My transplant is scheduled for February 25!! It’s been a long and arduous journey, starting from three years ago when I was put on a waitlist. Fifteen months of getting listed at multiple centers, meeting requirements, and staying current. A year-long successful search for a living donor, and the ups and downs of approvals with COVID delays.
University of California San Francisco Transplant Center activated Rich (my donor) and on the National Kidney Registry on February 4. Miraculously, by the next afternoon, we were matched with three other donor/patient pairs and will all have our operations on the same day! The process is technologically sophisticated and utterly remarkable.
It’s very expensive. Approximately $300,000 for the transplant alone. Medical expenses after that for six months with frequent doctor visits and lab tests, with an intensive 6-week immediate recovery and prescriptions ($6,594 for one immuno-suppressant pill!!). This, followed by a lifetime of prescriptions without which my kidney will be rejected, and careful medical attention.
While I have insurance coverage Medicare A and B for hospital and doctor fees, these plans pay only 80%. I’m responsible for the other 20%. I also face more costs, for related needs that are non-medical, such as housing accommodations, travel, my support person, and meals, to name the most immediate and pressing.
So who is Anita?
I’m curious, adventurous, and a continual learner who loves conversations that explore ideas, perspectives, and solutions. I’m disciplined about staying healthy and decreasing stress, constantly doing yoga, pilates, swimming, and walking.
I value my social interactions and time spent in nature, particularly the beach which is my happy, grounding place. I love photography, art, travel, writing, and cooking. Friends describe me as resilient, smart, thoughtful, and fun, with a humanitarian spirit.
I grew up in a sweet, small southern New Jersey beach town, and for school, attended the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA Anderson. I currently live in California.
Living a life of vitality is very important to me. So is enthusiastically changing the perceptions of aging (60 is the new 40, after all.) I’m active in various communities such as the Modern Elders Academy, Wisdom 2.0, Parlay, and women’s groups. With my collaborative and strategic skills, my favorite work is business development particularly for media, technology, and start-up companies including an online travel service for women 50+ age based on my solo adventures.
The Transplant: Why?
I began taking medication in my junior year in college that over the years caused irreversible kidney damage, which is literally a life and death situation.
The only treatments are transplants or dialysis. I’m extremely fortunate that my persistence resulted in finding a living donor, through an email blast to UCLA alumni. Otherwise, the choices are waiting up to 10 years for a deceased donor kidney, or dialysis at a center or at home. Dialysis takes your life over; it’s restrictive, 4 hours/day or more plus overnight. It’s depressing, scary, and even with the dialysis, health deteriorates because no treatment replaces all the functions a healthy kidney performs, and still leaves you with low energy.
How did I end up fundraising? And what are the details?
My financial concerns have been equal to or close to my worries about my kidney failing, and a cause of tremendous stress and uncertainty.
All Centers require a legal commitment to show I can cover the financial expenses. My condition makes working problematic, and I couldn’t get a supplemental plan, as I discovered after a year of trying. Turns out that end-stage renal disease is the one condition for which insurance can be denied. I think one reason for that is that ESRD accounts for over 7% of all medical costs in the US.
The Bay Area, where UCSF is, has the most expensive housing market in the country. Expensive immunosuppressants I have to take the rest of my life, plus regular appointments and testing, are examples of other high costs I will face forever.
Help Hope Live was recommended to me by a social worker, knowing my situation. The way to raise money is by reaching out to friends, communities, social networks, and others for donations, and also asking them to amplify the message through their own outreach.
Good News: Every donation is Tax-Deductible!
A donation as small as $25 helps. And, if you have the capacity to give more, that makes an even bigger impact.
Please consider making a donation, and telling others. 90% of every dollar donated directly to my campaign is applied to pay my specific uncovered medical and non-medical expenses.
I’ll forever be grateful, from the bottom of my heart (and new kidney!) for your support. Please know, I will pay it forward in whatever ways I can.
Any questions, get in touch: abakersf@gmail.com.
Many many many thanks. xo Anita
