Hi, my names Raquel Estrada, a now 50 year old mother of 2, wife, nurse, who is now unable to work.

In 2021 I fell ill while at work. Left work at 2 a.m. just to end up in the ER with a kidney stone & SEPSIS, that required months of treatment. Had other diagnosis that i tell nyself i should have picked up on those symptoms. But i cant go back to change my past, so now i live with it & keep pushing forward.

In 2022 i had a carpal/ulnrmar tunnel surgery on my left hand. Recovery went smooth but 3 weeks after that surgery i became ill & couldnt stop vomiting for days, & although i kept refusing to go to the ER, not for vomiting. My husband & my son kept trying to convince me. One early morning- woke up still vomiting. My son woke up my husband & they called 911. My heart rate was high & i knew that, couldnt catch my breath. Ambulance took me to ER. My heart rate was in the 150s, i was told fast what to expect- scared me more- heart rate went up higher. Next thing i saw the cart be pushed into my room & everything went black.

I remember opening my eyes briefly - i got shocked.

Next time i opened my eyes- weeks later, intubated with my hands tied to the side of bed rails. Couldnt speak, couldnt really move. I was scared & wondering what THE HECK HAPPENED.

Staff talking gently to me, i tried to talk, could not. I do remember someone talking me nort to pull on anything i guess i was trying to free myself- my husband briefed me on what had happened in the ER & how i ended in the ICU. A Doctor had asked me what day it was - i remember answering it was Sept 16, 2022. It was not. We were already in October ☹️.

Apparently i needed a blood transfusion in the ER. I got one & although the hospital did everything right i ended up with a reaction that attacked my lungs & my kidneys. Again nothing the hospital or staff did it was later found it was a "Protein" the donor had in his blood - that its never tested for, that i had a reaction to. I was

Intubated & later while in ICU started on hemodialysis. Still in a medically induced coma. My husband agreed to start me on dialysis & keep me alive.

I spent 2.5 months in the hospital, Several units. ICU multiple times in that stay. List my ability to walk or even move around in my bed. i spent 2 weeks in a rehabilitation center- i missed my son's 9th birthday among other things. I was finally discharged home with Hospital equipment & therapist to continue helping gain my ability to walk.

Technically i was still employed & had medical insurance at that point.

But that soon ended. My boss had texted me IN december 2022 that id be let go. I had NO RETURN TO WORK DATE, & i had been out on medical leave since February of 2021 for obvious reasons.

My medical insurance ended Dec 31, 2022. Found myself scrambling to find an insurance carriar ASAP. I had hemodialysis every other day & paying out of pocket. My savings dwindled fast. Leaving medical bills to my husband, along with house bills & children.

2024 has been a rough year, although nothing beats 2021, 2022. I switched from hemodialysis to Peritoneal dialysis in Aoril 2023. There was just noway I could continue with Hemodialysis. The depression became too much & i honestly contemplated ending it all i just could not find a way that my children wouldnt find me. I got help. Was put on meds that didnt help other than making go back to thinking how else could i unalive myself. Meds changed- and it has worked & still working.

I tried desperately getting off hemodialysis, changed drastically my diet with whatever the dietician suggested but it did not work, I had to continue dialysis until I got a kidney transplant.

I switched to PD & clinic, met my PD NURSE, Patti & she & I clicked immefiately. Loved her, still love her - sadly she retired. Hasnt been the same. But i still keep in touch with her ❤️ & i hope to have her by my side after a kidney transplant. She truly gave me HOPE.

Now i find myself humbly finding ways to raise money to pay my MEDICAL BILLS that keep coming. Dialysis is NOT CHEAP, SUPPLIES, ARENT CHEAP.

I was given my xmas miracle earlier this month. UCSD has found me a LIVING DONOR now my/our focus is fundraising for the upcoming medical bills. Especially post transplant. Insurance only pays so much. Rest will be up to me.

So if youfind it in your heart to DONATE - will be insanely appreciated & will be forever indebted to you all.

I was put in this journey never in a million years anticipating it but im going with it i have 2 children that ive asked the universe to allow me to raise inro adulthood & be at their side for every milestone reached & accomplished -

Thankful for all the help i/weve receiced this far from everybody - truly BLESSED.

I just need to finish this journey & LIVE LIFE, maybe even return back to work as a Nurse - hey it could be a possibility ‍♀️ definitely give my babies the mother i use to be before all this occured. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️