John's Journey to Kidney Transplant

Hey y’all, so this post has been a minute coming but finally posting! We are raising money for medical expenses surrounding pre-, during, and post- kidney transplant.

 

As most of you already know, my amazing husband, a bad ass CF warrior, received a lifesaving double lung transplant on 2/17/2012 through the generous and selfless decision of a family in their time of loss.

 

The gift of lungs has blessed us with being able to experience so many adventures together. There have been amazing adventures and there have been additional health challenges he has faced without hesitation. He’s one tough rock star! After dealing with antibody mediated rejection and an extended hospital stay February/March 2013, he’s continued to kick butt. One of the tough pieces with transplant, is the anti-rejection meds that he takes are hard on his kidneys. Having CF, he’s also had to take some pretty hardcore medications in the past that were tough on the kidneys.

 

Last summer, he dealt with a very rare transplant complication requiring a massive surgery and six days in the ICU. The surgery was very successful and we are extremely lucky to have such amazing care at UNC. However, he lost quite a lot of blood during surgery and required four units of blood. Unfortunately, because of the blood loss during surgery (which can cause significant kidney damage) and all the medications, it pushed his already unhappy kidneys to the place where we are now facing a kidney transplant.

 

To continue to protect the amazing lungs that he received in 2012, despite the state of his kidneys, he has to continue to take his transplant meds which can be hard on the kidneys. The great news is that when he receives a new kidney, his body will adapt and he will be able to continue kicking butt and living his best life for a long, long time!

 

The kidney docs feel strongly that having a living donor is the best path as living donor kidneys have the best outcomes, keep John from having to be on the waitlist for 6-8 years (and face very scary complications from failing kidneys), and can be a much safer, planned surgery.

 

Due to his kidneys, he’s had multiple hospital stays recently for anemia, required multiple transfusions, and has been dealing with imbalances from the kidneys. Basically, we visit UNC a lot :)

 

With all of this going on, he’s still kicking butt, doing everything he can for his health, and being all around just an amazing human being. :)

 

While we navigate the kidney transplant process, one of the important pieces is fundraising! There can be so many costs associated with complex healthcare. :) Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) this isn’t our first rodeo. There are costs associated with so many aspects of the transplant process. We are fundraising for pre, during and post-transplant healthcare costs!

 

It is also important that if a living donor matches to John, that the fundraising can cover the living donor’s travel/lodging expenses to the hospital. Those costs can vary especially if someone matches from out of the state :)

 

We know we are loved and supported from near and far If you would like to host a fundraiser in your community, reach out to me and we can chat!

 

All donations and fundraiser proceeds go to transplant related expenses!  Our current goal is a moving target as medical costs and living donor costs are estimated from the transplant team at this time.  If we are extremely successful and overfund this transplant adventure, excess donations would be donated to UNC Hospitals' Transplant Fund.  

 

We couldn't walk this journey without all of the amazing love and support we have from those both near and far. Thank you for your continued care and love of us through all of the adventures we encounter.

FB group for those wanting to follow for updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/348766680363982/?ref=share

 

Living kidney donation:

John's perfect kidney match will be A or O blood type (Rh does not matter). If you are interested in being tested to see if you are a kidney match for John (unfortunately I’m not a match), you can read about it and submit your information for further consideration here: https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/care-treatment/transplant-care/kidney-transplant/become-a-living-donor/

Or you can call the living donor coordinator for more info at:

Amy Woodard

984-974-7568