JEFFREY'S KIDNEY TRANSPLANT Support Fund

HELLO and ALOHA – I’m Steven Price, Jeffrey Roberts’s partner of almost 40 years now. I’m writing to both tell you a Tale of Hope…and ask for your help in achieving it!

In November of 2018, Jeffrey was suddenly diagnosed with END STAGE Renal failure – and it kind of came out of nowhere; no visible symptoms, no history of kidney trouble in the family, nothing. He went on dialysis almost immediately, but still had constant, sometimes life-threatening infections that he and his doctors really scrambled to understand – and control. Finally, in July of 2020, it was determined that leaving both non-functioning kidneys in was what was causing the infections, and they were both removed – probably saving his life.

He’s been on Dialysis 3 or more times every week since 2018 and has weathered all sorts of complications in that time, as we waited for his name to move up the National Transplant List, which at the outset we were told to expect to take about 9 years.

AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS – in October of 2023, Jeffrey got the call that he is to begin preparing NOW for a transplant to come at any time within the next 6-18 months (we would get basically a week’s notice to be ready to GO). A visit to the Loma Linda Transplant Institute in San Bernardino on 10/3 laid out the whole magnitude of preparations that we’ll have to make during the lead up to the actual transplant, including:

• Sanitizing and sterilizing our home and getting in the necessary medical equipment and supplies, as well as line up home health care for things I cannot do for him, both in the lead-up to the surgery and during recovery.

• Jeffrey already needs to also begin taking a whole host of some 2 dozen medications and treatments (in addition to many of the same meds he is already taking) to lower his Immune System defenses so his body can better accept the new kidney without rejection…and many of which he will be taking for the rest of his life.

• The bills have been piling up as it is, but this whole new wave of preparations will add even more, daunting costs (and that’s WITH good insurance!). We are of course seeking assistance from every conceivable program that could help. But there is LOT that none of these agencies or foundations will cover, and we need to expend them now, to be poised to jump when the moment comes.

We realize that asking for donations from our family and friends is a tremendous Gift of Grace – and want YOU to know that WE know -- it would truly be a Gift of LIFE; we may not be able to do it without you. So for your consideration and kindness, we want to express in advance our HEART-FELT GRATITUDE (Mahalo Nui Loa) and wish YOU ALL the best Health and Happiness in return.

-- Steven for Jeffrey