Fabrizio Barbara

At the young age of 24, Fabrizio Barbara should be living an active life, advancing in his career, and attending social outings with his friends. Like any 24 year-old, he has things he would like to accomplish, like contribute to society, hold down a full time job and even start a family. Instead, Fabrizio is recovering in the hospital from a lifesaving kidney transplant. He was born with a congenital form of chronic kidney disease, causing both of his kidneys and bladder to malfunction. A blockage of scar tissue in his posterior urethral valve caused his kidneys and bladder to poorly develop, eventually causing them to fail. During his childhood, Fabrizio experienced many serious complications, like bulging around his abdomen, high fevers, constant infections, and problems with urination. He spent much of his childhood attending medical appointments, and undergoing various procedures. Initially, Fabrizio’s physicians attempted to save his kidneys, however as years passed through his childhood and into his teenage years, his kidneys deteriorated and he eventually faced end-stage-renal-disease. Time consuming and rigorous dialysis treatments were eventually his way of life, and for the past two years Fabrizio has been waiting for a kidney transplant.

Fabrizio’s team of physicians advised him that without new kidneys, he would need continued dialysis; but this was only temporary. After extensive medical testing, Fabrizio was placed on the active transplant list at University of Wisconsin Hospital. After many months of prayers and support from his family, Fabrizio received the telephone call that would save his life, and on January 30th, 2016 he received the gift of life, his kidney transplant. After over a week in the ICU, Fabrizio is still in the hospital and slowly regaining his strength and recovering day by day.

While transplants are lifesaving, they are very expensive and Fabrizio and his family are facing enormous out-of-pocket medical bills. These include co-pays and deductibles, caregiver fees, health insurance premiums, post-transplant lodging and even meal fees. Fabrizio is also required to take costly, post-transplant medications to halt rejection that he will need for the rest of his life. Apart from relying on these costly medications, Fabrizio will be out of work for an extended period of time while he recovers from his surgery. While his life is on hold, Fabrizio is reaching out and asking for your financial contribution and assistance. Any amount, no matter how big or how small, is truly a gift and promise for his future.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Fabrizio’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the North-Central Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Fabrizio has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the yellow DONATE NOW BUTTON.

Thank you for reading Fabrizio’s story, and thank you ahead of time for your thoughts, prayers, generosity and kindness. Any donation amount, no matter how big or how small, is truly a gift and one step closer to a better life and future for Fabrizio. May God bless you all!

Gratefully,

The Barbara Family

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399. Thank you for your support!