Help Patti Get a Kidney Transplant - Urgent!

My name is Patricia Milagros Bodero Bautista. I am 43 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus when I was 12. Most recently, I was diagnosed with complete kidney failure, and now require dialysis treatments to remain alive. I am from Lima, Peru, South America, living in a neighborhood named San Luis where resources are scarce. I asked my Aunt Moraima, who lives in the US, to create this GoFundMe account for me. The goal is to ask for your help in getting a kidney transplant here in Peru. I started dialysis in January and can no longer stand the pain, discomfort, and difficulties related to the dialysis treatments. I know I will die soon if I do not get a kidney transplant.

On dialysis, I have lost a lot of weight, feel weak, and have difficulty getting to the dialysis clinic three times a week. It turns out I became completely disabled due to complications related to my long-standing diabetes and kidney failure, and I do not have the funds to afford the transplant operation that costs around $30,000. For this reason, I ask for your help by donating to my GoFundMe account.

I also like to tell you a little about myself and my struggle. I have had diabetes for over 30 years, and despite using insulin and being very careful with what I eat, I have developed several horrible long-term complications. In 2017, I was diagnosed with nerve damage and muscle atrophy in my legs. I am permanently unable to walk correctly. I also have problems with my eye and stomach. My vision is blurred due to cataracts and diabetic disease of my retina. My stomach nerves were also damaged and I have a condition called gastroparesis. Six months ago came the worst blow. My doctors told me my kidneys had failed, and I had to start hemodialysis to remain alive. Little did I know how hard my life would be on dialysis.

Since the beginning of this year, I have taken the public bus, from home to the dialysis clinic, with the help of my elderly mother, three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to have dialysis sessions where my blood is cleared of toxins and excess water is removed. To complicate matters, the dialysis center is far, and they do not offer transportation. My typical dialysis days involve leaving home around 3 pm and arriving at the dialysis clinic after traveling by bus for about 1 hour. At the dialysis clinic, we wait to be connected to the hemodialysis machine, and then I dialyze for 4 hours. After the treatment, my mother and I must return home, arriving around 10 pm. It is excruciating and exhausting. I often do not feel well after they dialyze me, and I have to take a cab back home, a form of transportation my family can hardly afford. It is also problematic getting to dialysis because I have difficulty walking due to neuropathy in my legs.

I am a woman of faith in God, but sometimes, especially when returning home from dialysis, I ask myself, why me? Why was I chosen to endure so much pain and suffering in this life? When doubtful, I pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for help. I ask for his guidance and forgiveness. I think about the Via Crucis and Jesus carrying the cross, and I realize that God is not punishing me; he is just testing my faith, preparing me. I have to continue to trust God's plan, not my suffering.

One day this past June, I was down and sorrowful with pain after a dialysis session. Suddenly the phone rang, and it was my Aunt Moraima from the United States, calling to check on me. She is aware I have kidney failure and receiving dialysis. After telling her about my painful existence, we started asking ourselves who could help my situation and came up with the idea of the GoFundMe donations.

Please help me change my life. With your donation, I will get my kidney transplant, and my life will return to some normalcy. With a transplanted kidney, I would not need to go to the dialysis clinic three times a week, and instead of being a burden to my dear mother, I could help her at home. I would also save my mother from spending her little money on public transportation and taxi rides. Please, I need this kidney transplant as soon as possible. I don't know how long I will live on dialysis but I am certain, not very long. I don't know for how long I can endure dialysis and what it takes to get to the clinic. I am afraid my mom is already exhausted from caring for me and that my disease will affect her health.

Your donation today will have a tremendous impact on my life and my family. After receiving a kidney transplant, I imagine I will return to school and help children with special needs. That is what I do, teach children with special needs.

Please help with any amount you can. I need to get to around $30,000.

I like to say thank you for reading my story and helping me face this ugly disease called diabetes and kidney failure.

God bless you and your family.

Kindly,

Patricia Bodero