Transplant dreams came true!!! The fight is over!

Hello everyone!!! Most of you who know me I go by JP but for those I’ve yet to meet, my name is Justin Petralia. To recap, I’ve been a diabetic for 28 years and on dialysis for almost 11. Can’t believe it has been that long!!! Over the years I’ve been so fortunate and blessed to have had so many amazing friends and family as well as some great people I’ve never had the opportunity to meet. You have all have been so kind and generous and I am so grateful for all that everyone has done to help me make it through these years.Without all of you I would had never made it as far as I have. The support from all of you has been absolutely incredible and full of love and  compassion, and kindness. I don’t know what my path would had been like without it!

So I had been going back and forth as to whether or not to reach out and ask for help one more time. As some of you know, I finally received my kidney and pancreas transplant over ten years after the journey began. It is beyond surreal that my life is going down a path in which I’ve not been on in almost 30 years! With the gift of these new organs I am no longer a diabetic and no longer require dialysis 3 times a week!!! I’m as healthy as I have ever been and it is absolutely amazing. Something I thought would never take place in my lifetime. Such a long fight along with a ton of random challenges including cancer and to date, over 70 surgeries! Hard to believe what I’ve endured but truly couldn’t had done it without all of you. I am such a lucky man and so glad to be moving on to the next chapter of my life!

Along with my new gift of a healthy body and mind, I’m going to have many new challenges and changes which I wanted to share with you. While I was on dialysis I was fortunate to have many benefits assisting me with my secondary insurance, among other things, but this will unfortunately come to an end soon and no longer qualify because I’m no longer in need of dialysis.This along with new expenses such as up to 12 new meds that I will take for the rest of my life, which include anti rejection medication which fortunately, Medicare will cover the cost of those 2.Also I will be on several antibiotics and many meds I was on before the transplant. Definitely will be more uncharted territory that I will experience as I travel down this path,and in addition, I may not be able to retain my disability benefits because I’m no longer on dialysis. So I’m going to have so many new financial obligations that I’m truly worried about, although with my eyesight issues I may be diagnosed as legally blind or physically unable to perform the necessary job requirements that an employer may have. I have to focus on my future and to maintaining my health at the highest possible levels to keep the new organs as well as my body and mind at 100%. I am asking for your help one last time to get me through the transition to this new life and a jump start to be able to cover all that I need to live and maintain these new and exciting changes properly!

Fortunately my main anti rejection medications are with a $0 copay via Medicare which is truly amazing! Initially I was told that monthly, my out of pocket medication expenses would be around 4-500 dollars. Along with the added cost of paying for my own secondary insurance at $406 per month, in addition I will have travel expenses to and from Boston for the next two years . This is all added onto the already existing bills I had in place. Initially I’ll have 4-6 trips per year over the next 2 years and less from that point on. Factor in those existing bills I’ve already had,I’m in a tough spot. Basically I don’t have enough funds to cover the monthly expenses going forward. I’m sure things will get easier and better over all but in the meantime I calculate that the funds I am asking help with would assist me over the next two years, at least. As things go on I’ll know more as far as updated costs and such. And if I’ll retain my disability or have to try and find work although I am extremely limited as to what I’ll be able to do! Definitely something I’ll have to research more down the road.

I just want to ensure that the gift I have received,that is the kidney/pancreas transplant doesn’t go south. I want to make sure those organs are properly cared for and all medications are taken as directed. I’ve got a new life and got the rare opportunity 

to hit the reset button… I don’t want that to go to waste. I’m the luckiest person on earth and I want to give back as well and help those that are in my old shoes. If I can make a tiny bit of difference in one persons life I’ll feel great knowing I was able to pay it forward with someone and give back in some way, as you guys have done for me over the years.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart and know that I’ll always be grateful and completely up front and transparent with everything. I want you all to know where your kind and amazing donations are going, down to the penny.

And I want to thank you all in advance and hope to thank you all individually one day in person even those I have never met. You all deserve nothing but love and respect for everything that you’ve done for me over the years and in the future. Thank you and I look forward to seeing so many of you soon!