Hello my friends,
For some of you who may not know us, my name is Thanh and my wife’s name is Jennifer. We’ve been happily married for over 9 years and we would like to ask for your help. 3 years ago Jennifer developed an illness called IgA nephropathy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001500/. This illness attacked Jennifer’s kidneys and now she needs a kidney transplant. While waiting for over 2 years for a kidney, Jennifer has had over 20 surgeries ranging from minor procedures putting in a dialysis catheter to heart surgery to remove a tumor. I do hemo-dialysis (filtering blood) for Jennifer 6 days a week for the last 2 years. Jennifer was a hygienist but due to her illness her work place released her last year before Christmas. So she has been unemployed for a year now. Because of this I work somewhere between 10-12 hours a day to pay the bills and sometimes this isn’t enough.
On New Years day of this year, Jennifer and I got a phone call from KU Medical Center and our prayers were answered when they told us there was a kidney for her. UNFORTUNATELY, the day before, Jennifer had a fever of 101.7 degrees. Because of this, they gave the kidney to someone else who was not sick. Due to her immune system being weakened from medicines related to the surgery, she could die if she proceeded with the transplant while being ill. Currently Jennifer is taking medicines to get better so when they call us again, we’ll be ready to go to Kansas City, MO. Jennifer could get a kidney this weekend coming up or next month; it’s hard to tell. When she does get a kidney though, our journey will have just began. We will have to take a 3 hour drive to Kansas City, MO where Jennifer will be in the hospital for 7 days for pre and post surgery. Then we are required to live in Kansas City (be close to KU Medical Center) for another 7 days just in case there is any rejection of the new kidney. After the 14 days, we will need to come back to Kansas City once every week for one month, and then every 6 months for the next couple of years.
Jennifer and I need your help. I will need to take off of work for a significant time, the cost of the previous trips to KU (for testing), the cost of this trip, future trip for her new kidney, and the initial cost of immune-suppressant drugs and I don’t think we will be able to make ends meet. Even though I have a good job, that pays better than average, good insurance, and we have been saving a little bit of money but we’re still going to come up short.
Overall, we need over $4,000 but Indego charges 9% if you don’t meet your goal so we’re hoping to ask for $4,000. Just so you guys have an idea of what your contribution will be helping us with here is a list of SOME of the cost we’ll need to pay for.
Money needed to pay for bills for the month due to me not working. $2,300.00
7 days in a motel/hotel near the Hospital. $600.00
Transportation cost for all the trips to Kansas City, 6 trips. $475.00
Meals while in Kansas City for 14 days. $500.00
Initial Immuno-suppressant drugs. $250.00
When Jennifer gets a kidney it would mean so much to us if you could help us out, we understand that money is tight for everyone but even if you could give $5 it can go along way with as many friends that we have. If you can also please get our story out there and help us as much as you can. We love you all and thank you so much for helping us.
Sincerely,
Thanh and Jennifer
