The Silent Killer

Hi my name is Jerell Gill. I am an AAU basketball coach of middle school kids. I have been a fighter all my live. I was born with a hole in my heart and had to have open heart surgery at 3 months old. Then 33 years later in June of 2019, I was in a car wreck. I walked away thinking I was fine just a little shaken up. I was taken to ED and was given pain medication and muscle relaxant. I then began to vomit and was unable to keep anything down. My mother insisted I go back to the ED. After running several tests, I was admitted and told that I was in renal failure and had I waited another day I may not be alive. My kidney function was at 4%. The reason for my kidney failure was determined to be hypertension. I had no idea that I had high blood pressure. I had to go on dialysis for a few months and my kidney function improved. I was able to go back to work with modifications.

Although my kidney function has improved, I am still in need of a kidney transplant and in the process of being placed on a transplant list. The funds donated would help me pay for out-of-pocket expenses.