Ripley’s Kidney Transplant

This is Ripley. A rambunctious toddler in need of a kidney.

Ripley was born 6 weeks early with an obstruction that caused his bladder to swell and damage his kidneys. He was flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital before he was even a day old.

Over the next few weeks we learned Ripley had ESRD- End Stage Renal Disease. Ripley would eventually need a kidney transplant. Ripley went through multiple surgeries and we learned how to do dialysis at home.

Ripley is now on the transplant list waiting for a living or deceased donor kidney.

Chronic health conditions like these lead to many healthcare related expenses.

Medication, supplies, travel, lodging, meals, etc. but when searching for a living organ donor, these expenses expand to also include travel, lodging, and support for Ripley’s future donor’s needs and recovery as well. Every dollar might mean his donor not having to pay for even a drink with their lunch in the hospital one day.

If someone is willing to give Ripley a kidney, the last thing we want is them to have to cover their own expenses.

Due to Ripley’s age, he will likely need multiple kidney transplants across his life span. Transplant seems like the end of one journey but it’s the start of a much longer one that we hope carries Ripley for many years to come. As a result, these expenses will be ongoing and likely get more expensive over time as needs change.

Every dollar is a bet on Ripley finding the perfect kidney.

If donation isn’t an option for you right now, and we totally get that it’s not, consider visiting https://ripley.love to be screened for organ donation. You may not be a match for Ripley, but you may be a match for someone!