Patrick Reed kidney transplant recovery
12/5 update: YOU are AMAZING! We exceeded our modest goal in less than 3 days!!! And that leaves room to either stop hoping or shoot for the moon, and I'm opting for the latter. I've revised the goal by 50% - pretty lofty, but definitely needed to sustain the recovery (income loss, expensive and lifelong medicine, PT, etc.).
After several challenging years of disappointments*, my dear friend, Patrick Reed, has secured a live kidney transplant! His surgery is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2018 . Patrick has remained positive during this whole ordeal, and I would like to help him and his family in assisting in his recovery efforts.
Over the next two months, Patrick will face his next big challenge: a successful recovery before returning to "regular life" activities (what a blessing that is!). He won't be able to work for approximately 2 months (can't lift above 10 lbs. or exercise beyond walking for about 6 weeks), and anyone who has received disability pay (about half your normal income)knows that it isn't enough to cover daily expenses, much less recovery-related medical costs.
The holiday season at the Reed home will be sparse but GRATEFUL this year, and I hope our community of friends and family can ease their burden by contributing whatever they are able.
For those who don't know the Reeds: This fall, Pat's daughter, Veronica, started college @ Pat's alum (UofA) RIVAL - ASU (updated to correct my mistake). His son, Sacha, is midst high school challenges and discoveries. His wife, Svetlana, teaches Acting at CSU Fullerton and works professionally when the opportunities arise. And Pat has had a varied, interesting career in sales and entertainment, still jams with musician friends whenever he can, and is one of the most humble people you could hope to meet.
Patrick and I went to college together, and I now work with his wife Svetlana. The theatre community is small, but our relationships are fierce and long (outliving the art we created by a long shot). They are wonderfully warm, talented, generous, funny, adventurous, passionate, loyal and kind. I hope that we, friends, might offer them a little reprieve after their long ordeal to secure a chance at a normal, healthy and long life together! Thank you for ANYTHING you are able to offer - it will mean the world to them.
* April 2017 - after two months of testing, Patrick is officially placed on the transplant list
August 2017 - he reached stage 5 renal failure with 15% (and waning) kidney function
December 2017 - had surgery to place a catheter and begin peritoneal dialysis. 2 donors made it to the final tests but were disqualified. (Insurance will only test 1 person at a time and tests can take 3-4 months, and everything is driven by the donor's availability.)
November 2018 - After another donor (3 now) had been disqualified, Dan Evers is nearly cleared as a donor, having completed nearly all of the tests for compatibility. Scheduled for surgery the morning of December 7th ("a day that will live in infamy"). Recovery will be grueling. God will guide the surgeon's hands and all going to be just fine. ❤