Christopher Needs Your Help

Family and friends of Christopher Wruck are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with kidney transplantation. Christopher is a 31 year old male from Merrillan, WI. He is married to his beautiful wife Sarah, has an energetic 5 year old son Alister, a spunky 3 year old daughter Gwen, and one Rainbow baby on the way. Chris and Sarah currently work nights as 911 dispatchers.

The estimated costs beyond what insurance will cover (Group & Medicare) is around $30,000 for just the first three years after transplant. This is for prescription drugs that will be necessary to maintain a transplanted kidney, otherwise known as anti-rejection drugs. The anti-rejection drugs must be taken for the rest of Christopher’s life. Additional prescriptions such as anti-viral and others will be needed as well, depending on recovery. There are also large deductible costs, travel costs, lodging, and also donor costs. We plan to raise money for as much as we can to make the process as smooth as possible. The financial support will not only help for the first few years but possibly beyond that as a transplant is an ongoing matter for the rest of an individuals life. This can only happen with your help. If you are unable to help financially please go to our Facebook page at the following link and share our posts if you are able! https://www.facebook.com/groups/140272196609626/ – or search for “Chris Needs A Kidney”.

You can also sign up and participate on www.shareyourspare.club

A little background on Christopher’s Kidney Disease. IgA Nephropathy is ultimately what Christopher was diagnosed with and now it’s simply kidney disease stage 4, creeping up on the last stage of 5. “IgA nephropathy (nuh-FROP-uh-thee), also known as Berger’s disease, is a kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) lodges in your kidneys. This results in local inflammation that, over time, may hamper your kidneys’ ability to filter wastes from your blood.” – Mayo Clinic

As of right now it is not hereditary and they do not know what causes it. The original indicators that triggered the “find” started with sunburn and a couple bouts of strep throat. Which in turn caused large losses of protein and blood through urination. That has continued to this day, with some variations. What happens is the antibody IgA gets lodged in the kidneys, causing inflammation. Eventually this makes the filters in the kidneys (nephrons) completely inoperable, slowly, or quickly, killing them off, therefore reducing kidney function and eventually creating a build up of toxins, which will eventually become deadly if not treated.

In 2010 Chris had his tonsils taken out via a semi-emergent surgery because of inflammation. There is some evidence that tonsils are tied to this disease, but not 100%. It is believed that it helped, although the IgA had already done enough damage and there is no way to reverse that damage. So now Chris is approaching End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD – stage 5). A kidney transplant is currently the best treatment option for this disease. Dialysis is an option, but can lead to other health issues and generally involves a lower quality of life. For more information please go here: https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/the-benefits-and-risks-of-kidney-transplant-versus-dialysis

Want to be Christopher’s living donor? Go here and be sure to put down his name, and THANK YOU: https://www.uwhealth.org/transplant/living-donor-inquiry/40425

Christopher has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!