Help HOPE Live for Denitra Knox

My name is Denitra Garrett-Knox, and I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and respected community member. This has been one of the hardest letters for me to write because the thought of not being here for those near and dear to me has been crippling.

Living with kidney disease has changed my life in just 13 years. Initially, my kidneys were functioning regularly, and daily routines came with ease. As time has progressed with dialysis treatments 3 times a week has limited my participation in life’s events. I am no longer able to work full time, due to treatments lasting 4 hours on dialysis days. After these treatments my body is exhausted and leaves me with little to no energy. At times I have been hospitalized and have received infusions. I am grateful to my employer for working with my dialysis schedule so that I can help support my family. My quality of life has changed dramatically since my ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) diagnosis in 2020. Any plans I make to spend time with family or friends revolve around my treatment days, which limit when and where I can go. In an effort to get ready for the kidney I have changed my eating habits, started a workout regiment, and began learning more about the transplant process to help me stay positive about the outcomes. I have also joined a kidney disease support group on Facebook to get encouragement and speak to others that are waiting for a transplant or have received a transplant.

Although it is difficult for me to internalize, the kidney transplant is my best option for survival. I recently had one of my best friends pass away needing a kidney transplant and I am hoping to be different. Dealing with grief, the changes in my body, and the psychological effects of a pandemic, along with my own mortality has caused me to think deeply about the next phase of life. I have a young teenage daughter that’s trying to be my caregiver rather than spending time with her friends. I want to be here for her high school graduation, college years, and future marriage. My son is engaged, and I want to be able to dance with my son at his wedding and hold and love my future grandbabies. I want to travel and celebrate anniversaries with my devoted husband. A transplant would give me an opportunity at a normal life to spend time with family and friends to be a part of the moments that make life worth living. The thought of leaving them behind if I don’t get a kidney transplant is devastating to me. A transplant will also allow me to travel freely to see family and friends without the worry of finding a clinic to receive dialysis treatment. Being a transplant recipient also opens up a whole new world of giving back to the community. Considering, African Americans are less likely to be organ donors and/or receive kidney transplants; my success will inspire many others to take action on such a worthy cause.

Truthfully, there are still many things to do. In order to be accepted onto the kidney transplant list I must raise $13,000 to go towards my post op medications and living expenses since I will be out of work for 3 months. I also have to continue my weight loss journey and healthy lifestyle to be considered for the transplant donation list. However, the good news is that I only need one kidney to live an abundant life.

Thank you for allowing me to take you on a brief journey of how much a kidney transplant would mean to me, family, friends, and the surrounding community. Pope Francis once said, “Life is a precious gift, but we realize this only when we give the gift to others.” To me, a kidney transplant is not only someone giving me another chance at life, but the opportunity for me to continue to give myself to many others. This transplant is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Sincerely,

Denitra Garrett-Knox

Family and friends of Denitra Knox are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Denitra has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility 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!