Michael Kelly Medical Fund
Donation protected
Three years ago our dad, Michael Kelly, was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease. Stage 5 means that Dad is in an irrecoverable state. His kidneys have lost all ability to do their job (they are functioning at ~7%) and a kidney transplant is needed for him to live.
Dad is on the waiting list to receive a deceased donor kidney transplant. There are 100,000+ people on the waiting list and the average wait time is 7+ years. However, there is another option for him: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking someone to consider donating a kidney is difficult, but it greatly improves the chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation also typically lasts longer and functions better than a deceased donor. We've had four family members tested so far, but unfortunately none have been able to donate. It’s become clear we need to reach out to our community for help.
You might not know a lot about living donation- I know we didn’t before kidney disease affected our life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
- You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life
- Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions
- The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks
- The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by our insurance
If donating a kidney is something you would like to consider please email me at [email redacted]. You can also contact the transplant center directly:
Kirsten Curtis
Living Donor Transplant Coordinator at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
703-776-8053
[email redacted]
We created this page with hopes of communicating the need for a kidney transplant, but to also help ease the pain and stress on our parents with the medical expenses incurred to date. For some background, Dad takes 45 medications a day to regulate his kidney function, and receives a shot once a month. One shot alone costs ~$2,000 per month. Dad also has weekly doctor appointments, blood work, and monthly trips to see a specialist in Baltimore. Needless to say, our family needs financial help covering the medical expenses.
If you are not in a position to donate, you can also help us by sharing our story with everyone you know. Social media is a powerful tool for increasing the rates of live kidney donation.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Love,
Michelle & Andrew Kelly
For more information on becoming a donor, please visit the links below:
https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/evaluation
https://www.inova.org/kidney-transplant/living-donor
Dad is on the waiting list to receive a deceased donor kidney transplant. There are 100,000+ people on the waiting list and the average wait time is 7+ years. However, there is another option for him: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking someone to consider donating a kidney is difficult, but it greatly improves the chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation also typically lasts longer and functions better than a deceased donor. We've had four family members tested so far, but unfortunately none have been able to donate. It’s become clear we need to reach out to our community for help.
You might not know a lot about living donation- I know we didn’t before kidney disease affected our life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
- You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life
- Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions
- The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks
- The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by our insurance
If donating a kidney is something you would like to consider please email me at [email redacted]. You can also contact the transplant center directly:
Kirsten Curtis
Living Donor Transplant Coordinator at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
703-776-8053
[email redacted]
We created this page with hopes of communicating the need for a kidney transplant, but to also help ease the pain and stress on our parents with the medical expenses incurred to date. For some background, Dad takes 45 medications a day to regulate his kidney function, and receives a shot once a month. One shot alone costs ~$2,000 per month. Dad also has weekly doctor appointments, blood work, and monthly trips to see a specialist in Baltimore. Needless to say, our family needs financial help covering the medical expenses.
If you are not in a position to donate, you can also help us by sharing our story with everyone you know. Social media is a powerful tool for increasing the rates of live kidney donation.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Love,
Michelle & Andrew Kelly
For more information on becoming a donor, please visit the links below:
https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/evaluation
https://www.inova.org/kidney-transplant/living-donor
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Kelly
Organizer
New York, NY
Michael Kelly
Beneficiary
