Daniela Sigala's Kidney Transplant

First thank you for taking time to read this.  I'm trying to raise funds for my sister Daniela Sigala who is going through so very much at the young age of 28.  It's heartbreaking to me but hopefully we're close to Daniela being able to have a kidney, get back to making her own income, and one day starting a family.  Here is her story.  At this time we'd like to raise money for her March trip to San Antonio for her traveling expenses there, to help with her not being able to work in such a long time, and for existing doctors bills. 

In September 2013 I went in to the hospital for appendicitis, it was then that the ER doctor told me that my labs were abnormal and he was concerned about my kidneys. I got in to see the nephrologist in November and that was when he confirmed I had kidney disease and I started my prednisone treatment along with 12 other medications. I had a lot of side effects to the prednisone but I had to keep taking it because that was my only hope to slow down the progression of my kidneys failing. From that point on is when I started missing a lot of work for tests, kidney biopsy and doctors appointments and because I would just get sick vomiting and be weak. I then was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and sjorgens syndrome so they added more meds. With no insurance, my doctors appointments, tests and medications were expensive! I then started working less so less income made it even harder. And remember, I was planning a wedding while all of this was going on!! Talk about super stressed out!! I remained as calm as can be and kept my feelings to myself. I don't like to be a burden for anyone. I knew that as long as I had faith, that God was going to take care of me. I was in and out of the hospital all of 2014 with my kidneys and other health issues. I finally had to stop working in May, and I decided to file for disability in June since I knew my kidney disease was progressing and I couldn't work anymore. I was denied in September for my disability because I wasn't expected to die within 12 months! Crazy huh! So I was still not working because I was just so sick every day, I couldn't even get out of bed some days. I filed an appeal in September and just hoped I would get approved. I just had to patiently wait and see now. I was admitted on November 19 to the hospital and that time I came out different. I went through test after test and finally after spending 6 days there, the doctor came in to tell me the news I had been dreading. It was time to start dialysis, my kidneys were finally at their end. I was so sad and all I wanted to do was cry and ask why. Of course my husband and family have been so supportive and they make me feel better but I still hurt in the inside. On November 26 I had my first dialysis treatment. Man the feeling I felt from dialysis was none that I could describe. When I was released from the hospital and started my weekly routine dialysis of three times a week, I would come home and just cry and want to just give up. Dialysis is just tough on your body and makes you feel so weak. In my mind all I could think of is, man I am never going to be able to have children and it crushed my heart. Being a mom is something I want to experience so bad.

Dialysis is something I am going through and Now I know what our daddy went through for almost 8 years. One day after dialysis my brother called to check on me and I cried and cried to him, I told him I didn't want to do this anymore. He gave me some strong words of encouragement and told me I had to go through this in order to feel better and to try to be able to get a transplant some day. He said look at it this way, we can count down the days until you get your Medicare and we can start transplant testing, so now we have 88 more days to go. From that point on, I had a better attitude. I told myself I was going to be positive and do just what he said, count down the days and just believe in God, he will take care of me. Here we are 3 months later, Feb 1 my Medicare and secondary insurance became active and I could now apply to get an appointment for testing! I can't believe the time has come, time sure has flown by once I started having a positive attitude. Of course when I have dialysis I'm worn out and just need rest. I still have bad days but I sure do have a lot more better days than before. 2014 was definitely one of the toughest but yet best years of my life. My kidneys failed but I also got to marry the love of my life. I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for us. So far it's going well!! I applied for my appointment on Feb 3 and on Feb 10 I got my call for my appointment! March 2 I go to San Antonio to begin my transplant testing! I could not be more exited. I know it's just testing, but it also means once I'm cleared, I will be put on the national waiting transplant list! I am still not working because going to dialysis 3 times a week is like having a full time job. I have still not received my disability, but have finally been approved. Then comes the 6 month waiting period before any benefits are paid out. So 6 more months of no income. Thank God for the help of my family and hard working husband. I don't know how else I could have it done it for the past year and a half. It sure has been hard and my life has definitely changed. Now we will see how my testing goes....I pray I get a match soon!!