My name is Marlene Renee Whitaker. I am 52 years old, married, and reside in a small town in Utah called Delta. I live with a life-threatening kidney function failure and desperately need a kidney transplant to save my life. With the help of my family, friends and community, I hope to make this happen.

I was employed for over 25 years in several responsible positions at two major banks. My disease has progressed to the point now where I require daily dialysis treatments so full time work is not a possibility. Yet I am most fulfilled when I am able to participate in my home, family, church and community activities. In my current weakened health situation, I have limited strength and stamina to do those things I used to do so easily. With a new kidney, my health will be restored and I will be able to do so many things again, including being able to accept full-time work and care for my home and family.

Transplants are life-saving but financially draining. Even with insurance, the medically-related expenses I must pay out-of-pocket are very high including relocating to be closer to the transplant center, travel to and from the hospital, copays and post-transplant medications I’ll need to take for the rest of my life. To cover these costs, I need to raise about $10,000.