Hello family and friends!  As most of you know I have been struggling to survive as a dialysis patient for the past 14 years.  It’s been a LONG road of hardship in every way.  Physically, emotionally and financially.  Being a single mom and going through four days per week of dialysis was running me ragged.  
 

Over the past 14 years I had a kidney removed.  I severed both quad tendons and had to learn how to walk again.  I had a heart attack and a cardiac arrest.  I endured 5 other surgeries on my parathyroid and my dialysis access.  I also was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through radiation.

All of those things kept me off the transplant list.  Until this past Tuesday when I got the call for the greatest gift a person can receive.  A new chance at life.  I finally got my new kidney!  
 

While this is amazing news, it’s going to be very rough at first.  My immune system has been completely wiped out for the next 6 months by immunosuppressant medications that keep my body from rejecting the new kidney.  This means I’m really susceptible to infection.  I cannot work for 12-16 weeks.  Not even on my computer at home due to me needing to time meds carefully and freely be able to get to the bathroom.  Although I have been on disability, I had two side gigs that I cannot work for the next several months.  On top of losing income to recover, I will also need to purchase a slew of new medications to keep my kidney from rejecting.  I cant lift more than five pounds, I can’t vacuum, or do laundry.  As a single mom this is all going to be rough!  
 

i‘m reaching out to my friends, family and followers to help me get through this very exciting, but very scary period of recovery.  
 

If you find it in your heart to give it would mean the world to my entire family.  It will take the stress off me so I can focus on taking care of myself and getting better.  I plan to hopefully return to a teaching career and my balloon business at some point in the future when it’s safe for my immune system.  
 

All money will go to monthly bills, medications, hospital bills, and food. 
 

if you can’t give, please share.  You never know who may be willing to help!  Thanks for reading my story and being the amazing support you have all been in my life up until this point.  I can finally look to the future once again and it feels amazing!  I love you all!