I am a 45-year-old living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic condition that causes uncontrolled cyst growth on the kidneys. Despite my efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I am now in end-stage renal failure. This disease has deeply affected my family, with all those impacted by PKD passing away before the age of 60. Knowing this, I have always tried to prepare for the day I would need a kidney transplant, and that day has come. I have just been listed at two transplant hospitals and am beginning the process of finding a living donor.

I am a wife and mother who is doing everything possible to stay healthy and present for my family.

As part of this journey, there is also the possibility that dialysis may become necessary if a transplant does not happen in time, adding another layer of medical and financial complexity.

While I continue to work full-time, the financial strain of this journey is overwhelming. The costs of medical care, anti-rejection medications, travel to and from transplant centers, and temporary housing after surgery are significant. On top of that, both my husband and I will face missed wages during my recovery, and there are additional expenses to support my living donor. These challenges are daunting, but I am determined to fight for my health and future.

Advocacy and supporting others affected by kidney disease has always been important to me, and this experience is teaching me how to accept help during a season when I need it most.

I am reaching out to ask for your support—whether it’s sharing my fundraiser, making a donation, or simply sending words of encouragement. Every bit of help brings me closer to a successful transplant and a healthier life. Thank you for standing with me and my family during this difficult time.