Nangelis Rivera

Help Nangelis and Her Family Cover Expenses!

Nangelis is a 23-year-old graduate from Florida State University who got two bachelor’s degrees in Criminology and Psychology. On May 31, 2023, she got an urgent call from her doctor’s office stating that she needed to come in right away because she was in kidney failure. After getting there, it was found that she had very high blood pressure and since her diagnosis was unknown, her doctor focused on treating her high blood pressure first. Once she started taking medication, she and her family noticed that her blood pressure was unstable and it was then, only a few days after her emergency appointment, that her doctor’s assistant told her to go to the emergency room. She was admitted to the hospital on June 2, 2023 and it took four days in the hospital, blood tests, and a kidney biopsy for her to be diagnosed with Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy. Her kidney biopsy revealed that she already had a lot of scarring in her kidneys and her blood tests showed that she was already in stage four of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

As a dog-lover, Nangelis has always wanted to get a dog of her own and now she has a Miniature Schnauzer named Josie that helps her stay motivated and be active, even while experiencing frequent tiredness. She loves to talk to and take pictures of her dog and her dog has been a constant source of joy for her when she has been at home with nothing to look forward to, as she waits until her condition is more stable. Josie has made her life much more enjoyable, and she is excited about spending many years with her new companion.

Since her diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy, Nangelis has had to go on a renal diet, which consists of low protein, low sodium, low phosphorous, and low potassium. Being on a renal diet has been especially difficult for her because she is known to love eating food but also, eating a low quantity of protein each day has made her even more tired. Some symptoms that she experiences are high blood pressure, weakness, tiredness, and less appetite. She often needs to take naps to feel well rested and cannot excessively physically exert herself as her condition makes her become tired easily.

Nangelis is fundraising to cover medical expenses as well as loss of income for her family. Her mother will be donating a kidney to her so that she can get a kidney transplant and after surgery, her and her mother will be recovering at home while her father takes care of her for a couple of months. As a result, her family will experience a loss of income that will make it more difficult to pay for necessities. After her transplant, she will be on ten to twelve new medications and will be taking forty to sixty pills a day for the first few weeks and the costs for these medications will add up.

Nangelis hopes that getting a transplant will stabilize her condition and allow her to enjoy the things she has not been able to partake in for the past year since she has been diagnosed. She looks forward to being able to go to restaurants and enjoy their food as well as beginning her studies again so that she can go to law school in the future.

Please donate to Help Hope Live in Nangelis’ honor today, and ask your friends and family to give, too! Thank you for your generous support!

Nangelis 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!