Support Kathleen's Kidney Transplant Recovery

Hello, I’m Kathleen aka Kittie. I recently had a second kidney transplant and have been out of work for three months without pay. I’m currently trying to get work from home with my job, but that too has been a struggle. Currently needing to pay copays and keep up on medical expenses, get groceries, and pay other bills. Any amount would help, please and thank you!

Introduction:

I was born with my kidney disease and by age twelve, I was told I had only thirty percent kidney function. I was immediately referred to a pediatric nephrologist and started getting more testing done, including a kidney biopsy. I was diagnosed with nephronophthisis, which is a disease that causes stones and cysts that scar your kidneys. My function went quick and was placed on dialysis. I was on dialysis for five years and had multiple surgeries in those years. Those would include two chest catheters (for dialysis), two fistulas (for dialysis), a parathyroidectomy, a left thigh graft (for dialysis), blood infection removal, thigh graft repair. I eventually received my first kidney transplant at age nineteen from my older brother. One of the best gifts a brother could give his little sister. Back in two thousand and twenty two, I got Covid and my brother’s kidney started to decline. In two thousand and twenty four, I decided to start anti rejection infusions to try to keep my kidney going as long as I could possible. After a year and some months, my kidney was finally stage five and I would be needing dialysis very soon and still working a full time job. I was starting to loss hope at this point and needed a miracle. I received that miracle of my dreams, with one phone call. I was called with a kidney offer and immediately jumped on it. I was so relieved and excited to be getting this call. The process moved very quickly and brain was on only one thing at that time. When you get a kidney transplant, you spend six to ten days in the hospital. After you are discharged, you are sent home with all your new medications ( I left the hospital with eighteen). You will have a post transplant appointment every week for the first four weeks and then they are pushed out every two weeks and so on. I do have full FMLA approval for my time off from work. I unfortunately do not have short or long term disability and was also unable to change my benefits at this time. As of right now, it has been thirteen weeks since the surgery without pay. I’m just trying to make sure bills are paid and I can eat at the moment. Right now, my husband is working extra hours to help pay both our monthly bills. I am currently out of money and would like to make sure I am able to keep up on my health, so I don’t lose my new kidney. I greatly appreciate anything and everything everyone has and will do for me.

Surgery/hospital stay:

On March 19th, I was called around ten o’clock at night to come to Norfolk General. I arrived at the hospital, where there was already a room for me in the ICU. I was immediately prepped for surgery. I was wiped down and put into a hospital gown and an iv in each arm. My husband and I were able to rest our eyes for a little bit while waiting for the kidney to get to the hospital. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled to the holding area outside the operating room. I was so nervous, but so excited at the same time. After being wheeled into the operating room, they started putting something in my right iv site. Unfortunately the vain had blown. I don’t remember anything else after that happened. I woke up with my husband next to me, where I was informed that they could not hear breath sounds out of my left lung. I was put on intense oxygen treatments for two days. I was also given a bag of blood after surgery. I was in the hospital for six days. A few days after being home, I went to my first post transplant appointment. I went to get my blood work done before my appointment, where I proceeded to pass out. From there, I was wheeled to the transplant clinic, where they were unable to get a blood pressure on me. I was then wheeled to the ER downstairs and admitted. My blood pressure was 56/38 when admitted. I was instantly brought to the back to the trauma room. They instantly started treating me as if I had sepsis. Once again, an iv in each arm with saline going into both arms at the same time. After four bags of saline, one bag of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. I was feeling much better from the electrolyte imbalance. Also found out I don’t need blood pressure medications for right now. I have been doing much better now. Normal blood levels, vitals, and most importantly kidney function. I will be coming up on week eight, where hopefully I’ll be cleared to do more things in my life. I will be keeping everyone updated as I continue to heal.

Update:

My FMLA finally ended and have started back at work, where I’m in everyone’s face daily. (I do wear a mask anytime I leave the house and constantly wash and sanitize my hands.) Unfortunately that didn’t stop me from getting a fever one week after starting work again. I immediately went to the hospital to get checked out and was admitted for sepsis. I stayed in the hospital for four days and back home now on two antibiotics. I’m still desperately trying to get a remote job, so hopefully I will not be constantly running into this issue. Still have not made a full paycheck from work yet and still struggling to make bills. Still in need of some help, anything and everything is greatly appreciated.