Kidney Transplant

My name is Tasha Johnson. In April, 2011 I went into Renal Failure due to FSGS.  I am not diabetic.  I was a robust, healthy young woman.   I went to the doctor during that time for an annual physical because I had dropped from over 300 lbs to about 160 lbs in a matter of months.  Nothing was presented during the physical exam but it was my first time being seen by this physician so he took blood and sent me on my way. Seven o'clock the next morning the doctor, not his nurse or admin, began blowing up my phone. And those who know me know I'm terrible about answering my phone. He was frantic. He had the results from my blood work and even though he was not a Nephrologist, he took one look at the results and could tell I was in End Stage Renal failure. He said, "According to your blood work, you should be dead. Get to the hospital immediately, I will let them know you are coming. You need to get dialysis started ASAP!" Once the process for dialysis was completed over the next few weeks it was determined that based on my blood type my wait for a kidney transplant would be 5-7 years. I am a widow raising three lovely young ladies. I am on dialysis three days a week for three and a half hours. I have danced with death on more than one occasion during this journey. Several hospital stays.  My children were 14, 11, and 6 when this began.  It has been tough for them.  My body is starting to break down from being on dialysis so long.  I have been praying for this for a long time. FINALLY, I am in the sixth month of year 7.  The home stretch.  So it is time to get ready.  Any assistance you are able to give to help offset the costs associated with my kidney transplant and time out of work would be a blessing to our family.  Even if you cannot give, your prayers would be appreciated for a successful surgery, quick recovery, and strength and success as I put our life back together again.

Thank you.

Tasha Johnson