Linda Woods

Another Opportunity to Live

My name is Linda and I am a dialysis patient in need of a kidney transplant. My life changed when my doctor told me that my kidneys were no longer working and that I needed dialysis treatment. Over the past six years, dialysis has taken its toll on me physically and mentally. Often after dialysis, I feel very weak and cannot do nothing more than rest and sleep the rest of the day. On dialysis days, my activities become very limited; even eating feels like a chore at times because I am exhausted. At least twice a year, I have to be admitted to the hospital because of complications during or after dialysis treatment. These hospital admissions bring on anxiety for me, not to mention the fear and stress on my family as well.

But in spite of challenges that I go through, I decided that I would not allow this disease to take me away from my family and friends. I push myself to do what must be done in order for me to live. Although I may not feel well. I still try to do what I did prior to dialysis when I feel good. I still go outside and greet the neighbors and occasionally grill food and share with people in my community. I love and enjoy spending time with my family. I am now a great-grandmother to a fiery ten month old little girl. I don’t want to miss out. I want to be around as long as I can to see her grow up. So, I fight as hard as I can every single day because I refuse to be defeated by kidney disease.

Although I push to do my best physically and mentally, I still need assistance with medical expenses for kidney disease. Because of the severity of my kidney disease, working is no longer an option. I am a retired worker and on a fixed income so it is important that I live on a budget. Every month I look at my expenses and prioritize what needs to be paid first. Sometimes I may not be able to pay everything on one paycheck so I wait until the next month to pay. I have also had to borrow money multiple times from my family to help with my expenses. Although I do have insurance, there are still many out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and copays that must be paid by me at the time of service. At times because I do not have the money, I have to set-up a payment plan just to get the things that I need. The deductible cost for my kidney transplant surgery is $1500 not to mention the other expenses that will follow during my kidney transplant process. Fundraising donations to Help Hope Live will help with these expenses. Donations will help cover the cost of my transplant surgery,
anti-rejection medications, transportation, therapies, medical supplies, follow-up doctor appointments, and future expenses. Please help me relieve a portion of this financial burden by donating to the Help Hope Live web page. With lesser expenses, I can focus on my kidney transplant recovery and any challenge ahead with less anxiety. This kidney transplant will give me another opportunity to live and do the things that I love again.
Family and friends of Linda Woods are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Linda has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

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

Thank you for your support!