Debbie's Kidney Transplant

Hello My Name is Erica I am Debbie's sister. I would like to start off by telling you the story behind the reason for this fundraiser. It was back in 2005 When we first received the terrible news of my sister Debbie's need of a kidney transplant, she was only 17years old at the time. Our family was devastated by this news and felt that without proper funding we would lose the battle for a new kidney for debbie, this was all so new for us and we aren't a very wealthy family so we were very scared. We did everything we could to search for donors for her we as a family even got tested to see if any of us were a match, at this point it seemed the odds were against us. Debbie's need for the new kidney reached it's peak because her existing kidneys were already failing one was completely unfunctioning and the other only functioning at 10%, I remember the Dr telling us that Debbie wouldn't live to see her 20th birthday without an immediate transplant, this was very hard to hear. Now going back to all the family members being tested, I remember praying every night asking God to allow me to save my sister's life for some reason I just felt like This is something I was supposed to do, like I was made for this. Once we received our family's test reulsts, out of all who tested it was only three of us that were a match my mother, my sister's boyfriend at the time and myself. This was great news! As each of us received a separate phone call with results and reasons on why we could or could not do the donation , my sister's boyfriend at the time was told he was unable to donate due to the amount of weightloss required in such a short amount of time. My mother was told that she was unable to donate due to her previous bouts with kidney stones, As the pressure built up I waited patiently for my phone call hoping that I was able because I felt as if I were her last hope. I received the call and my prayers had been answered I was healthy enough to do the donation. I was so happy I could hardly hold it in, but with my overwhelming joy for being able to save her also came the reality of the risk involved for me. With no previous surgeries under my belt I was unaware if there would be any complications from anesthesia or anything else. It was so unnerving especially because I had two children at the time and a husband that was afraid of losing me. But despite the odds, the risks and the unknown things about the surgery I was completely confident that god had a plan for me and that in no way would he place me in any danger I felt that he chose me for this task and I would embrace it with no worry, no regret and no doubts that he would keep me safe. Although I will admit that I was a little nervous. I went through months of strict diets and multiple tests weekly monthly daily at times just so we were sure I was completely healthy for surgery. Then the big day came January 31, 2006. I was scared and excited all at once, I think the only thing that bothered me more than anything was saying goodbye to my Family(my boys). Surgery went well and I was told in the recovery room before I even woke up I was asking for my sister I was so persistent that I mustered up enough strength hours after the surgery and walked to the other side of the hospital completely engulfed in pain I walked at the pace of a toddler just learning how to walk again. When I reached her room she was so full of life it was as if she could dance around the room. I was so happy to see her be herself again after all that time spent being so sick, she was finally better. One memory I have that I'll never forget is carrying her into the house after her first dialysis and now seeing her ,that same girl is doing great! It took me about 2 full years to fully recover from the surgery and I am still not the same, well of course not a piece of me is missing although I do get frequent visits with them Debbie and (my kidney).I would without a doubt do it all over again if I could . Now that I told you that story let me fill you in on Debbie's current situation, with Debbie receiving what was said to be the best kind of transplant possible it also came with an expectancy kind of like a timeframe on how long the kidney would last, they told her 8 years. She has since surpassed that expectancy by 1 year but is now in need of a new kidney as mine is failing.she has been on dialysis for the last year and more recently allowed to do treatment at home which she received proper training for but she is reaching a point where she is becoming sicker and getting constant infections in her port site which requires her to be in the hospital for weeks at a time which in turn prevents her from maintaining a steady job. Along with that her current boyfriend is her main source of support when she has those long hospital stays he stays with her so it's also hard for him to maintain a steady job. Debbie has been on the tranplant recipient list for 6-8months now and has recently applied for an alternative program called The Swap Program. This program allows a person who doesn't match with the reciepient donate a kidney to a person who does match their blood type and in turn Debbie would receive a new kidney. I can say that giving a piece of you away is not easy infact there aren't many people who would commit and be willing to sacrifice everything for what's involved in organ donation. It takes a special person so selfless to do such a thing with that being said my sister's current boyfriend Jeff has applied and was approved for The Swap Program. He Will donate a kidney to someone in need in order for my sister to receive one, even though he can't give her his this man is willing to donate to a complete stranger in order to save my sister's life. He is amazing. After learning all about my family's sacrifices and struggles I hope you find some kindness in your heart to help with any donation you can so that my sister can stay afloat during her recovery from her 2nd kidney transplant as her and Jeff take this journey together. No donation is too small we appreciate everything. Surgery is scheduled for January 14th 2016 assuming everything goes as planned and I will post updates here as we receive them. Thank you all in advance and remember to pray because God is listening even when you think he's not.