Hello my name is Suzel.

I was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at age 24. Sadly, there is no cure for this disease and no sure way what course it will take in the future. At age 24 it ruined both of my kidneys causing me to go onto dialysis. I always considered myself a healthy person so this took me and my family by surprise. I didn’t think I would be on dialysis for very long because all my medical professionals would tell me I was so young and I would get a transplant soon. But unfortunately that is only true if you have a living donor. The past 4 years I have been in and out of the hospital due to health complications and I never really saw the light at the end of the tunnel until recently. I was referred to The Mayo Clinic in Arizona where the wait time for a kidney transplant is 3-5 years without a donor whereas in California it is 8-10 years. Because I don’t have a living donor my best option is the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Unfortunately because it is out of California, it leaves me with a 20% out of pocket plus all housing expenses. When all is said and done I am needing to raise $15000 for this procedure. Getting a kidney transplant will change my life. It will give me my freedom back, my energy, and the strength to keep fighting whatever comes my way because I am fully aware that I will live with this disease for the rest of my life. A transplanted kidney only lasts so long. But whether it’s 10years,15 years or 25 years(if I’m lucky); I’ll take it!