Help Katherine Landers- Kidney Transplant

**Katherine's story**

"My name is Katherine and I am 38 years old from Virginia Beach. I have an 18 year old son and my partner and I have been together for 5 years.

"I was diagnosed with kidney disease in April 2018. I went to the hospital due to a kidney infection and was told there was inflammation to my kidneys. Doctors have never been able to find out why. I got sicker to the point where I was put on peritoneal dialysis in March 2020. With being on dialysis, you are also put on the kidney transplant list, but I didn’t think I would get one, and I couldn’t find anyone that could donate a kidney. Dialysis and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle led me to get off dialysis one year later to the day, March 2021. My prognosis was so good that I was put on the inactive transplant list but still kept my place in line.

"I have been steady health-wise until my last doctor’s appointment in June, where I was told my kidney function has decreased again, significantly to the point where my doctor has advised me that I may be able to be listed as active again on the transplant list. Furthermore, since I kept my place in line, I would be able to get a kidney a lot sooner than expected – as soon as I get back on the active list, I may get a phone call in a week’s time.

"While this is great news, what scares me is paying my every day bills. My company where I work does not qualify for FMLA (we’re too small) and I do not have short term/long term disability (and the chances are slim I may be able to get it due to health screens). My partner and I are not married and his income only won’t be able to support us."

Thank you for reading Katherine's story. She is a close friend of mine that I met through our local Buy Nothing groups a couple years ago. She's selfless, giving so much to neighbors and strangers. If you needed her, she would be there, and I hope we can be there for her now. Her health is in jeopardy if she does not get a new kidney, but she's in a position that she can't put her life and responsibilities on hold to go through the surgery and recover. She's a mother to an amazing son, a pillar in our community, and a good person. It breaks my heart that she's scared to go through surgery to get better because life can't stop to let her breathe. She is loved and needed by so many. I am posting this because I want to help Katherine get the essential surgery and care she needs to live without being in fear of becoming displaced and deep in debt in the process. Thank you for reading and please share/ donate if your heart calls you to do so. -Rebecca