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

January 22, 2024

In February 2023, Ajulo was taken into Sanford hospital. After experiencing a lot of pain in her abdomen and back, she was told that she was experiencing kidney failure. She was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease which can shut down organs. Ajulo was also diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and had an acute brain bleed after a stroke. She was told that there was nothing that could be done and in March of 2023, she started the procedure for kidney dialysis in Sanford Hospital in Worthington, MN.

After 11 months of kidney dialysis Ajulo received a call. On January 2, 2024 at 10:30pm Sanford Transplant Center called her to tell her that there was a kidney available, and that if she wanted to receive it, that she must go to the hospital the next morning for the procedure. She was told that a family had lost their loved one in a car accident. Ajulo was chosen out of 3 recipients to receive the kidney. God is so good and Ajulo and her family are so grateful to receive this gift of life from the donor and their family.

On January 3rd 2024, Ajulo underwent surgery from 3pm-6pm. It was a successful transplant. In fact, the new kidney began working immediately after surgery. The surgeon explained that the kidney works within 3-4 days. He also stated that Ajulo was blessed because people typically wait for at least 2-5 years before having the opportunity to receive a kidney. Ajulo stayed in the intensive care unit for only one day and was transported to the renal unit where she stayed to recover for 5 days.

Ajulo was discharged from the hospital on January 8, 2024 to the Sanford hospital apartments in Sioux Falls. She is currently recovering for the next 4-6 weeks while being closely monitored. Her daughter Sarah is staying with her as she continues to go to appointments and checkups.

On January 15, 2024 Ajulo went to her regularly scheduled rheumatology appointment. Her doctor explained to her that the lupus is in remission. There are no traces of Lupus in her body! We are so thankful for the prayers!