I am Heather Person and I am raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with my transplantation. I am 43 and have been living with diabetes for almost a quarter century now. I am an amputee because of diabetes, I have retinopathy and am now in renal failure. I am a daughter. I have been a wife for almost 14 years with a very loving and supportive husband that takes care of me. I have three beautiful ginger babies, the most important role of my life. My boys are autistic and a HUGE reason I fight to survive. My daughter is grown and has a great wife that makes a great daughter. I have three bonus kids..well adults and a grandson. All of this has shaped who I am. All my strength, my fight, my determination and perseverance was because of all the people I am blessed to have. December the 2nd,2021 was the day my life really changed with the words “you’re in kidney failure”. Dialysis started soon after 3 times a week for four hours. The angels that work at dialysis centers are literal life savers. At this point with all of appointments and traveling I am doing working is not an option. I am going through evaluation at three transplant centers giving me the opportunity to get all required tests done faster and get transplant faster. I have a few people that are willing to be living donors which extends the life of the new by double sometimes. I travel to university of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), Sacred heart Pensacola and UF Shands for evaluation. I am traveling every 2-4 weeks. The cost of gas is ridiculous and hard to afford. I have cancelled once because of it. Because of the times I have to be at the centers I have to stay in a hotel overnight and also eat. These are a couple of the expenses I face. I will have to have a dental exam and have my dental work done before I can get approved for a transplant although I have insurance it will most definitely not cover it all. I will have to stay a minimum of two weeks after released at a hotel near the center it gets done at although discounted the rooms still cost about $55 a night. There are more expenses as well on top of my monthly household bills. I know that everyone has struggled and they just look different so I appreciate any help because you have looked passed your struggle to help me with mine, even if it is just prayer.
Please know your kidney numbers and the symptoms that you could be missing. There are 37 million people in stage 3 kidney disease and 90% do not know.

I have 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.