Meet mix listener Michelle Prado. She reached out to share with me that she is in need of a kidney. Can you help? Here is her story from Facebook:
Many of you do not know that I am in End Stage Renal Failure. I was diagnosed in 2015 with renal cancer, the same month that Josiah was going to be graduating from high school and entering the United States Air Force Academy. I did not want to take away from the celebration for the family and especially did not want to be a distraction for Josiah. So, with faith and fortitude, I kept my silence until the night before surgery. I told my family, and Josiah was pretty much "off the grid" during Basic Cadet Training.
My other kidney was functioning fine. So, I made the decision to have surgery which entailed removal of the entire cancerous kidney. I have said that my other kidney got very lonely and a few months later, I found myself in end stage renal failure. I tried as long as I could to not go on dialysis. However, suffering a rare and severe allergic reaction to a medication, I was miserable to say the least. A couple days later, I went to my doctor appointment, who looked at me and my lab values, and the next thing I knew, I was being emergency admitted into the hospital. A catheter was placed that evening since I was at the point of needing emergency dialysis. The next morning was my first dialysis treatment.
Dialysis is tough. I am basically hooked up to a machine for about 4 hours. During that time, I pretty much have to sit still in a recliner, not moving my arm that is hooked up to this machine. I try to make the best of it. I've fondly named my fistula Phoebe. The machine is my R2D2. And I have made INCREDIBLE friends with fellow kidney warriors and super special dialysis techs. Sadly, in the couple years that I've been on dialysis, I've already lost 4 warrior friends. Dialysis though life saving, is also really tough on the body. I go to "dehydrate" at dialysis 3-4 times a week. The machine filters out toxins and removes excess fluid from my body. In 4 hours, it does what a normal person's body would be doing in 24-48 hours. I am often very wiped out after each treatment. It has weakened my immune status. I get very tired in between treatments. But hey! I am grateful that I am still alive!!
So, I am going out of my comfort zone and asking for someone to help save me. Help me have a better quality of life. Help me continue to watch my children grow and soar in life. Help me be there to share happiness with my future grandchildren. Help me be there to celebrate family with my brother, sister, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and many other friends.
Here is a link that provides information on being a living donor.
https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-donation-and-transplant
Here is a link to register as a living kidney donor.
https://www.kidneyregistry.org/
* Being a living donor costs the donor Nothing.
* You can live with one kidney.
* The average wait time for a deceased kidney donor is about 6-7 years.