Support for our Friend Ben Doerksen

Sarah Erickson is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Ben Doerksen.

Donation protected

Hello friends, my name is Sarah and I'm writing this note to you to let you know that our dear friend Ben needs help.

As some of you already know or you are just learning now, on July 28th, 2021, Ben was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney disease- Stage 4 Kidney Failure. This was incredibly shocking and difficult news for Ben to receive as he had no observable symptoms until late May, up until this point he was feeling mostly normal and working full-time. The initial and subtle onset of his symptoms resulted in a trip to the emergency room with soaring blood pressure, a serious lung infection (pneumonia which is gone- multiple covid tests were all negative), bookmarking the beginning of this next chapter of his life. Now, after 2 hospital stays and weeks of blood tests, ultrasounds, EKG, echocardiogram, x-rays, and ultimately a kidney biopsy, Ben has been told the shocking and life-changing news his kidneys are rapidly deteriorating and are currently functioning at only about 10%. Sadly Kidney failure is usually incurable once at this level of disease.

So, what does this all mean for Ben?

As Ben has come to learn, recent estimates suggest that as many as two million Canadians have chronic kidney disease or are at-risk, most are unaware of it. Kidney disease usually progresses silently, often destroying most of the kidney function before causing any symptoms. This has sadly been Ben’s experience.

In short, Ben will need to receive dialysis until he is able to find a Kidney donor, in which he would then receive a kidney transplant. Ben has now started dialysis treatments (three times a week for four hours at a time), which will help his kidneys do their job and keep him alive, but the ultimate goal is a Kidney transplant which would offer him more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, mostly normal life. While a kidney transplant is not a lifelong cure, it is the best available treatment option for many people with kidney failure.

As of today, Ben has been assigned an Internal Medicine Specialist, a Nephrologist, and the support staff at the Renal Clinic at Grand River Hospital and is resting and healing at home, and is in stable condition. I will be sure to post updates as soon as they are available to me.

Living Kidney Donation

As you might expect, the demand for donor organs is far greater than the supply, on average folks might wait 4-7 years, or more to receive their organ donation, a difficult statistic to digest. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function. You understandably might not know a lot about living donation so here is some basic information that might be helpful:

• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.

• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.

• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally a few weeks.

• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered and there is financial support available for transportation and other costs. The donor program can give you extensive information on this.

• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.

• To donate, you need to be in good health, you will be assessed by doctors based on YOUR needs, you can change your mind at any time

Also, many people aren't aware that a potential donor doesn’t have to have the same blood type as Ben and there are several options that can be considered for them to still donate on his behalf. “Kidney paired donation” through the Canadian Blood Services is a process that enables other NON-matching donors to be matched up with other recipients. The transplant program will help a donor with this process if necessary. Contact information can be found at the bottom of this letter.

How can you help?

The goal of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise funds for Ben so he can focus on healing and maintaining good health while on dialysis. This whole process has been frightening and uncertain for Ben. With a restricted ability to work, we want to remove any additional stress and financial burdens that he will be faced with as he waits for a new kidney. Your generous donations will help support Ben with the following:

Monthly living expenses/ bills/ rent
New upfront medication costs
Nutritional budget for Ben’s new, supportive diet
Transportation costs of getting to and from the hospital 3+ days a week
Upfront and long term costs of home hemodialysis adjustments; electrical, hydro and home renovation

I know that the past 18+ months have been uniquely challenging for all of us, so financial contribution might not be possible for you at this time. I am asking that you consider sharing this GoFundMe campaign in hopes of not only helping us to reach our fundraising goal, but more importantly, increasing Ben's chances of connecting with a living Kidney donor. If you are interested in taking the first step of inquiring about becoming a donor, please phone the Living Donor program (519.685.8500 ext. 33552). The more people who take the steps to get tested, the better chance he has of finding a match. If you'd prefer, or in addition to your GoFundMe donation, you can also to donate to the Canadian Kidney Foundation, which offer many invaluable supports that Ben is currently utilizing.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read through this message, I know that your support and generosity really means the world to Ben. You can read Ben’s open letter HERE, if you are seeking more information. In addition, please don’t hesitate to reach JC Stead , who is helping field questions while Ben is unable to respond personally. Thank you!

Warmly,

- Sarah

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Helpful Resources

Living Donation Program

University Hospital, LHSC

339 Windermere Road

London, ON

Phone: [phone redacted] ext. 33552

Web: www.lhsc.on.ca/livingkidneydonation

Email: [email redacted].ca

Living Kidney Donation at LHSC (video)