Support my fight against kidney disease!!

7/21/24 Update: Today was Zaiden’s due date. Since delivery I have had to continue dialysis 3 times a week. I was scheduled for my kidney transplant consultation on September 11, but last week I received a call to move it up due to an earlier appointment available. My sister and I are going tomorrow for my transplant evaluation in hopes I can be scheduled for transplant surgery near the end of September or beginning of October. 

5/18/24 Update: On 5/7/24 I went to a routine doctors appointment and was instructed to admit myself to the hospital for close observation and an amniocentesis to test excess amniotic fluid around baby and fluid accumulated around baby’s lungs. The amniocentesis procedure was done on Thursday 5/9/24. Fluid was removed both from the amniotic sack and around baby’s lungs. I was being monitored around the clock. That Saturday morning I went for a follow up ultrasound and it was discovered most of the fluid around baby’s lungs had returned. Another follow up ultrasound was scheduled for the following Monday. Sunday, Mother’s Day, Aalinah came to spend the day with me. Later that evening I went to bed as normal and was monitored for the last time for the day. When I woke Monday morning for monitoring the nurse unfortunately could locate baby’s heartbeat. A second nurse was called into check the heartbeat and once again it was unable to be found. My doctor was then called in to do an ultrasound. Unfortunately, the doctor informed me baby’s heart was no longer beating and did not survive through the night. I have been in the hospital since and delivered my son, Zaiden Dixxon Gene stillborn on 5/16 at 3:25pm. I have been informed as of now I will have to continue dialysis daily until some test results come back and eventually go down to only needing dialysis three times a week. Currently not been released from hospital after delivery yet (5/18/24). 

As some of you may or may not know I am 20 weeks pregnant and went in for some routine bloodwork and additional lab work only for the doctor to discover my protein levels were high in my urine. My regular doctor recommended I see a nephrologist (kidney specialist). So after the best vacation ever to Mexico I had my appointment with a nephrologist. It was then discovered my kidneys were only functioning at 10% and recommended I undergo a biopsy to see what the maybe causing it. The next day, two days after being beacon from Mexico I got a call from the nephrologist and it was recommended I admit myself to the hospital at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital so testing could be done faster. I followed doctor’s orders and admitted myself that afternoon. I was under the impression it was only going to be for a few days. I was wrong. I was there for 10 days. In that time I underwent multiple ultrasounds, daily blood draws for bloodwork and the biopsy. I also had a catheter inserted into my chest and started dialysis. This was all very scary and sudden. I had never had any kind of surgery or procedure up until this time. Once the results came back from my biopsy it was determined I had an autoimmune disease called IgA nephrology which lead to chronic kidney failure. For a normal person the doctor would advise dialysis 3 times a week, but being that I am pregnant I need to go more frequently in order for the best possible outcome for myself and baby. I was instructed to do dialysis 6 days a week for 4 hours each session. That’s almost a full time job including travel. The doctors said this is to be the normal until I deliver baby and will reevaluate what care is needed after baby is born. I still have to manage getting my 11 yo daughter to and from school 50 minutes away from where I do dialysis and any additional activities she participates in. All the while transitioning and moving from our home in Prior Lake to our new place in Elk River. I am now unable to return to work due to the time consumption of almost daily dialysis and the affects it has on me physically (always tired after a session).

I am seeking help from family, friends and anybody who my story touches to help with funds to cover monthly bills, groceries, gas and any additional medical costs that may come in the future for myself and my family during this challenging time.