Raise money for expenses for a kidney transplant

Hi all. My name is Amanda. I'm here to raise money to help cover the costs of my upcoming kidney transplant. I have finally been approved for transplant at Mayo Clinic Phoenix and am now listed on the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing)

website as of 11/21/23. I'm beyond excited and am truly blessed with this opportunity. I have hoped for this day for so long and truly cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity.

A bit of my history. I've been on dialysis for 7 years. I was on peritoneal dialysis beggining December 2016 until September 2023. I was switched to hemodialysis in center dialysis on the advice of Mayo Clinic that same month. I have made many changes to my life to slow the progress of my kidney disease through the years including losing 100+pounds via gastric bypass surgery, controlling my diabetes (current A1c is 5.4) and switching to a low sodium diet. However, I do have a very aggressive form of diabetes and all the changes were not enough to slow the kidney disease.

Now that I am on the waiting list I know my number will be called soon. The average wait time for a transplant at Mayo Phoenix is 3-5 years. Your wait time starts the day you begin dialysis thus I have 7 years under my belt.

Some of the requirements for transplant include staying in Phoenix for 6-8 weeks post transplant to ensure the kidney is properly working and minimizing the chance of rejection. I live in NM and will need to rent an Airbnb as all my meals will need to be home-cooked for those first 2 months. (What am I going to do without Chick-fil-A nuggets during that time! Cringe!!!) The cost of room and board is why I am asking for your help. Unfortunately, it is snow bird season right now in Phoenix and its a bit more costly to find a place to rent that can accommodate me and my mom as she will be my caregiver.

Kidney disease has been hard on me physically and emotionally and it truly humbles me to ask for help but I need this transplant for a better life and to feel energetic again. I look forward to the day I can take my dog for a walk and not feel I'm weak after only a few steps. There is still so much of my life to live and I want the chance to embrace all that life has to offer.

I'm asking for your help in ensuring I can get this transplant and have a safe, secure and suitable environment for my post transplant recovery.

This transplant will provide a new life for me. My best friend calls it Amanda 2.0 and she's right. This is a chance to be the best version of myself that I can be. Again, I humbly ask for your help in making my dream of a kidney transplant a dream come true. Thank you for reading this and possibly donating to this life saving and life altering opportunity.

Best wishes to you all!

Amanda