Raven Rivers Lenz is thirty-one and is fighting for survival. She and her husband, Mike Lenz, have two children, a daughter, five and a son, eight. At age fifteen, Raven was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes and has been insulin- dependent for sixteen years.
Since receiving a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) two years ago, Raven has been doing daily peritoneal dialysis at home for at least eight hours each day. She is always fatigued and has many sleepless nights. While some of her days are better than others, most days are compromised due to poor health and digestion.
Raven and her family have tried to maintain self-sufficiency for the last two years. Despite her physical challenges, she managed to hold a full-time job. About a year ago her illness progressed to the point where she found it hard to continue to work an eight hour work day in addition to caring for her family and home. Through it all, Raven’s spirit has never faltered; she continues to keep her faith in God’s plan for her life.
Raven has been informed by her doctors that her only chance for survival is to have a kidney/pancreas transplant. She has undergone comprehensive medical evaluations at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, TX and at Memorial Hermann Hospital Houston, Texas. She is currently on the kidney/pancreas active transplant lists at both hospitals. After a transplant, Raven can expect to live many more years and have the pleasure, which many of us take for granted, of being a healthy mother and live to raise her two children.
Even with insurance, Raven will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, possible travel and relocation for a minimum of two months to be near the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that she will need to take for the rest of her life. This is a financial challenge that Raven and her family cannot meet alone.
To help offset some of these expenses, a fundraising campaign in Raven’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive. HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 28 years. All donations are tax-deductable and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only.Anyone who is interested in being a live kidney donor, information and a contact number can be obtained by calling: Raven Rivers at 903-934-0151. At times like these, the support of family, friends and community is so important to ensure a successful outcome for Raven. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Please keep Raven and her family in your prayers.
Thank you so much,
Kensie Sloan (Raven’s Friend)
903-930-4472
[email protected]
