Jennifer Pettyjohn

Jennifer (Mowl) Pettyjohn is my daughter and is a single mom of a very bright and beautiful five year old daughter, Ella Rae. Jennifer was diagnosed at 13 years of age with a deteriorating kidney disease, which was due to an undiagnosed case of strep infection. She was told by the age of 25 she would need a kidney transplant. We’ve made it six years past that prediction. Jennifer has been on dialysis three days a week for two years. Her only chance of living a full complete life is with a kidney transplant.

Jennifer is focused on the future. With the support of her family, and her wonderful Eric, she continues to work full time and care for Ella as her health allows. She wants what everyone wants, a home, a career, a family, the ability to live completely without having to rely on dialysis to survive.

Currently Jennifer is on the kidney transplant list at the Thomas E. Starzl Kidney Transplant Center at Montefiore hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The wonderful news is her brother, Jared Mowl, has been tested, approved and will be her living donor. As the date rapidly approaches for the transplant we are all trying to anticipate what Jennifer and Jared’s needs will be.

Due to the extraordinary expense of transplantation, funding a transplant is a monumental task. Jennifer does have health insurance yet she will face expenses beyond what insurance covers. These include transportation, lodging, as we live outside of the safe travel parameter, medications and Jared’s living donor medical costs.

To help offset these uninsured costs, a fundraising campaign in Jennifer’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All contributions are tax-deductible, are held in the Mid-Atlantic Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. You can make a difference in Jen’s Life. Please consider making a contribution.Thank you for helping Jennifer put dialysis in her past and renewed health in her future.

Lynne McBride
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