Help Support Blake Through Kidney Disease Fight

Hello everyone! This campaign has been set up to help one of my high school buddies, Blake Richardson, as he navigates a rapidly advancing kidney disease.

My wife, Erika, and I have put this GoFundMe together to raise one year's worth of financial support for Blake as he undergoes dialysis and waits to match with a kidney donor, gets a transplant, and through his recovery.

Blake has always been superhuman and is an inspiration to many for his tenacity, drive and humble attitude. Since I moved back to Penticton in 2016, I have witnessed Blake being an amazing dad and friend, as he trained diligently to not only complete the 2020 Ironman but also kick Ironman’s ass!

Unfortunately, Covid-19 derailed both the 2020 and 2021 Ironman events, and by the time the 2022 event was a go, Blake had begun experiencing symptoms that prevented him from training altogether and achieving his goal of competing.

Here is the breakdown and timeline of the last 10 months of Blake's life:

In June of 2022, Blake began experiencing unusual symptoms that were atypical for a highly fit 35-year-old. He tried to combat them with healthy habits, eating healthy and exercising to no avail. During July and August, the symptoms progressed to the extent that Blake suffered from temporary blindness in his left eye for several weeks in September. Once the doctor was able to see him, he checked his blood pressure on his left arm, then checked the right arm and eventually tried his stethoscope. The blood pressure cuff wasn't reading his blood pressure accurately because it was TOO HIGH to read! His doctor eventually discovered Blake’s blood pressure was at an astonishing 235/158 (normal is 120/80) and he was immediately admitted to the ICU. After a week in the hospital, Blake was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy.

IgA Nephropathy is an autoimmune disease that attacks the microfilters in the kidneys. It can lay dormant for years and have no signs or subtle signs that are hard to detect early. The average person has a GFR (glomerular filtration rate) kidney function of 90-120, however; by the time Blake was diagnosed, his kidney function was just at 23. It was clear at this stage that Blake would need a kidney transplant and would soon be on dialysis until a suitable donor was found.

Since Blake's diagnosis in October of 2022, he has had weekly appointments with his nephrologist team to tweak the medications that manage his ongoing and very high blood pressure, and he has been maintaining around 175/110. For reference, this is just a few points away from the highest zone on a blood pressure chart known as a "Hypertensive Crisis"... You don't need to be a doctor to understand just how serious it is to constantly exist in this state.

Another symptom that accompanied his high blood pressure is a low level of hemoglobin. This has caused a drastic drop in Blake’s energy resulting in early bedtimes/naps at all hours of the day. Blake has been trying to maintain his job and gain new skills since his diagnosis. He managed to work full-time, co-parent his ten-year-old daughter Paisley and finish a six-month construction management course. Blake didn't have a single easy day during this time but is proud of his accomplishments despite the challenges.

At one of his weekly appointments in June this year, it was discovered that Blake's GFR kidney function had decreased from 23 in October 2022 to just 3 (Three. Tres. Trois) and he needed an immediate procedure to put a stent in his renal artery to start hemodialysis that same day.

Since then, Blake has had to stop working due to extreme exhaustion, sleeping an average of 16 hours a day. He now needs to undergo dialysis three days a week for four hours at a time to filter his blood until a suitable replacement kidney is found. Dialysis also pulls fluid off of patients' bodies that most of us pee out, but Blake can't, leaving him unable to consume more than 1.5 litres of water per day resulting in a constant state of dehydration. Now google renal diet food restrictions and throw that into the mix.

The unfortunate reality is that this is going to be Blake's life until a suitable donor can be found and he can receive a transplant. Fortunately, he has several people selflessly going through the testing to see if they are a match and he is hopeful he will have a new kidney soon, with a surgery date sometime in the next few months. Once that is done he will then have to stay in Vancouver for three months post-surgery to ensure his body doesn't reject the new kidney. Regular life looks to be 9 months away at best.

We love Blake so much and it is important to us to help lessen the impact of financial stress for him in the months ahead. At this point, we don’t know how long it will be until there is a match. We also don’t know if he’ll be able to train or compete in the Ironman after his transplant, but what we do know is we can support him through this period of his life as the same cheerleaders.

Funds raised will go directly to everyday costs, such as mortgage payments, utility bills, car payments, car insurance, groceries, etc., and any other costs that his minimal insurance will not cover.

Further, we’d like to pave the way forward. If you’re interested in exploring kidney donation, visit www.kidney.ca to learn how you can help.

Feel free to leave a message of support for Blake below and be sure to check back for updates, as well as information about future in-person fundraising events.

Last but not least - A quick note from the man himself:

"Throughout this whole crazy journey this past year, my friends and family have been so thoughtful and present. Thank you to every single one of you, especially my mom :). Every single nurse and Doctor has gone above and beyond with their warm hearts and gentle care. Thank you, you're appreciated. Lastly, Paisley has been a ray of light, smiles, and laughs and has made this journey worthwhile. Love you Pais. To everyone else THANK YOU."

Much love,

Chris Bouchard