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Help Me Fight Stage 4 Polycystic Kidney Disease
My name is Marissa Lisowski, I am 44 years old and living with stage 4 polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — a progressive, incurable genetic disease that causes countless cysts to grow on my kidneys and other organs. As the disease advances, it slowly destroys kidney function. With only 16% overall kidney function, I am now approaching kidney failure and will ultimately need a kidney transplant to survive.
Who I Was Before PKD
Before this disease took control of my life, I was a hard-working, driven professional with over 21 years in retail management. I managed and trained teams up to three high-end retail store locations at once, overseeing as many as 100 employees.
I was trained into corporate-level leadership and was actively preparing to become a district manager overseeing 10 store locations. My final role was with a big-box retailer generating over $5 million in annual sales, where I was consistently recognized for:
Exceeding and increasing sales quotas
Developing and training management teams
Serving as a district training manager for multiple store locations
I was used to working double shifts, 12–16 hour days, and giving everything I had to my career. I took pride in my work, my leadership, and my independence.
How PKD Changed Everything
Today, my life looks completely different.
PKD affects every part of my physical, mental, and emotional health. I am now disabled and unable to work due to the severity and unpredictability of my symptoms, which include:
Extreme, unrelenting fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
Chronic pain in my abdomen, sides, and back from enlarged, cyst-filled kidneys
Cognitive impairment (“brain fog”), memory issues, and difficulty concentrating
Nausea, headaches, weakness, and physical decline
Emotional and mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, from living with a life-threatening illness
Tasks that once felt effortless are now overwhelming. Many days, I am physically unable to function independently.
My Biggest Reason to Fight
My biggest supporter — and the reason I keep fighting — is my husband, Mike. We have been married for 12 years, and I truly do not know where I would be without him.
Mike takes care of me in ways I never imagined I would need. I now depend on him for many of the simplest daily tasks at home, from physical support to emotional strength. He stands beside me through every appointment, every hard day, and every moment of uncertainty.
I am beyond blessed to have him walking this journey with me, side by side. I am not alone in this fight, and I am deeply grateful for the love, patience, and care he gives me every single day.
I am also fighting for my three fur babies — Charlie, Hunter, and Jasper — who bring me comfort, purpose, and joy even on my hardest days.
Why I Need Financial Help
Even with insurance, many medical and living expenses are not fully covered. As someone who can no longer work, these costs have become overwhelming.
Funds raised through this GoFundMe will help cover:
Kidney transplant-related medical expenses
Specialist appointments, lab work, and ongoing testing
Prescription medications and future anti-rejection medications
Transportation to medical appointments
Basic living expenses while I am unable to work
Why I Created This GoFundMe
Asking for help is not easy — especially after a lifetime of independence and hard work. But PKD has taken away my ability to support myself financially, and I cannot face this battle alone.
This GoFundMe allows me to focus on staying alive, preparing for transplant, and continuing to fight, instead of worrying about how to survive financially.
Any donation, share, or kind word truly means more than I can express. Your support helps give me hope, strength, and a chance at a future.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing with me during the hardest fight of my life.
Please click on the link if you are interested in kidney donation. Be a hero and save a life...save my life.
Organizer
