Harold Santiago

GREAT NEWS! Harold received the gift of life – a new kidney and pancreas – on October 21, 2015 He is doing well and is recovering at home. Keep checking back for updates.

As you may already know, I have been diagnosed with a kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy, an autoimmune disease that attacks the kidneys. My physician found something wrong with my kidneys shortly after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (juvenile diabetes) in 2006. This disease has been slowly deteriorating my kidneys for many years, but I was asymptomatic until 2014. At this point, I only have 7 percent kidney function and my doctors have told me that I need a kidney transplant in order to survive.

Most people don’t realize that I am sick. I’m still somewhat active and continue to work full-time, doing as much as my body will allow. I wish I could do more, but after dialysis I usually feel drained and exhausted. I long to do a lot more things like work that needs to be done around the house, spend time with great friends, and most especially more activities with my family such as tennis with Hallie, soccer with Maia, basketball with Dyllan, and travel with my wonderful wife. I often find my situation to be tough and uncomfortable, but I just have to move on. This journey has impacted my family and me in so many ways. We’ve had to adjust our lives and schedules to accommodate the days I’m on dialysis and everyone has made the extra effort to make sure we all stay healthy to avoid potential hospital admissions.

On a positive note, I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to transplant day so I can get on that road to being healthy again. My doctors at UW Hospital in Madison have notified me that I could be receiving a call for a Kidney/Pancreas transplant any day now – I am one of the top three on the waiting list. This transplant will save my life and give me back the quality of life I miss so much, but it will also be a huge financial burden on my family. Even with insurance, there will be many out-of-pocket costs for us, including travel and relocation to Madison, doctor visits, and the costly immunosuppressant medications I will have to take for the rest of my life.

To help offset such expenses, this fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit 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 North-Central Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

As difficult as it is for me, I am humbly reaching out to you for your assistance. Thank you so much for reading and sharing my story. My family and I appreciate your generosity and support.