In 2010, after waiting more than two years, Ryan began preparations for a kidney transplant at Mass General Hospital. Ryan was initially planned to be part of an experimental clinical trial that would involve chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in conjunction with his kidney, before the trial was cancelled in March of 2010. Instead, Ryan became the first patient in a different clinical trial that would use a cocktail of immnosuppressants and other drugs to help his body adjust to the new kidney. Ryan was lucky that his living donor was his mom, and was considered an excellent match for this particular trial.
Ryan’s first kidney transplant took place on August 23, 2011, giving him 6.5+ years of adventures and good health! About 2 weeks post-transplant, he developed antibodies. As a result, Ryan was unable to partake in the clinic trial further. His hopes of weaning off the anti-rejection medications was no longer possible as part of the protocol requirements due to the development of the antibodies. The clinical trial transplant team did continue to follow Ryan along the way for the next couples of years. Ryan’s post-transplant years were mainly smooth sailing, with check-ups at MGH as requested by his team, with a few small hiccups along the way.
In March 2017, it was requested that Ryan come in for a follow-up and schedule a biopsy of the kidney, as it had been awhile since one had been completed and his creatinine increased a bit. Typically the biopsy came back with positive results, something he had completed several times. However, the antibodies appeared again as per the biopsy results. Ryan continued to be followed closely by his post-transplant team at MGH. His nephrologist requested frequent visits for bloodwork, blood pressure and fluid retention checks. Ryan was also going to MGH for an infusion to receive medication through an IV, called IVIG. Ryan received several treatments of IVIG throughout 2017. Unfortunately, the antibodies were beginning to reject Ryan’s kidney.
Ryan was officially entering end stage renal kidney failure in December 2017. On January 9, 2018, Ryan begin his pre-transplant evaluation process at MGH. Next steps, to be determined, with potentially a summer 2018 transplant (Ryan’s hope).
Like the first transplant, insurance will cover most of the expenses for this procedure, but as with any major surgery there are unexpected costs. With encouragement from his team at MGH, Ryan has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live provides both tax-deductibility to the full extent allowed by law and fiscal accountability to contributors. Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse Ryan’s medically-related expenses.
To make a contribution:
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
*Please be sure to note in memo section:
In Honor of Ryan Delaney
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
For secure credit card donations:
Call 800-642-8399 or click the “GIVE” button above.
To share this page directly with others in your community who might wish to learn about this campaign, see the “SHARE MY PAGE” options on this page.
Ryan and his family thank you for your support!
Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. This campaign is administered by the Help Hope Live, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800-642-8399.
