Support Leora's Road to Recovery

Leora (Lauren) Kerness is a 25 year-old Rabbinic student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California. Due to a complication during a procedure to laser a kidney stone, Leora's kidney has been irreparably damaged and she has been left with horrific pain that is taking significant pain medication, doctors visits, and procedures to even begin to manage.

Leora is a wonderful person that helps others. Before this horrific procedure, she was a teacher of the deaf in Sumter County, dealing with students in schools across the county. She helps her students navigate difficult situations with hearing loss in a system that doesn’t make it easy for them. She has hearing loss as well, and makes a huge difference and impact for all of her students. Due to her pain, she hasn’t been able to go to work since January, and she is now on unpaid leave from Sumter County. They are allowing her to continue her health insurance, but it is now all coming out of pocket. All but $200 used to be included with her job and she now has to pay almost $1,000 per month for it.

Leora is also on medication that her insurance company does not cover that is currently about $600 per month, on top of other medical bills from previous procedures and medical expenses that are building up. She also has at least one procedure ahead of her to try and alleviate the pain.

Any donation or contribution, no matter the amount, will make a huge difference for Leora and her family. Your donation will go directly to the costs and bills that have accumulated and will continue to build from her condition. Your support will also make a significant impact on her recovery emotionally as she navigates through this challenging period in her life. Thank you in advance for anything that you can do!