Life begins at 40

Hi my name is Justin, I have decided to create this account for fundraising as one of my friends requests or advise to me. I am a truck driver and I am just working almost everyday and never missed a call to my wife so I am updated to what is happening to my family. We have discussed this and I was hesitant at first and trying to see if this can actually work for my wife’s condition which is already on Stage 5 end of stage kidney disease and it seems taking a long time for me working to save up so might as well try because she needs it as soon as possible. I will attach my wife’s letter for some reasons that she couldn’t create an account from the Philippines. Hoping you can understand our situation and thank you in advance.

justin

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I don't usually post about very personal and private information, especially about financial situations or money that I think will put us into shame.

Dont even know how to start coz of mixed emotions and how my body is reacting to what im trying to put into words… God help me Im still trying while I can so I wont regret anything if something happens to me any moment.

Most of my childhood days were amazing like a roller coaster but some are not worth memorable… I guess we really cant have anything perfect… then this age comes realizing how life was worth living and how we could have taken care of it better…

Ive got no idea that I only have 1 kidney, does any one of you have an assurance that you have 2 kidneys when you were born around 80s, 90s, or now while you are reading this?

Well I guess even if I have 2 kidneys I wouldnt still be that cautious coz all I care was myself having fun as long as I can and most of the time a person who doesn’t listen to parents

So now I have more medicines than the food I eat and sometimes I deal with loads of stress, depression, headache, anxiety, bone aches, agony and heartbreaks, I can't go to the gym or work out like I used to, but I am still fighting, like a warrior and continue to hold on my faith.

Let me try to go back to those days that I wasnt aware about CKD or chronic kidney disease.

I was a child who hates vegetables, I grew up partying, drinking, smoking, but finished studies at the age of 21. Had an unhealthy relationship and had my first child at the age of 22. When I had my first child, thats when I think I realize im eating more vegetables, stopped some bad habits and im not a picky eater anymore. Then at the age of 26 I realized I need to have a job around 2012 then around 2013 I had my 2nd child and also realized I need to just get out of an unhealthy relationship and do everything on my own as a single mom. But then the bad habits of smoking and drinking came back… then after all the stress from work, unhealthy working environment, and being single mother for almost 5 years… Year 2018, I met this wonderful person Justin Mason (FB JG Mason) who accepted my past and I look forward to having a future with him and we also promised that we would leave bad habits in the past to start a family… so I choose to leave my job and got married 8th Nov. 2019.

We have a lot of plans for the future and I was about to start new life overseas… But then after few months, our battle and life situation began… I was getting medical tests for a job im applying for in Australia, then from there I was diagnosed with CKD (chronic kidney disease). I have to do a lot of tests after they found out that I have a kidney problem. It took couple of months to check everything then after that, another situation added when finding out to our surprise that I was 2-3mos pregnant. Went back to the specialists only to be given an option to have a transplant and give up pregnancy which was a devastating news for me and my husband who was expecting his 1st child. I love my husband so much and that I can sacrifice and I couldn’t just give up like that so we discussed and ask for 2nd opinion back in my own country the Philippines.

It was just the right timing that we decided to go back before the worldwide lockdown and pandemic started. I was able to find a specialist called Nephrologist that was referred by one of my childhood friends Anna Ang.

I met Dr. Richard Hizon a specialist and surgeon in National Kidney and Transplant Institute. He took a very good care of me, gave me hope and specially the child I was carrying was never an option to be taken out just bcoz of my CKD. He said the baby in the womb is actually helping my body and my kidney function. Although I have to monitor every month and submit laboratory tests and blood chem and take all the medicines prescribed. I was very lucky that my Nephrologist and my OB gynaecologist are both communicating to each other to make sure that I will deliver successfully and I wont have any other complications.

My strenght and tougness was no doubt back then but now even the smallest tasks have become a biggest challenge, but I refuse to let this disease define me.

It has been an overwhelming situation and weve been tryng to keep up. I have a home to maintain and time is passing us by so quickly, and I still want to be there watching my 4 children grow and enjoy my life with them. I'm only turning 40 in a few months and I know I still feel I have so much more to live.

Its a shame to ask but I am now pleading to everyone who can be of help on saving me in terms of financial coz I dont want my husband to be taking care of this alone. He needs help. We need help. He doesnt deserve this kind of suffering. We should be helping each other but as of the moment all I can do is look after our children. It has been too much cost for him since I was diagnosed with CKD and we have been living paycheck to paycheck. We still have a house to pay for, bills, and childrens needs. He shoulders everything and I coudlnt take it anymore that he cant even sleep normal at least 8hrs a day but instead working for almost 17-18hrs awake driving all day to save for this tranplant that I needed as soon as possible. He works and tries to be here with his family at the same time almost every after 3months so it has been costly for us.

We’ve spent around $8,000 from the previous laboratory tests in Australia and when I came back to the Philippines, my laboratories that started around year 2019 usally costs around $250-$300 a month and my medicines costs around $400-$500 a month and last December 2024, I had been advised that I needed to go to National Kidney Transplant Institute as soon as possible at the month of March 2025 and prepare around half a million peso or $15,000 to get admitted in the hospital for about a week and start doing some tests and process for the kidney transplant operation that will cost around additional $60,000 for me and the kidney donor those are just medical expenses and we are also going to be traveling back to Quezon City in Manila since we are located in the province of Panay Island which will cost a lot for a family traveling together and can’t leave any children behind. It is around 12hrs travel via boat and bus then back to my mother’s home in Quezon City. If it is via airplane, it is just around 2hrs flight but 2-3hrs waiting prior departure and another 2-3hrs travel from Manila to Quezon City near the NKTI Hospital where I needed to go to. So in and out of everywhere tests, hospitals, food expenses, renting apartment for our big family… we are expecting around $100,000 on this medical process and we dont want to loose our house because of this. I do not know if I even deserve that just to live longer but we will try and wait for miracles.

I had given up so many times and said to myself that I dont need any transplant and just let God take me whenever. But then I have these little children and some people messaging me not to give up specially my husband who’s working so hard providing and trying to save my life. But the hardest battle in my mind knowing how hard for him doing the financial needs alone makes me weak and telling him not to save me.

My strenghts are coming from people who loves and cares about me specially my mother, my husband, my 4 children, relatives, friends, and God Almighty…

I am starting a crowdfunding to help cover the costs associated with my ongoing care, tests, transplant in couple of months and therapies that can make a difference in the quality of my life. Any amount big or small would mean a world to us. If not, a prayer will do

Giving up now is not an option. Live or die, I shall fight till my last breath. Your love, prayer and wishes give me strength I thank you to those who continue to message me❤️

#kidneywarrior #gabby #kath #kringkring

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