Renn Strong for Multiple Organ Transplant
Donation protected
My name is Jeff Bowes and I'm asking everyone to take a moment of their time to get to know one of the best guys and friends I've ever had and his journey as of late so let's begin. Chris and Tahlia Renn are an active, happy, giving, Christian couple that have been married for almost 4 years. Chris has been my lifelong best friend, more like a brother. He has touched so many people with his positive outlook and fun loving attitude. He has always been there for me or anyone else that needed help, even if it was just to listen. He was there for me when I was facing my toughest battle through three open heart procedures. Now Chris is in the middle of his toughest battle facing three transplants. His wife Tahlia has been there for him through everything, missing work to take him to appointments and procedures. Once he goes in for surgery she will have to be by his side 24 hours a day to take care of him. This will put her out of work for at least six months. I know a lot of people have asked what they can do. I'm asking for your donation to help give Chris the support he needs to have a long healthy life, just as he asked for me. The expense associated with these transplants including hospitalization, medications, therapy, home health care, living expenses etc., will go well into the 7 digits.
When Chris was just 19 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and had surgery to remove the cancer as well as his spleen. He was treated at Duke University Hospital with radiation to his neck and abdomen, which successfully rid him of cancer. Then he was able to live a healthy life and went on to pursue his career with Revlon Inc., where he has worked for 20 years.
Chris and Tahlia started dating in 2011. After three years they got married in Aug 2014 and enjoyed life as any newlyweds would hope to. Less than a year into their marriage Chris began to show signs of health issues. After a few months of troubleshooting with his family doctor, he was finally scheduled for an upper endoscopy in Jan 2016 . During this procedure they found that scar tissue had created a blockage in his bile ducts, going from his liver to his intestines, which ended up killing most of his liver. This resulted in many infections and complications caused by the toxins that had backed up in his system. It has been an ongoing battle since then with hospitalizations for many things including pericarditis, blood infections, multiple surgeries and procedures. On April 6, 2016 he was scheduled for surgery and had 40% of his liver removed, gallbladder and a portion of his damaged intestines. His intestines were rerouted to his liver to function as new bile ducts. He has been sent home with open wounds and biliary tubes to help his liver drain. In November of 2017 Chris started having digestive issues and found out his duodenum had closed up do to scar tissue. On November 30th he went into surgery to reroute his intestine to his stomach and bypassed the duodenum all together. Chris is still recovering and has been on and off of TPN (intravenous nutrition) because of his inability to digest food and gain weight. On New Years Eve Chris was rushed to the hospital having trouble breathing. They found a large amounts of fluid around his lung and heart which needed to be removed.
Chris is being treated at Duke University Hospital and will receive his transplant surgery here as well. He is now going through multiple tests in preparation to receive three organs: liver, pancreas and intestines. This will require a three month hospitalization, many medications, physical therapy, home health care as well as other expenses.
Tahlia has been by Chris's side through everything. It's my hope that we can all help them through this unbelievably difficult journey. Tahlia will have to be out of work for 6 months or more as his primary care giver. Please donate to help support Chris and Tahlia as they work hard to get back to living a healthy and active life together.
www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisrenn
Donations may also be sent to:
Chris and Tahlia Renn
915 Quail Ave
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Thank you, Jeff Bowes
When Chris was just 19 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and had surgery to remove the cancer as well as his spleen. He was treated at Duke University Hospital with radiation to his neck and abdomen, which successfully rid him of cancer. Then he was able to live a healthy life and went on to pursue his career with Revlon Inc., where he has worked for 20 years.
Chris and Tahlia started dating in 2011. After three years they got married in Aug 2014 and enjoyed life as any newlyweds would hope to. Less than a year into their marriage Chris began to show signs of health issues. After a few months of troubleshooting with his family doctor, he was finally scheduled for an upper endoscopy in Jan 2016 . During this procedure they found that scar tissue had created a blockage in his bile ducts, going from his liver to his intestines, which ended up killing most of his liver. This resulted in many infections and complications caused by the toxins that had backed up in his system. It has been an ongoing battle since then with hospitalizations for many things including pericarditis, blood infections, multiple surgeries and procedures. On April 6, 2016 he was scheduled for surgery and had 40% of his liver removed, gallbladder and a portion of his damaged intestines. His intestines were rerouted to his liver to function as new bile ducts. He has been sent home with open wounds and biliary tubes to help his liver drain. In November of 2017 Chris started having digestive issues and found out his duodenum had closed up do to scar tissue. On November 30th he went into surgery to reroute his intestine to his stomach and bypassed the duodenum all together. Chris is still recovering and has been on and off of TPN (intravenous nutrition) because of his inability to digest food and gain weight. On New Years Eve Chris was rushed to the hospital having trouble breathing. They found a large amounts of fluid around his lung and heart which needed to be removed.
Chris is being treated at Duke University Hospital and will receive his transplant surgery here as well. He is now going through multiple tests in preparation to receive three organs: liver, pancreas and intestines. This will require a three month hospitalization, many medications, physical therapy, home health care as well as other expenses.
Tahlia has been by Chris's side through everything. It's my hope that we can all help them through this unbelievably difficult journey. Tahlia will have to be out of work for 6 months or more as his primary care giver. Please donate to help support Chris and Tahlia as they work hard to get back to living a healthy and active life together.
www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisrenn
Donations may also be sent to:
Chris and Tahlia Renn
915 Quail Ave
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Thank you, Jeff Bowes
Organizer
Jeff Bowes
Organizer
Wake Forest, NC
