Shaun’s Kidney Transplant Journey
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Shaun’s Kidney Transplant Journey
This isn’t something easy to write to ask others for help. I had really hoped we would be able to host a BBQ Fundraiser for Shaun and Erin– but with COVID, that will not be possible. So please take a moment to read through.
For many of you who have known myself or my family growing up would have known that my brother, Shaun was a Type 1 Diabetic. Shaun was born with Type 1 Diabetes but went undiagnosed until Grade 4, age 10. Already by this age significant damage had been done to his kidneys due to his blood sugars being out of whack for so long. When Shaun was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic in 1993 – Insulin pumps were not readily available and once more available were not made accessible to ‘older’ kids except at significant costs – which my family could not afford. Diabetic insulin and supplies are already not a covered medical expense.
Shaun knew himself he was getting sick over the past few years but as most of you also know we lost our Dad very suddenly in 2017 to an aggressive cancer that gave us a mere 3 weeks warning. At this time Shaun put his own health aside and focused on trying to pick up the pieces and giant hole that was left by my Dad. My Mom required a lot of support to help her continue farm operations and grieve the loss of our Dad. In the summer of 2019 Shaun became very ill – he was hospitalized and diagnosed originally with pneumonia. After 10 days in the Courtenay hospital he was transferred to the Nanaimo hospital with the news his kidneys had stopped functioning. His amazing partner, Erin was by his side for every minute of those days.
Fast forward to now, Shaun has been on dialysis since September 2019 and awaiting a kidney transplant. He is hopeful within the next few months he will get a call. When he gets the ‘call’ he has 12 hours to get to Vancouver. A kidney transplant is not a small undertaking emotionally, physically or financially. This journey means multiple trips to Vancouver for tests and the significant impact is living away from home in Vancouver for 3 months after the surgery. Both Shaun and Erin will not be able to work during this time and is unknown when they will be able to return to work after the transplant. Short term accommodation in Vancouver can be very costly coupled with not having any income for many months makes this a challenging situation. Shaun’s is self-employed, with no benefit coverage for any of his diabetic supplies, which alone are $350 a month. Shaun’s work is physical and he will be restricted on any heavy lifting for at least 6 months after the surgery.
They do not want me reaching out for support but I am looking to try and make the financial burden a little less on them both as they take on this major life event.
This isn’t something easy to write to ask others for help. I had really hoped we would be able to host a BBQ Fundraiser for Shaun and Erin– but with COVID, that will not be possible. So please take a moment to read through.
For many of you who have known myself or my family growing up would have known that my brother, Shaun was a Type 1 Diabetic. Shaun was born with Type 1 Diabetes but went undiagnosed until Grade 4, age 10. Already by this age significant damage had been done to his kidneys due to his blood sugars being out of whack for so long. When Shaun was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic in 1993 – Insulin pumps were not readily available and once more available were not made accessible to ‘older’ kids except at significant costs – which my family could not afford. Diabetic insulin and supplies are already not a covered medical expense.
Shaun knew himself he was getting sick over the past few years but as most of you also know we lost our Dad very suddenly in 2017 to an aggressive cancer that gave us a mere 3 weeks warning. At this time Shaun put his own health aside and focused on trying to pick up the pieces and giant hole that was left by my Dad. My Mom required a lot of support to help her continue farm operations and grieve the loss of our Dad. In the summer of 2019 Shaun became very ill – he was hospitalized and diagnosed originally with pneumonia. After 10 days in the Courtenay hospital he was transferred to the Nanaimo hospital with the news his kidneys had stopped functioning. His amazing partner, Erin was by his side for every minute of those days.
Fast forward to now, Shaun has been on dialysis since September 2019 and awaiting a kidney transplant. He is hopeful within the next few months he will get a call. When he gets the ‘call’ he has 12 hours to get to Vancouver. A kidney transplant is not a small undertaking emotionally, physically or financially. This journey means multiple trips to Vancouver for tests and the significant impact is living away from home in Vancouver for 3 months after the surgery. Both Shaun and Erin will not be able to work during this time and is unknown when they will be able to return to work after the transplant. Short term accommodation in Vancouver can be very costly coupled with not having any income for many months makes this a challenging situation. Shaun’s is self-employed, with no benefit coverage for any of his diabetic supplies, which alone are $350 a month. Shaun’s work is physical and he will be restricted on any heavy lifting for at least 6 months after the surgery.
They do not want me reaching out for support but I am looking to try and make the financial burden a little less on them both as they take on this major life event.
Organizer
Myrna Langenmaier
Organizer
Courtenay, BC