James A. Thorstad

Family and friends of James Thorstad are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Transplant.

I am humbly writing a request, vulnerably putting aside my pride, to help me with my second chance.

In December 2024, my best friend was finally able to convince me to go to the hospital for what I thought was an annoying kidney stone.  After several hours of testing, they hospitalized me for Renal Failure, stating 1 kidney was on the fritz, swollen 3-5 times a normal kidney should be, while the other kidney had completely died.  An emergency surgery and dialysis treatment started, and my hospital stay was about a month.  In February 2025, I was given grave news that I have End Stage Renal Disease, meaning my life depends on a machine and a Life-saving kidney Transplant.  After 4 more months of dialysis at a center, I am finally able to return part-time to work, doing my dialysis treatments at night.

My treatments are not cheap, and working part-time has made it so we barely make ends meet for bills and food.  I am a perfect candidate for a kidney transplant; however, I need to make at least $1000 to be officially on the list and closer to $10,000 to support the surgeries (mine and the wonderful donor, if we can find a living donor).  Even a small amount donated can help provide life-saving supplies and medicines I need moving forward in my journey.

Donations to Help Hope Live can help me on my journey by easing the financial burden of medical expenses, both now and in the future, so I can continue to live and love to the fullest of my capabilities.  Please, anything helps. James 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.