Friends Helping Friends

Our friend Will and his family are in need of our help. At this time money can’t cure the illness Will has however it can help him and his family in other ways. 
For those of you that know him, you already know his medical story and the physical and emotional support both him and his family need at this time. Please donate any amount you can to help Will and his family in this time of need 
Thank you

Read more about Wills story in his own word below. 

Dear Friends, and Family

As most of you may know I am a type 1 diabetic living with kidney disease. Over time, my kidney disease has gotten worse causing my kidneys to not work well enough to keep me alive. End stage renal disease the doctor said on January 15 2019. Charlotte was 6 weeks old. I was 38, and we were just told my body was failing us and my kidneys were only working at 10%. I say us because my wife and I, and now Charlotte we are a team this isn’t just happening to me it’s happening to us. This is what we as a family are are facing now.

My treatment options are limited to dialysis, several different options to choose from, or a kidney transplant. We decided peritoneal dialysis was the least invasive procedures to start with.

Currently I am administering at home peritoneal dialysis treatments, every night for 8 hours a night, through a port in my abdomen. Connected to a cycler with 2 20lbs bags of fluids transfused through my abdomen while I sleep. This is helping my kidneys do their job to keep me alive, but it is no way to live.

While my wife and my new born lay next me. I’m connected to wires and a machine that keeps me alive but isolates me from my life.

As of current I have been in and out of the hospital 8 times since November 2018 due to complications of my kidney disease. Including hypertension, hypotension, sepsis from foreign objects like pic lines used for intravenous antibiotics, and most recently a stint with sort term hemo dialysis that ended with a bacterial blood infection causing myocarditis an infection in one of the valves of my heart. This past year my health has taken a scary turn for the worst, and finding a living kidney donor is my only hope

A transplant would offer me the freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also allow me most importantly more time with my one year old daughter Charlotte and my wife Jessica. I’ve already missed so much of Charlotte’s first year of holidays, and spent her first birthday with her via face time from a hospital bed, moments I’ll never get back of my daughter first year of life while I fight for my own. A transplant would offer me the opportunity to live long enough to see my daughter grow, and will allow her to have her father around for all of her life’s big moments. I want to provide for my family and protect them from harm and heart break. I don’t want to be the cause of it.

My illness has left me unable to work leaving Jessica to carry the work load, and the responsibilities that come with caring for a sick husband and a growing toddler. Both of which are no small task on there own, and here she is doing both. She is my rock! Jessica was built to love. She is a nurturer by nature and she will give until she has nothing left. She’s good at hiding her defeat behind her bright eyes and big beautiful smile, but I know she’s breaking down inside. She keeps it together for me, for Charlotte,for everyone, so no one has to break stride in their path toward their purpose. Well my purpose is my family, US. It’s not easy being this open about our lives, but hopefully this little window into our story will help.

 
Here is where you all come in...

The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor.  However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There are 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting.

Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.

 Here is some info:

You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my 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 my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.



You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or [email redacted]. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me.

You can also contact my transplant center directly at Columbia New York Presbyterian [phone redacted]. Or complete the living donor intake form at

https://cumc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_elmzsRwN2xVW1db?_ga=2.135529906.2027799974.1582054578-1571827141.1582054578&_gac=1.49398546.1582054578.EAIaIQobChMI1p-pwuzb5wIVGpSzCh0seQlwEAAYASADEgIq7fD_BwE
 

Enter William Noerling 2/1/81 when prompted  

However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Consider being an organ donor after death and also, help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.

I love and appreciate everyone one of you who have taken the time to read our story. My family and I are very hopeful this will bring us the blessing we have been praying for.

With all our love and blessings

Thank you,

William Jessica and Charlotte Noerling