Gloria: A Sweetheart & Her Sailor

We lose 18 people every day waiting for an organ donor. "The list" is long. Finding a match is rare and finding a living donor is even more so. Blood relatives are typically your only chance as a donor. However, Cody and Gloria have put their faith in each other.

Family, friends, and those we've yet to meet, take a moment to read and share this real-life love story. Please show your support not only with a donation, but with a word of encouragement to my brother and his beautiful wife.

Cody and Gloria first met and became friends in primary school. They remained friends until a love interest inevitably sprouted as adults. On July 29, 2008 our family grew by one. Gloria, a petite, spunky, sweet soul with a heart of gold gifted not only my baby brother love and happiness, but she shares that and so much more with each and every one of us. Cody and Gloria exchanged vows promising to love and support one another "in sickness and in health." Today, they have found themselves showing up for each other and making good on their word.

Rather than celebrating their new nuptials with a typical honeymooners' getaway, as a member of the United States Navy, Cody received orders for an extensive tour aboard the USS John C. Stennis. With her sailor out to sea, Gloria was determined to create a home for their little family alone in Bremerton, WA. Making new friends and excelling at her new job, Gloria struggled to manage recurring symptoms of Lupus. Gloria received the diagnosis encompassing this chronic autoimmune disease at the young age of 19, and along with it, the diagnosis of a severe kidney disease. After completing five years of service, Cody and Gloria decided to move back to their hometown of Tucson, AZ. Gloria found comfort in serving the community by volunteering at various animal shelters. She's an avid animal lover and to no surprise, found herself accepting a full time position at a local pet clinic.

February of last year, Gloria was suddenly hospitalized for what was deemed as kidney failure. She was admitted with a frightening kidney function of only eight percent. After some much needed rest, intravenous steroids, a blood transfusion, and an overwhelming amount of support, Gloria was finally able to go home. Our celebration began to dwindle as Gloria was discharged with an improved, yet bleak 14% kidney function and an urge from her medical team to begin steps towards transplant. In the midst of more testing, insurance changes, and the hurdles of everyday life, Gloria received the long awaited approval. With a grateful heart, she soon found herself on the UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing  list. That said, Gloria is well educated in the reality of needing an organ transplant and began to seek living donors. Against the overwhelming odds, an unexpected donor had been declared a perfect match... Cody- her husband, her partner in life, and soon to be literally her "other half." Keep in mind, a dismal two percent of spouses match as donors and are able to transplant before going on life changing dialysis- like in Gloria's case this is rare, and ultimately unheard of.

Gloria continues to work tirelessly with the dire need for health insurance and the gratification of helping her community and their animals. However, just the simple tasks of daily living are taking a toll on her already fragile body. Her kidneys are currently functioning alarmingly at just under 10%– and continue to worsen, her blood pressure has reached all time highs, and her blood is extremely high in toxicity. Gloria somehow still finds a way to smile and brighten the day of everyone crossing her path, all while dealing with the invisible pain and fatigue she experiences on a daily basis.

Moving forward with the transplant is vital. At this point, the damage is irreversible. Although Gloria has been fortunate in receiving transplant approval and the "one in a million" chance of finding her husband as the donor, this comes with great financial burden. Banner UMC is facilitating the transplant process, but requires patients to pay their portion before any procedures are performed. Each test, evaluation, surgery, medication, and follow up appointment will have to be paid in full preceding any services. With Cody as Gloria's donor, they're also facing loss of their entire household income from surgery through recovery. Gloria’s full recovery can take upwards of six months and will rely heavily on medications following the surgery that she will inevitably be on for the rest of her life. The estimated U.S. average billed charges for a typical kidney transplant starts modestly around $250,000.

We have a rare and unique opportunity to take part in the writing of a new chapter in Cody and Gloria's love story. Please donate what you can and offer words of hope as a brave sweetheart and her gracious sailor embark on their ultimate gift.

Your offerings will be met with grateful hearts.