
MobilityWorks
Accessibility for all: Helping people connect with who and what matters most
Searching...
No results found. Please try modifying your search.
My name is Janine and I have ESRD and CKD otherwise known as End Stage Renal disease and Chronic Kidney disease. I was born with CKD, at the age of 10 I had to get a 5th grade physical when my pediatrician noticed I was very small for my age. Lab work was done and it revealed that my kidneys were functioning at 12%. Being very scared and not knowing what comes next, at the age of 14 I was put on peritoneal dialysis. This consists of getting a catheter tube permanently attached in your abdomen which then connects you to a machine where medicine will fill up the peritoneal cavity in my stomach and dwell to later remove toxins my kidney can no longer do.
This process was 12 hrs a night and 2 hrs a day. After 6 years of dialysis everyday I was finally given a kidney transplant from a deceased donor a month before I turned 20 years old. It was a blessing and almost felt too good to be true.
5 years later that kidney had decided to part ways with me. The hospital had tried to reverse the rejection, but it did not take. I was then put on the transplant list in Feb 2018. Being very lucky and taking care of myself extremely well I still sat in limbo between no dialysis and dialysis again. It was always a haunting feeling that it could happen any day and I wouldn’t be ready.
As of Jan 2022, I was switched to Medicare as my only insurance leaving me with the bills and premiums that someone on disability cannot afford. At the same time I was also informed dialysis was going to happen before April 1st due to not being able to pay 20% of dialysis daily, which to put in perspective dialysis is around 2,000 dollars a day. I am currently 29 years old, I don’t have my own family yet, I don’t have a career, a home, or have done many things I’ve dreamt of doing because of being preoccupied with this illness.
I am hoping and praying everyday that I will get a transplant and start to live a normal life. When I found out about dialysis, I had been informed even if I were to get a transplant I wouldn’t be able to afford the medications that are required to keep my kidney. This illness is already devastating and has made me lose opportunities and things I would have done otherwise, and I really would love to start my new life without having the burden of knowing whether or not I can keep my kidney healthy at the end of the day with the medications needed to survive. I want to get married and have children and make a difference in the world.
For my healthy 5 years I dedicated most of my time to volunteering for various events, along with dedicating 4 years to helping children with pediatric cancer and fostering/volunteering for an animal rescue. I am a normal person with aspirations and goals I’d like to achieve. I am a good daughter, sister and friend. I like to go to concerts, like to travel, go to Disney World, sing badly in my car, drink iced coffee, spend time with my kitties. I want to contribute more in this world and would love the opportunity to get the chance. With your help, I will be able to pay for medical expenses that hang over my head while I’m on the hunt for my living donor.
My family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in honor of Janine Bussler to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.
I chose 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. And please share my page on your social media.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
Haven’t been on here in quite awhile, for transparency I don’t feel comfortable asking for help so I don’t. I got put on dialysis as of March 28th of 2022. I do peritoneal dialysis which means I can do my treatment from the comfort of my home rather than a clinic. I do frequent my clinic quite regularly for labs, infusions, clinic days, medication, etc. I do treatment 3x a week at the moment for 8 hours per treatment. I have a catheter in my abdomen that is inside my peritoneal cavity and comes out about 20 inches out my stomach for dialysis access. In December of 2022, I had totaled my car in an accident where I had fainted behind the wheel. In the process it did break my catheter which required me to be taken by ambulance to the hospital to get fixed, exchanged and get myself antibiotics was about a 3 day process. I was physically beat up but internally all well. January of 23 my arms started going numb, my catheter broke again due to spanx at a wedding in June of 23, which resulted in peritonitis for the first time. Peritonitis is a deadly infection that is a HUGE no no in the dialysis world. I had to go into clinic for treatment for 2 weeks. I luckily did not have any stomach pain which can be debilitating. I did come out on the other end okay but there is nothing that makes you feel like you’re failing yourself and body by getting peritonitis even though things happen. August 2nd I had fainted again, nothing concluding to why this is happening but in the mean time I got diagnosed with osteopenia. Then September I had fainted again resulting in getting into neurology, cardiology, and just trying to get off any medication or any outside objects that could be a cause to this. In October, my GI issues have always been a problem but I couldn’t eat or drink anything for long periods of time, I started IV Iron i fusions because my iron had dropped to dangerous levels along with my phosphorus. Which led to me doing damage control, I’m trying my best to add and remove from my diet, get my infusions even though there is nothing you could hit me with that cringes me quite like an IV. I’ve had CT, MRIs, currently going through my good vein getting restricted blood flow from what I suspect to be a pinched nerve but I had to quit physical therapy in October because I was so sick I couldn’t move from my bed. I’m only here because I’ve been told if I don’t raise this money I cannot get a transplant because I simply cannot afford it. My support system are my 7 cats at the moment, like I said I don’t like asking for help for myself but my life depends on it at this point. So thanks for listening hopefully next update won’t be so much and depressing.
Xo Janine
Loading Images
Janine, thank you for being one of my very first friends. It was a gift to grow up with you. Sending you all of the love and hope for a new beginning and a new kidney ♥️
Kira Karry
Wishing you a good Thanksgiving and good health news!
Sarah Lisk & Claire McNorton
I WISH you all the best Janine.
Jocelyn Ludwigsen
Dear Janine! I'm so sorry to hear about all your health struggles. I didn't realize the full extent. Hoping you meet the goal very soon! Thinking of you! Justyna
Justyna Zakaria
The least we can do for a sweet lady!
Melissa Mendoza Thompson
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Janine V Bussler
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
Subscribe to this campaign to receive updates.
Accessibility for all: Helping people connect with who and what matters most
Building leading-edge mobility products
One of the largest mobility dealers in the U.S.
Consult with specially-trained pharmacists, get your medications for pickup or delivery and more
All news, and all that matters to you
Your first step to optimized communications
The event for the disability community
Born to connect, empower and inspire the rare disease community.
A mobility dealer for wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment