Daryl & Elle Mae's Kidney Journey Fund

Hello Friends! I am donating a kidney to Daryl Duchatschek this spring. Daryl has Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), an uncommon genetic disorder that causes tumors to develop in many parts of the body, including his kidneys. He had kidney failure in recent years past, and has previously received a deceased kidney donation, which has stopped working.

I stepped forward to evaluate to see if I would be a possible match for him in November. Turns out - I am! I've finished the months of testing, have met with all the doctors, and now we await a final date coming up in the next two months!

Please consider Donating to our fund. Insurance has covered most testing and procedures, but we are still paying out of pocket for additional tests and copays as well as the never-ending travel costs and lost time off of work.

My recovery time from this surgery is 3-6 weeks (I've taken off 2 weeks unpaid for certain, I will go back after that point for lack of income). Daryl is on disability, his wife will be stationed in Milwaukee with him because they have to be a short distance from the hospital in the month following the transplant (in case of additional emergencies). We all live in Oshkosh, which is just under a two hour drive to St Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee.

Common Kidney Transplant Expenses (outside of surgery and regular testing) Include:

-Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays

-Pre & post transplant medications

-Unexpected pre-transplant hospitalizations

-Medical travel and temporary lodging while awaiting transplant

-Medical travel and temporary lodging post-transplant

-Travel expenses due to the transplant

-Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for transplant-related medical travel

-Caregiver costs, including lost work

-Living donor costs, including lost work, transplant testing, and post-transplant medical care

-Post-transplant immunosuppressants, which a transplant recipient must take for the rest of their life

The donated funds will be shared between Daryl and myself for these costs. We will continue to post updates on this page as we move toward transplant.

Thank you for your consideration! We appreciate your love and support!

Please consider being a Living Organ Donor - you could save a life!