Support Wayne LaBar's Kidney Transplant Recovery

Hello all,

This is Rachel Hellenga, writing on behalf of our friend Wayne LaBar.

Some of you may remember that Wayne was involved in a major auto accident in 2001 when his car was run over by a semi. He battled through multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy. Many of you saw Wayne at the ASTC science center conference in Phoenix shortly afterward.

Well that accident caused lasting damage to Wayne's kidneys, something he didn't find out until 2017. He went to the doctor for minor symptoms and received an unexpected diagnosis: Wayne was in end-stage renal failure. His kidneys had completely shut down.

Wayne chose to maintain his privacy and kept his condition hidden from most of us—including me. It was only this past October that he told me about his situation at the ASTC Conference in Chicago. I asked him, "Hey, can I get some advice about my start-up?" Wayne said "Of course, but we need to sit outside in the sun. I'm freezing." He had just finished dialysis in his hotel room, and feeling cold was a side effect.

I was shocked to find out that for the past seven years, Wayne has been undergoing dialysis three to four times a week, all while continuing his work in the museum field. True story: I asked Wayne his blood type, found out we were both O-Negative, and offered to donate my kidney that same day.

No I did not end up donating my kidney! We submitted bloodwork to Duke Hospital, but before finding out if I was a match, the great organ donation algorithms in the sky pulled up Wayne's name and a donor kidney became available. Next thing you know he was racing to the hospital, and on November 5th, Wayne received a successful kidney transplant.

A friend told me I pulled a real George Costanza move there--get credit for donating a kidney without actually parting with my kidney! Now that Wayne is on the other side of transplant surgery, I'm invested in his journey and looking for another way to help. I launched this GoFundMe campaign to help Wayne with his medical expenses.

This is where you come in, Wayne's compassionate and helpful community of friends! The transplant surgery cost upwards of $450,000, and while his insurance paid for most of it, it did not cover the full cost. Building on support from family and friends in the years leading up to the transplant, Wayne is now facing additional post-op expenses for anti-rejection drugs as well as other medical costs associated with his continued recovery.

I’m reaching out to ask you for your support in helping Wayne through this recovery period. This page is being created to cover out-of-pocket expenses related to his surgery, eight weeks of home care, follow-up medical visits, and the costly medications he’ll need.

Can we come together and raise the $30 000 that Wayne needs to get to the finish line? These much-needed funds will cover his remaining hospital bill ($12,000), eight weeks of home care ($7,000), anti-rejection medications and other drugs ($6,000), medical supplies ($2000), and post-surgery doctor/hospital visits ($3000).

Wayne is facing a significant financial burden during this transition. I hope you’ll join me in supporting someone who has provided so much spark and liveliness to every gathering of friends and to every project he has worked on. This is an opportunity for you, Wayne's friends and colleagues, to show him your support.

Maybe Wayne has influenced your work. Or maybe he is a good friend. Or perhaps he has used his impeccable taste in restaurants to bring a group of you together and make your night a little more awesome at an ASTC conference. Whatever your reasons, please consider a donation to keep Wayne's recovery on track.

Extending heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and kindness—from me, from Wayne, and from Wayne's family—

Funding Goal: $30,000

With appreciation,

Rachel