paige’s medical team is not willing to consider her for another kidney transplant, presumably until adulthood, if she is able to live that long. She is doing remarkably well at the present time and has not been admitted for several months but, as far as other options, there is little hope of a future kidney transplant suceeding very long. They would understandably be able to better use available organs for people that would be more likely able to benefit from them.
The only way for Paige to survive currently, is for her parents or grandma to drive the 400 mile round trip to the Primary Children’s Medical Center Dialysis Unit in Salt Lake City which is the closest unit that can help Paige. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Paige needs to be at the unit by 6:30AM for Dialysis treatments, in order to return home in time for the last hour or two of school. This has been a significant part of the prolonged physical, emotional, and financial strain on the whole family. Between admissions, treatments, and clinicals, Paige has been at various hospitals and medical facilities an estimated 900 days during her life so far.
Despite the odds, Paige is currently doing great at mostly keeping up with schoolwork and her piano lessons. She loves to work on crafts and she recently helped make a quilt for her bed. This summer she made beautiful flowers out of construction paper for the nurses and other kids at the hospital.
Paige loves to tell jokes. She loves to laugh at minions and to quote funny movies. She loves animals. She likes bacon and other salty foods that are limited by her diet. One day Paige would like to have a family of her own. She would like to become an author. Last year she wrote some short stories about Ninja turtles, for her little brother Teigan.
Aaron and Vanae have not asked for financial help. They and their family have been loving and caring for Paige and their other children and will continue to do their best.
We want to help their family and are hoping that you would please consider helping them, also. As a specific "gofundme" goal to help the Turners, we are seeking money for part of the estimated travel expenses to transport Paige for dialysis for one year. Travel expenses consist of vehicle maintenence, repairs, travel food, and fuel (Fuel could be estimated at $10,000. 400 miles round trip, 3 times per week at 20 mpg, $3.00/gal for 52 weeks). This will help with many travel expenses and perhaps some of the other continuing medical and associated expenses needed to keep Paige well as the goal is approached and exceeded.
Combining our financial contributions will be a tremendous relief for Paige’s family, and will allow them to provide more focus on her well-being. The opportunity for you to contribute will last until our “gofundme” goal is met or passed. You can follow our progress with this goal on our Facebook group:
Paige’s “Dialysis Drive”
Thank you for your interest and hopefully your contribution to Paige and her family. We love them and we love you for your thoughtful kindness.
Note from Aaron & Vanae:
To give credit where it is due, Thanks to the wonderful Phelps family for their kindness in setting up this GoFundMe account, the facebook group, and for sharing them with everyone.
They have started a wave of emotional support from many people. It is very humbling for us.
As with all our friends and family, and all who share thier love and support, They are angels to our family. Everyone needs an angel sometimes.
Paige is eleven years old. She is the oldest of 5 children in the Turner family.
When she was 15 months old, Paige was diagnosed with an auto immune disorder that prevented her kidneys from functioning properly. Over the next ten years she has suffered through the trials of an ever-escalating medical situation involving years of various treatments, surgeries, blood transfusions, and harsh medications. She has experienced long hospital and ICU stays when her chances for survival became bleak.
Just before Paige’s fifth birthday, both of her kidneys had to be removed to prevent further life-threatening
complications. Her dad, Aaron, donated a kidney to Paige when she was 6 years old. Unfortunately, despite everyones best efforts, the transplant soon failed. Again, with a second transplant 2 years later, the medications and treatments were unsuccessful in stopping Paige's over-reactive immune system it, too, also failed quickly. The medications only resulted in many difficult side effects such as pain, hair loss, stunted growth, blood clots, and lymphoma cancer.
Paige's team of oncologists found that the only hope to curb her stage 3 cancer was to reduce her immunosuppressive medications to let her body fight it naturally. At that time, Paige's team of doctors at Primary Childrens Hospital informed Aaron and Vanae that their daughter’s auto immune disorder was the worst case that many of them had seen.
Paige’s medical team is not willing to consider her for another kidney transplant, presumably until adulthood, if she is able to live that long. She is doing remarkably well at the present time and has not been admitted for several months but, as far as other options, there is little hope of a future kidney transplant suceeding very long. They would understandably be able to better use available organs for people that would be more likely able to benefit from them.
The only way for Paige to survive currently, is for her parents or grandma to drive the 400 mile round trip to the Primary Children’s Medical Center Dialysis Unit in Salt Lake City which is the closest unit that can help Paige. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Paige needs to be at the unit by 6:30AM for Dialysis treatments, in order to return home in time for the last hour or two of school. This has been a significant part of the prolonged physical, emotional, and financial strain on the whole family. Between admissions, treatments, and clinicals, Paige has been at various hospitals and medical facilities an estimated 900 days during her life so far.
Despite the odds, Paige is currently doing great at mostly keeping up with schoolwork and her piano lessons. She loves to work on crafts and she recently helped make a quilt for her bed. This summer she made beautiful flowers out of construction paper for the nurses and other kids at the hospital.
Paige loves to tell jokes. She loves to laugh at minions and to quote funny movies. She loves animals. She likes bacon and other salty foods that are limited by her diet. One day Paige would like to have a family of her own. She would like to become an author. Last year she wrote some short stories about Ninja turtles, for her little brother Teigan.
Aaron and Vanae have not asked for financial help. They and their family have been loving and caring for Paige and their other children and will continue to do their best.
We want to help their family and are hoping that you would please consider helping them, also. As a specific "gofundme" goal to help the Turners, we are seeking money for part of the estimated travel expenses to transport Paige for dialysis for one year. Travel expenses consist of vehicle maintenence, repairs, travel food, and fuel (Fuel could be estimated at $10,000. 400 miles round trip, 3 times per week at 20 mpg, $3.00/gal for 52 weeks). This will help with many travel expenses and perhaps some of the other continuing medical and associated expenses needed to keep Paige well as the goal is approached and exceeded.
Combining our financial contributions will be a tremendous relief for Paige’s family, and will allow them to provide more focus on her well-being. The opportunity for you to contribute will last until our “gofundme” goal is met or passed. You can follow our progress with this goal on our Facebook group:
Paige’s “Dialysis Drive”
Thank you for your interest and hopefully your contribution to Paige and her family. We love them and we love you for your thoughtful kindness.
Note from Aaron & Vanae:
To give credit where it is due, Thanks to the wonderful Phelps family for their kindness in setting up this GoFundMe account, the facebook group, and for sharing them with everyone.
They have started a wave of emotional support from many people. It is very humbling for us.
As with all our friends and family, and all who share thier love and support, They are angels to our family. Everyone needs an angel sometimes.
Organizer
Phelps Family
Organizer
Blackfoot, ID