Kai Johns

RAISING MONEY FOR A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

As a 4th generation polycystic kidney disease (PKD) carrier, Kai knew he’d have issues eventually, but he thought he’d have time, and he thought he’d have warning.  From diving in Honduras in August 2016 to the ICU just a couple of months later, his medical decline was rapid and unexpected.  

Kai thought he had the flu and went to the local urgent care and found out he only had 6% of his kidney function left plus stones in his kidneys more accurately described as boulders. Two nephrostomy tubes, multiple procedures to break up the stones, and a dialysis port later, doctors were still unable to restore kidney function, and Kai was placed on the transplant list at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, DC.

Kai did dialysis 3x/week, and with the support of his long term employer, he’s been able to keep working.  Dialysis is life prolonging, but it’s a temporary solution.

Kai has an incredible friend, who was both willing and a direct match. Surgery just happened on 04/27/2017. Transplants, and all the care that required after that, are expensive.  Kai and his wife Heather are no strangers to expensive medical care, and their resources are strained.  Heather suffers from Neurofibromatosis (NF), which can cause growth of non-cancerous (benign) tumors involving the nerves and brain. Heather is treated through an expensive experimental chemotherapy program.

This is where we come in.  We are here to raise the money that will be needed not just for Kai’s kidney transplant surgery, but also for the ongoing medical expenses Kai and Heather will have for the rest of his life to prevent rejection of the donated kidney. 

Help Hope Live is a tax deductible non-profit that will collect donations on Kai’s behalf and reimburse him for medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!