Dusty's Kidney Transplant Journey

     Hello, My name is Dustin Vaughn, but everyone just calls me Dusty. I was born a premature baby, which caused me to born with just one kidney, and due to another birth defect, the one kidney I had underwent reflux and was damaged. My entire life I have been forced to stay close to kidney doctors and regularly checked, watching it slowly degrade. My kidney, through the grace of God, has lasted for 35 years now. But this past April, my doctor gave me the news I had been waiting for and dreading for years... I needed to start looking for a new kidney. 

    After months of of testing, I was finally accepted on the Kidney Transplant List in December, and after I only had to wait 2 months, God blessed me with a wonderful friend who offered me one of her kidneys. And she was almost a perfect match! As she is now finishing her testing to make sure she is ready for the surgery, I'm  beginning fundraising for the surgery.

     The reason I need help with money is I'll be out of work 2-3 months, as well as deductible and coinsurance for the surgery, my anti-rejection medications which I will be on the rest of my life, as well as my regular bills during those months I will have a lesser paycheck with sicktime instead of my regular (shift dif and occasional overtime) pay. 

This is difficult for me. I have always been the type of person to give far more than I ever ask for myself. For the first time in my life, I'm having to ask for help. If you are willing to help me, give whatever you feel led  to give. I am thankful for whatever you give and I thank you in advance. If you are a religious person, I especially ask for your prayers for me and my family during this time. 

Thank you, and God bless you.