May 24, 2018
5/24/2018 Update
Tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for! My friend Brandi has been approved as my match and tomorrow (5/25/18) she will be donating her left kidney to me. I am forever grateful for her and cannot thank her enough for her gift! Please continue to pray for us as we go through this journey together. As always thank you for your continued support and love. Chandra
January 31, 2018
Update 1/31/2018
As you may know we have a close friend going through donor testing and would love extra prayers for her as she completes her testing. This can be a long and complicated process. Pray for good results!
November 29, 2017
Update 11/29/2017
I just wanted to let everyone know one of my friends has been going through testing to be my donor and we could use extra prayers as she finishes her tests and awaits the results. Please keep her and our family in your thoughts and prayers!
Much love, Chandra
September 7, 2017
Join us Sunday September 24th 12-5pm for Street Dreams Cruisin' for a Kidney Car Show! Bikes, cars and trucks welcome! Food, raffles and auction items will also be available for purchase! Hope to see you there!
August 30, 2017
Update 8/30/2017
As most of you know my brother has been going through testing to be my donor. He was eliminated today, and will not be able to donate his kidney. So once again we are searching for someone willing to go through testing to become my donor. Any blood type can qualify. If you are at all interested give IU Transplant a call at (317)944-4370 or 1-800-382-4602. They will ask you questions to see if you qualify before going through any tests.
I am still doing dialysis at home. I have been able to wean my treatments down to 2x/day. I get tired easily and take naps most afternoons. I am looking forward to having my old life back. Please think about being a donor and share with your family and friends. As always say some extra prayers for my family!
Much love, Chandra
June 20, 2017
Please join us July 29th at 12pm for a Family Fun Day to help raise money for Chandra! There will be vendors from Lularoe, Paparazzi, Jamberry, Younique and many more, cornhole tournament, bounce house, carnival games, raffle prizes, food and ice cream. Please come out and show your support for Chandra!
WHEN: July 29 at 12 pm
WHERE: Greenwood VFW (located at 333 S Washington Street Greenwood Indiana)
If you have any additional questions, would like to be a vendor, or have any donations you would like to contribute, please contact Angie Wells at [email protected] or 317-688-9979. Hope to see you all there!
February 28, 2017
Update 2/27/2017
I have been doing peritoneal (home) dialysis for a little over 3 weeks now. It has definitely been a challenge getting use to scheduling myself to do something every 4-5 hours. Its getting easier though! I am no longer having the horrible headaches that I was having with the hemodialysis (in center), thankfully!! I am taking things one day at a time!
I am still looking for my "life saver" so if you or anyone you know is interested please call IU Health at 1-800-382-4602 or (317)944-4370 to begin application process. If you truly want to help don't rule yourself out let the doctors do their job, they do a thorough work up to make sure you are the right match!
As you may have noticed we chose to go with a Help Hope Live fundraising campaign instead of GoFundMe. We did this because Help Hope Live has been around for over 30 years. It is solely used for transplant patients, patients with catastrophic injuries or catastrophic illnesses . Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and are available for lifelong transplant-related expenses. With post-transplant medications which will cost us thousands of dollars each month we felt this was the best option. To help support us click the "Donate Now" button.
Please continue to share my story and pray for our family!
Much love, Chandra
January 20, 2017
Update 1/20/2017
Hi all!! Thanks for following my story!
• I am still in need of a living kidney donor! If you have called previously and were unable to reach anyone, and/or they were not taking names, please call back, they are currently taking potential donor information. If you have already been sent info, either follow through or notify them and let them know you are not going to move forward in the process. This holds spots and prevents others from being worked up. Only 5 people are able to be processed at a time. If you are currently being worked up…THANK YOU!!! Any blood type can be a donor. If you are interested please call IU Health Transplant (317)944-4370 or 1-800-382-4602.
• I am currently still doing “in center” dialysis 3 x week. I have begun training for home dialysis on my off days. The goal is to begin home dialysis on Feb 2nd. For home dialysis, I will be doing dialysis 7 days/week every 4-6 hours. This is definitely going to be a huge change and take up a significant amount of time. I am hoping that change will be a good thing, and alleviate all the bad reactions I have from in center dialysis.
• I have been off work since May 2016, I am getting long term disability currently which expires as of May 2017 along with all of my other employee benefits that I have earned over 18 years. I really need to get a kidney ASAP so I can get back to work before I lose everything. =(
• Please think about being a donor if you can! If not please pray and share! Thanks, Chandra XOXO
December 21, 2016
Update 12/20/2016
I had surgery on 12/13/16 to get a fistula in my arm. A fistula is a permanent dialysis site where they connect a vein and an artery. This is incase I need it later in life, post transplant or if my current or soon to be dialysis method fails I will have a back up. On the 13th I also had a peritoneal dialysis site placed in my abdomen. This site will allow me to begin dialysis at home. I will begin training next week for the next several weeks to learn how to do home dialysis. During this training I will continue with my current in center regimen. Our hopes are to begin in home therapy by February. As always the best case scenario is a live kidney donor, so please continue to pray for our family and share our story! Thanks xoxo, Chandra
October 21, 2016
Update 10/21/2016
As many of you know I was recently in the hospital, so I wanted to update you on what happened.
Tues 10/11-I woke up with chills and back pain around 230 am, took a bath and Tylenol and went back to bed. Woke up again at 530 am still with chills and back pain, Scott woke up and thought I had a fever. At this time my temperature did not register. Rechecked temperature at 630 am and it was 102.3. Called doctor at 8 am and they recommended going to ER. On arrival to ER temperature still 101 and heart rate 170 (normal 60-80). They did EKG to check my heart it was normal, chest x-ray that was normal and lots of blood work and started an IV. They also started 3 IV antibiotics as they waited for me to get results and a bed to be admitted. I was admitted to the Progressive Care Unit, similar to a step down ICU that evening. My fever continued and my heart rate averaged 130's.
Wed 10/12- Dialysis 7-11 am then when back to my unit my heart rate was 130-140. Pretty sick this day with fevers, increased heart rate, low blood pressures. The nurse was concerned so she contacted the doctor and they did another EKG (normal) and an ECHO. The ECHO showed Aortic Dissection which is usually a medical emergency. I wasn't really showing any symptoms so the doctor was ok doing further testing in am. Test results show infection in blood stream most likely from dialysis port.
Thurs 10/13 CT Scan to check for Aortic Dissection (normal). Infected dialysis port removed today. YAY I got to take my first shower in 6 months that what was 1 good thing about getting my port out!! (All I can do is take a bath and wash my hair in the sink)
Fri 10/14 Temporary dialysis port placed today in jugular (neck) vein (ouch!) Dialysis 1-5 pm Moved out of PCU today to regular unit!! YAY no more continuous monitoring!!
Sat 10/15 -Sun 10/16 Migraines and blood pressure out of control from stopping my meds when septic and now trying to get headaches and bp back under control.
Mon 10/17 Dialysis 7-11 am then to have new dialysis port placed from chest wall to heart.
Tues 10/18 Suppose to be released today but they didn't get IV antibiotics set up for discharge
Wed 10/19 Dialysis 7-11, Discharged at 130 pm YAY!!!
I will continue to have dialysis every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week. I will also be getting IV antibiotics on dialysis days until the middle of November.
We are constantly looking for individuals to be tested to see if you are a match. If you have O blood type, overall healthy and would be interested in finding out more contact the IU health donor coordinator at (317) 944-4370 or 1-800-382-4602. If you have called previously and have not heard anything call back, they will attempt contact for a couple of months then discard your info.
Much love and please continue to pray for us!! Chandra
August 24, 2016
Update 8/23/16
I wanted to update you on my living donor situation. Currently my cousin is being worked up as my donor. She has been through numerous tests and at this point is still a match. She will continue to go through more testing so please continue to keep both of us in your prayers!
As far as dialysis I have seen no change in the way I feel. I am still having a rough time on dialysis days. I have began working closely over the last couple weeks with the physicians assistant to try different things such as adjusting medications, dry weight, and dialysis machine extra rinsing. We are trying something different each week, if there is no improvement from the change the week before. I'm hopeful that we will finally figure something out!
As always thanks for all your support and prayers!!
Much Love, Chandra
June 2, 2016
Update 6/2/2016
I have been doing outpatient dialysis now for almost 3 weeks. To be honest each day of dialysis is a struggle. On the days of dialysis (Mon, Wed, Fri) I have migraines, nausea, vomiting, and my body is weak. I come home after 4 hours of dialysis and sleep another 4 or 5 hours. This is really taking a toll on me. The days in between are getting better but I still get tired really easy. I have not been back to work and am currently on short term disability. I am looking forward to finding a donor so I can be done with this.
I was not able to get listed for transplant as we hoped. The surgeon recommended for me to have a heart catherization to make sure I do not have a blockage in my arteries. This was based on my abnormal stress test that the cardiologist thinks is related to my increased blood pressure during that test. I am scheduled to have my heart catherization next Wed June 8th. Please say some extra prayers that this goes well and there is no blockage.
As always we are thankful for everyone's continued support and prayers!
Much love, Scott and Chandra
May 6, 2016
Update 5/6/2016
This week I went to IU for my transplant education day. My transplant coordinator will be taking my case to the board on Tuesday of next week to have me put on the transplant list. All of my pre transplant testing has been completed and looks good per the surgeon!!
My labs have continued to get worse each week. I also have been getting wore out very easily, and short of breath without doing really anything. I have also continued to have back pain off and on.
On Tuesday May 10th, I will be admitted to IU hospital for inpatient dialysis. I will get a temporary dialysis site placed at that time. I will be there for about 3 days then I will begin outpatient dialysis. The plan is to find a LIVE donor asap so I don't have to remain on dialysis very long. Life expectancy decreases the longer you remain on dialysis before transplant. I am currently scheduled for a permanent dialysis surgery on 6/7. That site has to heal for 3 months before it can be used. We are hopeful and praying everyday that we get a LIVE donor soon!! If you are interested in becoming a donor please call 1-800-382-4602 or 317-944-4370 and give them my name and they will get you started.
Thanks and much love, Chandra
April 22, 2016
4/22/16 Over the last couple weeks I have begun my pre transplant work up which included a dental screening, mammogram and pap smear. My mammogram showed some spots that needed biopsied. So I had that done last week. After much stress, I was relieved to find out that the spots were benign and I could continue with my transplant workup. Everything is starting to fall into place and I scheduled my last pre transplant screening tests for Monday the 25th. I will also be meeting with the dialysis doctor that day to discuss dialysis options if they become needed. Then on May 4th I go in and have a full day of education and will meet with my doctor, social worker, surgeons, etc. so I know and understand what to expect. Over the last week I haven't felt that great, I have been more tired,and seem to get wore out easily. Please continue to pray that everything runs smoothly and we find a live donor asap. Thanks and much love, Chandra
