Trent Knight Kidney Surgery

Trent Knight needs kidney surgery and his insurance won't cover it.

During this season of giving and love, as the holidays approach and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, please consider the amazing difference your donation can make for this wonderful man and his dear family. In place of, or in addition to, any Sub-for-Santa you might be involved in, your generous donation will literally be saving a life: the life of my dear friend, Trent Knight.

Trent Knight, age 44, is a kind, honest, selfless, and loving husband, and father of 4 beautiful girls. He is an extremely hard worker and cares so much about the needs of others. Anyone who knows him loves him, and more importantly feels of his love for them. Despite the excruciating pain and health challenges he endures he does not complain or ask "Why me?" Every time one tries to show their support and love through this trial he acknowledges miracles and blessings upon his family from Our Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Trent has passed at least 250 kidney stones, mostly over the past 10 years which has caused a lot of damage and scar tissue within his ureters. This makes it more difficult than usual to pass each stone. At any given moment he has up to 13 stones sitting in his kidney waiting to come out. On a pain scale of 1-10 Trent averages "8" 24 hours a day and is often at a level "10" which, in addition to being unbearable and overwhelming, it has put a lot of strain on his already vulnerable heart, as he had a heart attack in 2016. After seeing a nationally renowned Urologist, Trent was told that he has developed a disease called Loin Pain Hematuria Syndrome. Its a very uncommon result of chronic kidney stones, and means he has consistent, debilitating pain that cannot be controlled even with high doses of pain medication. There is no cure for this syndrome. Unfortunately it has gotten to the point where he has no quality of life. He has lost 40 lbs within the last 6 weeks alone and has been to the ER for pain management 6 times in
the last month. He only gets 3 hours of sleep on a good night.

At this point his doctors have told him going on disability is necessary despite his years of working hard and draining himself to avoid doing so. All of the years of hospitalizations, ER visits, lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, cystoscopy, stent placements, IV therapy, CT scans, hilar renal blocks, and medications, have put a huge financial strain on the family. His current doctors include a Nephrologist, two Urologists, Cardiologist, Endocronologist, Internist, Transplant Surgeon and even multiple holistic specialists. 

In addition to the huge costs of Trent’s medical care, their oldest daughter, Courtney, was diagnosed with an Encephalocele (although rare at 18) and CSF leak that resulted in her needing brain surgery and several days in the ICU. Their medical bills have simply become overwhelming, and combined with his now decreased income, it is unmanageable.

There is a new surgery involving Auto-transplatation of one’s own kidney, that offers complete pain relief for the kidney that is operated on. Because this is such a new and extensive surgery the insurance has already denied the surgery twice, despite appeals. They will keep trying to appeal but cannot wait for funds to become available, if at all. It is estimated to cost around $80,000... Now raised to $96,000.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion!