Cecily Preston

Family and friends of Cecily Preston are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Transplant. Cecily has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Cecily’s Story:

I was diagnosed with  vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the mid-1990s which progressed to full end-stage renal failure in 2011. I started daily peritoneal dialysis, which I performed for 13 years with very few complications. During this time my support circle consisted of my partner of 15 years, my parents, and siblings, and medical team.

My partner took care of me in all aspects of my life helping me focus on my health including transporting me to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and picking up medication from the pharmacy, all while financially supporting our household.

In November of 2023 my partner suddenly passed away due to unforeseen medical issues. This tragic event now required me to quickly become independent and self-supporting. This was when my dialysis frequency increased from 4 times daily to 5 times daily. My health deteriorated and I was unable to keep up with the dialysis at home. Due to medical complications, I ended up in the hospital for the biggest part of the summer of 2024. My recovery was slow, with many complications which resulted in an emergency catheter being placed in my chest to start immediate hemodialysis. I started in-clinic dialysis three days a week and my medical team and I determined that I would be a good candidate for a kidney transplant.

I started a fund-raising campaign to assist me with my month-to-month expenses, which was extremely helpful, and I am thankful for those who contributed.

For the last six months I have been following guidelines defined by my medical team to prepare for my kidney transplant, including multiple medical consultations and doctors’ appointments.

A kidney transplant could change my life and provide me the opportunity to live a full life without the health issues associated with dialysis. I need help with the immense out-of-pocket cost of the kidney transplant procedure and recovery. This is why my support team and I have turned to Help Hope Live, a trusted national nonprofit to help with specific medical bills. Donations can be made at: https:/helphopelive.org/campaign/25429