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On Sunday November 29th, I will run the Space Coast Marathon. I want to use this run as an opportunity to help the daughter of an old friend. Her name is Annalise. Annalise has been a Type 1 diabetic since 1996, when she was 13 years old. Things have been rough over the years with her health.
The diabetes has caused a number of other health problems. It has caused Annalise to have cataract surgery twice in both eyes. She also suffers from diabetic neuropathy in her legs. Over the years, Annalise has had countless visits to the ER as well as extended hospital stays and numerous ICU stays.
Tragically in 2012 things hit an all time low. In February she got shingles. It was very painful, but did not prepare her for what was to come in November of 2012. Annalise ended up in the ER for what she thought was a bad flu. However, after being sent home untreated, she knew something was wrong, as she could not get out of bed for the entire day. So she went back to the ER again that night and insisted they check her out because she knew something was not right.
And thank God she followed her gut! While waiting for her labwork, Annalise had fallen asleep. Only to be awaken by a group of doctors surrounding her. They announced that they were prepping her for emergency surgery. She needed to start dialysis immediately. Annalise had ESRD (end stage renal disease), stage 5 kidney failure!
Since that night, Annalise has been on dialysis 3 days a week for 3-4 hours at a time. She has also developed high blood pressure and anemia (requiring blood transfusions) since starting dialysis.
Because of her age, and the fact that she has a daughter to live for, doctors in St. Croix suggest she do what she could to get on the transplant list. But not for a kidney...Annalise needs a kidney and a pancreas. Which means that she needs those organs from someone who has passed away, as one cannot donate a pancreas like they can donate one of their kidneys.
Sadly, living in St. Croix made this an impossibility. With no private insurance, she could not get on the list, as VI Medicaid does not cover the supplemental cost after Medicare's payment. And there are no transplant centers on the island.
Annalise was able to save for 2 1/2 years to get to the US. It was a long journey with many obstacles, including a home burglary, while she was at dialysis, where all her savings were stolen, and she had to start over. But now she is in Ohio, living with a family she actually grew up around in St. Croix.
Now the journey is just beginning. I need your help. She needs help to transition into a home for her and her daughter. She has almost nothing to her name. No home, no car, nothing. She does not qualify for disability because of her limited work history. She is waiting for a decision on receiving SSI, but they say it can take up to 6 months to hear the final decision. She is trying to start her life in Ohio so she can be where she needs to be to get the help she needs. She needs help getting to and from appointments with the transplant team. She needs help to get her life going and hopefuly get the call that there is a match waiting for her.
From Annalise:
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I cannot express how much all of this means to me. I have uprooted my life and left everything to come to Ohio. I could not stay on St. Croix any longer. With my only option being dialysis,3 days a week for the rest of my life, I had to do something to change that reality. So now, here I am. My daughter and I are so grateful to have a roof over our heads and the opprtunity to receive the healthcare I need. But times are tough. We really need a space of our own. At the moment we are sharing a very small bedroom. I know it probably won't happen too quickly, and I am ok waiting for things to happen in their own time. The most important thing for me right now, is getting my transplant. If you can donate any amount, I would be eternally grateful. Please share this page and my story. Keep me and my daughter in your prayers.
If you would like to talk, ask questions, offer advice....feel free to email me at [email redacted]
Again, thank you for your time and anything you can do to help.
The diabetes has caused a number of other health problems. It has caused Annalise to have cataract surgery twice in both eyes. She also suffers from diabetic neuropathy in her legs. Over the years, Annalise has had countless visits to the ER as well as extended hospital stays and numerous ICU stays.
Tragically in 2012 things hit an all time low. In February she got shingles. It was very painful, but did not prepare her for what was to come in November of 2012. Annalise ended up in the ER for what she thought was a bad flu. However, after being sent home untreated, she knew something was wrong, as she could not get out of bed for the entire day. So she went back to the ER again that night and insisted they check her out because she knew something was not right.
And thank God she followed her gut! While waiting for her labwork, Annalise had fallen asleep. Only to be awaken by a group of doctors surrounding her. They announced that they were prepping her for emergency surgery. She needed to start dialysis immediately. Annalise had ESRD (end stage renal disease), stage 5 kidney failure!
Since that night, Annalise has been on dialysis 3 days a week for 3-4 hours at a time. She has also developed high blood pressure and anemia (requiring blood transfusions) since starting dialysis.
Because of her age, and the fact that she has a daughter to live for, doctors in St. Croix suggest she do what she could to get on the transplant list. But not for a kidney...Annalise needs a kidney and a pancreas. Which means that she needs those organs from someone who has passed away, as one cannot donate a pancreas like they can donate one of their kidneys.
Sadly, living in St. Croix made this an impossibility. With no private insurance, she could not get on the list, as VI Medicaid does not cover the supplemental cost after Medicare's payment. And there are no transplant centers on the island.
Annalise was able to save for 2 1/2 years to get to the US. It was a long journey with many obstacles, including a home burglary, while she was at dialysis, where all her savings were stolen, and she had to start over. But now she is in Ohio, living with a family she actually grew up around in St. Croix.
Now the journey is just beginning. I need your help. She needs help to transition into a home for her and her daughter. She has almost nothing to her name. No home, no car, nothing. She does not qualify for disability because of her limited work history. She is waiting for a decision on receiving SSI, but they say it can take up to 6 months to hear the final decision. She is trying to start her life in Ohio so she can be where she needs to be to get the help she needs. She needs help getting to and from appointments with the transplant team. She needs help to get her life going and hopefuly get the call that there is a match waiting for her.
From Annalise:
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I cannot express how much all of this means to me. I have uprooted my life and left everything to come to Ohio. I could not stay on St. Croix any longer. With my only option being dialysis,3 days a week for the rest of my life, I had to do something to change that reality. So now, here I am. My daughter and I are so grateful to have a roof over our heads and the opprtunity to receive the healthcare I need. But times are tough. We really need a space of our own. At the moment we are sharing a very small bedroom. I know it probably won't happen too quickly, and I am ok waiting for things to happen in their own time. The most important thing for me right now, is getting my transplant. If you can donate any amount, I would be eternally grateful. Please share this page and my story. Keep me and my daughter in your prayers.
If you would like to talk, ask questions, offer advice....feel free to email me at [email redacted]
Again, thank you for your time and anything you can do to help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Annalise Thibou
Beneficiary