Christina Miller's (Hester)Kidney Failure Expenses

I’ve had numerous requests to put in some background detail of how this all started, so here we go.

My name is Christina Miller. Most of you may remember me as Christina Hester growing up before I got married. But just a little back story: I graduated High School from East Davidson in 2004, then I joined the US Army. I developed extremely high blood pressure while serving our Country in the US Army for 8 years as an Avionics Tech. I completed basic training at Fort Jackson, SC in 2006, and completed AIT (Advanced Individual Training) in Fort Gordon, GA in 2006. While I was training, I was awarded Distinguished Honor Graduate and I was the only female in the class. I was then stationed in South Korea at Camp Humphreys when I became pregnant with my only child, Caroline. My ex-husband at the time was stationed South Korea as well. I was flown back home for the pregnancyin April and nearly lost Caroline as she was born nearly 3 months early to try to save both of our lives due to the high blood pressure issues that turned into Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia. I was having seizures and this was the first major hit to my kidneys, only I didn't know about it at the time until about 3 years later (2010) when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), and Crohn's Disease after numerous doctor visits, a kidney biopsy, and colonoscopy. I moved back to NC from Savannah GA and continued to serve in the US Army Reserves at my unit in Orangeburg, SC. It was absolute torture and hell and I continued to suffer and have Crohn's flare ups and deal with having a weakened immune system all while still working full time and driving once a weekend to Orangeburg, SC. But my numbers STILL were not "bad enough" to start dialysis. For the past 2 years I was throwing up every morning at home, on the way to take my daughter to school, and at work. I was very sick, miserable, couldn’t eat, and lost a lot of weight but still working my ass off. I even started school online at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management because I loved my job so much, I wanted to get a degree in it to further my education. Unfortunately, my kidneys finally completely shut down and I was forced to quit school. This is what I am facing now, and my treatment options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. I had been sick for A VERY long time before I was diagnosed with End Stage Kidney Failure (stage 5).  Mid October 2019 I was hospitalized for a week and then discharged. 3 days later I was direct admitted again to High Point Regional Hospital because my creatinine levels were even higher. Finally, they did the surgery to create a Perma-cath in my chest to start the debilitating dialysis treatments the week of Halloween in October of 2019 in the hospital. I then started outpatient treatments the first week in November Back then I was doing 3-hour treatments 3 days a week (Tues, Thurs and Sat). I had constant problems with the catheter. I was allergic to the bandages and the cleaners they used, so it was constantly itching and I developed blisters, and not to mention I could not take a shower or get it wet the whole time it was in (From October 2019 to March 2020) I was suffering from depression, anxiety, and having freak out moments like this is it. This is how I am going to die. My treatments started out FAR from smooth. They left me unable to speak, unable to walk, and unable to function. I was throwing up, passing out and they were very painful. Each treatment felt like I was one step closer to death. For a while I was unable to drive and my independence was completely stripped for me. It was the worst feeling in the world. I stubbornly denied disability at the time because I was so adamant on working full time. After all, I had been with the company going on 10 years. I loved what I did, and I felt like I had so much more to offer. Then a couple months later (around February) I went thru surgery in my arm to create a fistula for dialysis treatments. After the fistula healed, they took the catheter out. (And I could finally take a shower, what a relief!!!!)My company allowed me to work from home and it was tough, but I was getting work done and things were going pretty smooth. Over time, my kidney disease has gotten worse causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive. Fast forward to today I currently undergo three-hour treatments twice a week (Tues and Sat). I have worked my fistula up to utilize 15 gauge needles. Meanwhile, I was working full time up until June of 2020 when I was laid off due to COVID-19. Unfortunately, when I was laid off, I was subsequently taken off the kidney transplant list as now I no longer qualify since steady income and insurance are a part of the financial requirements. I am raising money for the absurd amount of medical bills that keep accumulating thru this journey. But I have HOPE!! Baptist is working with me to get back on the transplant list, I must get all my ducks in a row with insurance and etc. So, all the funds that are being donated are going directly to medical bills and down payment for this kidney. 

Hopefully, this gives you a little glimpse of what I have been going thru the last 10 years.

I will continue to update progress thru this journey. I cannot thank everyone enough for donating and spreading the word. I have a 13-year-old daughter that needs me and a loving husband that needs me too. I have faith that everything will work exactly as it is intended. I have made it this far. I GOT THIS!! But I need YOUR HELP to make this kidney a reality! There is a very short life span once you start dialysis. It is very hard on your body and you end up developing other conditions such as heart disease and etc. Dialysis is a temporary solution, not a long term. Although there have been people to survive 10 years plus on dialysis, the average life span is about 5 years. Also, the average wait time to get a deceased kidney is 3-5 years. Time is not on my side. If you or someone you know would like to get tested to see if they could be a match, they can message me directly here on Facebook.

Even if you are unable to donate, please just share to get the word out. You will be helping save my life!

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Christina Miller


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