Rikki's Kidney Fund

About 6 months ago I found out that I have a kidney disease called Iga Nephropathy. A lot of people who find out they have this find out in the early stages and are able to treat it before things get too bad. For me though, by the time this was discovered my kidneys were already damaged significantly and I was told I would need to start dialysis and get a kidney transplant.

Since my diagnosis my kidney function has continued to go down and my kidneys are currently working at below 10%. I had to have my first surgery ever to insert a port into me to start an at-home dialysis treatment, and me and my family are currently in the process of seeing if any of them will be a match for me to get a new kidney from.

These past 6 months have been the hardest months of my entire life, coming to terms with this new reality was hard on its own but it also came with many days of constant physical pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt, mental anguish and hurt, doubting and questioning of my faith and trust in the Lord, and so many other emotions all at one time. For my usual happy, go lucky self, that made things even harder to deal with, I felt like I was becoming someone else completely, and in some ways, I am.

Even as I type this I’m still dealing with all of those things above but one thing that I think is beginning to change within me is my outlook on it all. This is real. It’s not going anywhere. I can choose to be miserable with this new life of mine or I can choose to rejoice in the fact that God still has me on this Earth and he will find a way to use this situation for my good and for his glory. I don’t know what the future holds, which is a scary thought, but I know for certain no matter what that God is right beside me through it all giving me the love, power, peace, and strength I need to push through and never give up.

I am hopeful that my mom will be a match for my new kidney and that by the end of the year the transplant surgery will happen! In the mean time I would like to start raising money to cover medical costs so far during this journey, as well as the costs that will soon follow once the transplant happens and after since I'll have to be on anti-rejection medicine for the rest of my life and will have to take a few months off of work while I recover. Any donation is greatly appreciated and prayers and encouraging words are also greatly appreciated. :) Thank you!