At 5 years old, Olaf was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Since that diagnosis, I have watched as my brother has had to test his blood three times a day and receive insulin shots daily because his pancreas was no longer providing his body with insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body. As a child, I took for granted that I could eat whatever I wanted without ever thinking about how my body would process it. It was hard on our family. Meal times were all about planning. Life had to be very organized. In the beginning there were lots of hospital visits. Then there were the scary times when Olaf would have insulin reactions. I always felt so helpless. I know my parents felt the same. Now I am a parent as well. I can imagine how heartbreaking this is to see your child go through something like this.

This is a lifelong battle. Blood tests and self-injections are a part of Olaf’s daily life. He suffers from other complications; wounds won’t heal properly, lessened eyesight, and now renal failure. For the last 6 months he has been on dialysis 3-4 times a week, a necessary process for him to live. Fortunately, he is now on the waiting list for both a kidney and pancreas transplant.

It’s wonderful to live in a day and age where it is possible to have such procedures however they come with enormous costs. I decided to start this fundraising campaign to be involved in helping my brother get his life back. He has loved and supported so many people, even when he could not help himself. Now is an opportunity to give back to him and we need your help. I am trying to raise money to help pay for his uninsured transplant-related expenses such as travel, relocation for Olaf and a caregiver at the time of each transplant, co-pays and anti-rejection medications he will need to take for the rest of his life.

To help with the financial burden of Olaf’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in his honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Great Lakes Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please, consider a contribution.

For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.

To know Olaf, you know he is the first person to be your cheerleader, to lift you up, to hold your hand. I have witnessed him motivate and inspire friends in their darkest times. Please help Olaf in his time of need. Help him get a second chance at life. I thank you for your time and for any donation you can offer.

With sincere gratitude,

Kristen Hodges (Olaf’s sister)
k.hodges@strichpunkt-design.de

Yolanda and Dave Blase (Olaf’s mom and dad) 317-847-5579