As some of you may know, in 2008 I was diagnosed with renal failure. It was a very difficult time for me and my family when we were told about the illness, especially since I had been healthy all my life. In August 2011, my doctors at the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center told me that my best shot at a long and healthy life is a kidney transplant. I have been on the waiting list since then. I am mother of three great children; a 13 year old boy, an 11 year old daughter and what I like to call my last baby girl, “my miracle bonus baby”. It is for them that I am determined to get healthy again.
After my diagnosis in 2008, I started chemotherapy right away. Soon after, I unexpectedly became pregnant with my daughter and though it was risky, I was determined to have this child.
With the help of my doctors and a lot of faith and family support, I had a healthy baby girl at 34 weeks. She was so tiny – barely 4 lbs. She is now two years old and doing great.
I started dialysis in 2011 and I hope to get a kidney transplant soon. I want a better, healthier life, not only for me, but for my husband and kids. I am still working a full time job and I go to dialysis three times a week in the early morning to get to work afterward. Even with insurance, however, transplantation is extremely costly and adds considerable financial stress. I will have numerous out-of-pocket expenses, including travel to and from the transplant center, co-pays and deductibles, and the costly immunosuppressant medications I will have to take for the rest of my life. All of this presents a challenge I cannot meet without your help.
In order ease the financial burden, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Northwest Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only.
Thank you in advance,
Melina Caballero
503-705-2363
