Mariah's Story- A Need for a Kidney
Donation protected
We are Mariah's Aunt (Shari Cook) and Grandmother (Jeanne Benta) and are hoping to help Mariah by getting as much exposure as possible. While Mariah does have medical insurance, it is not nearly enough to cover all of the expenses she will be facing in this medical journey.
Mariah’s diagnosis came to the family as a surprise. In September 2014, she was being seen for joint pain when her kidneys showed they were failing. By November 2014, she was diagnosed with Stage III Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). By July 2015, Mariah’s total kidney function decreased to 15% (Stage IV CKD). Her biopsy showed the damage was irreversible and the cause was unknown. As a result of the CKD, Mariah continues to face other medical challenges which require monitoring, including an unknown autoimmune disorder. She has been through numerous tests (biopsy, echoes, ultrasounds, stomach studies, repeated brain MRI’s, EEG, neurological exams and many more) over the past year and although she is exhausted and her quality of life has diminished for a teenager, Mariah remains amazingly strong and high spirited.
Mariah will have a kidney transplant and has been placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list. Mariah’s father is also being tested to see if he can be a living donor. She has asked that her mother be the caretaker for after surgery. The cost of the surgery is estimated at $250,000 of which insurance will cover 80%. The remaining 20% is at the cost of the family, which does not include aftercare costs upward of $2,000 a month in medications. A portion of the procedure ($6,800) must be paid up front in order for the surgery to take place (planned or unplanned).
We are asking for your help raising the funds needed for the transplant and aftercare. Your donation (large or small) will make a great difference for Mariah forever.
Mariah, as known by her family and friends as "Mona Lisa", is a strong willed 15 year old who is facing a challenge no child should ever have to face. Since her diagnosis, Mariah continues to work hard in school, join extracurricular activities, and attempts to make life as normal as possible, even on her worst days. Due to her diagnosis, Mariah has been forced to mature beyond her years.
Mariah is the most giving and thoughtful person who will give you the jacket off her back if you needed it more. Her daily motto is “This disease does not control me.” Mariah is one that does not like to bring attention to herself and does not want to be treated any differently just because she is facing an unwelcomed challenge. Mariah is highly ambitious and dreams of the days she will be able to travel the world freely. She plans on attending college and majoring in International Politics.
Mariah has a long road ahead as a transplant recipient and will be on some form of antirejection medicine and immunosuppressive for the rest of her life. In the future, she may face the challenge of needing yet another kidney as donor kidneys do not last a lifetime.
No family can single handily cover the cost of transplant and aftercare, therefore we are reaching out to you. Thank you for taking the time to donate to Mariah’s cause. Every little bit counts.
For information about kidney transplant: http://www.transplantliving.org/
Mariah’s diagnosis came to the family as a surprise. In September 2014, she was being seen for joint pain when her kidneys showed they were failing. By November 2014, she was diagnosed with Stage III Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). By July 2015, Mariah’s total kidney function decreased to 15% (Stage IV CKD). Her biopsy showed the damage was irreversible and the cause was unknown. As a result of the CKD, Mariah continues to face other medical challenges which require monitoring, including an unknown autoimmune disorder. She has been through numerous tests (biopsy, echoes, ultrasounds, stomach studies, repeated brain MRI’s, EEG, neurological exams and many more) over the past year and although she is exhausted and her quality of life has diminished for a teenager, Mariah remains amazingly strong and high spirited.
Mariah will have a kidney transplant and has been placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list. Mariah’s father is also being tested to see if he can be a living donor. She has asked that her mother be the caretaker for after surgery. The cost of the surgery is estimated at $250,000 of which insurance will cover 80%. The remaining 20% is at the cost of the family, which does not include aftercare costs upward of $2,000 a month in medications. A portion of the procedure ($6,800) must be paid up front in order for the surgery to take place (planned or unplanned).
We are asking for your help raising the funds needed for the transplant and aftercare. Your donation (large or small) will make a great difference for Mariah forever.
Mariah, as known by her family and friends as "Mona Lisa", is a strong willed 15 year old who is facing a challenge no child should ever have to face. Since her diagnosis, Mariah continues to work hard in school, join extracurricular activities, and attempts to make life as normal as possible, even on her worst days. Due to her diagnosis, Mariah has been forced to mature beyond her years.
Mariah is the most giving and thoughtful person who will give you the jacket off her back if you needed it more. Her daily motto is “This disease does not control me.” Mariah is one that does not like to bring attention to herself and does not want to be treated any differently just because she is facing an unwelcomed challenge. Mariah is highly ambitious and dreams of the days she will be able to travel the world freely. She plans on attending college and majoring in International Politics.
Mariah has a long road ahead as a transplant recipient and will be on some form of antirejection medicine and immunosuppressive for the rest of her life. In the future, she may face the challenge of needing yet another kidney as donor kidneys do not last a lifetime.
No family can single handily cover the cost of transplant and aftercare, therefore we are reaching out to you. Thank you for taking the time to donate to Mariah’s cause. Every little bit counts.
For information about kidney transplant: http://www.transplantliving.org/
Organizer
Jeanne Benta
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM
