George's New Kidney Fund
Donation protected
My name is Sandra Ankelein-Kieffer, and this story is about my brother George Ankelein Jr. of Crestview, FL. He was born on Feb 1957 and at age 12, had surgery to remove a non-functional 3rd kidney. George joined the Army, but received a medical discharge. After many years, his kidney issues were forgotten about until Jan 2010 when, after having normal bloodwork done, George's doctor made him immediately go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with kidney disease/failure. He began taking dialysis treatments 3 times a week and after five years, still sits for 4-6 hours each treatment.
After George was diagnosed with kidney failure, myself and a brother and sister (there are 7 of us) moved George from New Jersey to Crestview, FL where our parents live. He has traveled to Jacksonville, FL to the Mayo Clinic which was a 6 hour trip to go through intensive testing to be put on the kidney transplant list. After numerous tests, treatments, and items to complete to be put on this list, George was sure he'd be put on the list anytime.
Meanwhile, I was tested to be a living donor for my brother, and traveled from PA to Jacksonville, FL for the donor testing. After a week of tests, I was not cleared to be the donor. Our older sister was also tested and was cleared to be the living donor. We thought for sure his surgery would be soon. Not so fast! After each of the processes were completed, the Mayo Clinic would then tell George there was something else he needed to do prior to being cleared for surgery. His PSA was too high. (had to wait 3 months between tests), he needed to get his teeth taken care of. (All cleaned and bad teeth pulled) Of course all of this takes time and money, and George ony receives Social Security Disability which doesn't afford him much money to live.
After all of the Mayo Clinic's requirements had been met, and we thought his surgery would go forward after the 1st of this year, they told him he needed to have $5000 to $8000 in the bank to show he'd be able to pay for the anti-rejections drugs for a year once he had the surgery. Does anyone who can't work, and just receives disability payments have this kind of money laying around? I think not! This is the reason for reaching out to "GoFundMe".
The Mayo Clinic would schedule his surgery once he has enough money to show he can purchase his anti-rejection drugs for one year.
My brother George has kept a positive attitude through the past 5 years and relies on the Lord to help him when he has his "down" days. He also keeps each of us (brothers and sisters) up to date on how he is doing, both physically and mentally. We all stay as supportive as we can be, and do what we can, but none of us have $5000 to $8000 to give him.
Won't you help?? George is a wonderful, caring brother, uncle and son, and would do anything to help someone in need. Only he is the one who needs us now.
Please help, so George can finally get the surgery he needs, so he can live as normal a life as possible, just as you or I do. My address is 106 Hall Rd, Shoemakersville, PA 19555.
Thank you for your compassion and help, and may God bless you!!
After George was diagnosed with kidney failure, myself and a brother and sister (there are 7 of us) moved George from New Jersey to Crestview, FL where our parents live. He has traveled to Jacksonville, FL to the Mayo Clinic which was a 6 hour trip to go through intensive testing to be put on the kidney transplant list. After numerous tests, treatments, and items to complete to be put on this list, George was sure he'd be put on the list anytime.
Meanwhile, I was tested to be a living donor for my brother, and traveled from PA to Jacksonville, FL for the donor testing. After a week of tests, I was not cleared to be the donor. Our older sister was also tested and was cleared to be the living donor. We thought for sure his surgery would be soon. Not so fast! After each of the processes were completed, the Mayo Clinic would then tell George there was something else he needed to do prior to being cleared for surgery. His PSA was too high. (had to wait 3 months between tests), he needed to get his teeth taken care of. (All cleaned and bad teeth pulled) Of course all of this takes time and money, and George ony receives Social Security Disability which doesn't afford him much money to live.
After all of the Mayo Clinic's requirements had been met, and we thought his surgery would go forward after the 1st of this year, they told him he needed to have $5000 to $8000 in the bank to show he'd be able to pay for the anti-rejections drugs for a year once he had the surgery. Does anyone who can't work, and just receives disability payments have this kind of money laying around? I think not! This is the reason for reaching out to "GoFundMe".
The Mayo Clinic would schedule his surgery once he has enough money to show he can purchase his anti-rejection drugs for one year.
My brother George has kept a positive attitude through the past 5 years and relies on the Lord to help him when he has his "down" days. He also keeps each of us (brothers and sisters) up to date on how he is doing, both physically and mentally. We all stay as supportive as we can be, and do what we can, but none of us have $5000 to $8000 to give him.
Won't you help?? George is a wonderful, caring brother, uncle and son, and would do anything to help someone in need. Only he is the one who needs us now.
Please help, so George can finally get the surgery he needs, so he can live as normal a life as possible, just as you or I do. My address is 106 Hall Rd, Shoemakersville, PA 19555.
Thank you for your compassion and help, and may God bless you!!
Organizer
Sandie Ankelein Kieffer
Organizer
Shoemakersville, PA
