Sarita Rivera-Arriaga

Sarita Rivera would like to share her kidney journey with you. Sarita is in desperate need of a kidney transplant due to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is a kind of Chronic Kidney Disease known as PKD that affects kidney function and may ultimately lead to renal failure.

Sarita is a wonderful second-grade teacher who genuinely cares about her students and is eager to return to the classroom. She and her spouse Pablo have been happily married for 15 years, and together they have four adorable fur children: Chavi, Canelo, Taco, and Lola.

Her journey began when she and her husband decided to expand their family. They started working with a fertility clinic to bring a child into their lives because they were having difficulties becoming pregnant. Unfortunately, Sarita’s poor renal function meant that she could not support a healthy pregnancy, which was disclosed to them when they set out on this expedition. This marked the turning point in her life. Not only was she unable to become pregnant, but she also required a kidney transplant. She was also informed that she would not be able to have a healthy child following the transplant due to the adverse effects of the medications. She was also informed that there was no assurance that she or the unborn child would live if she chose to become pregnant while receiving dialysis.

Even though she was in shock by this news, she was already aware of the process because her mother recently had a kidney transplant and also suffered from this hereditary disease. She provided care for her over the years as she battled dialysis and dealt with several medical illnesses as a result of dialysis’s effects.

She recently learned that, due to her narrow veins, dialysis would not be successful unless she had surgery to implant a graft into her arm. After speaking with a surgeon about the effects of dialysis and the graft, Sarita had to begin dialysis to sustain her life.

Sarita also recently found out that her insurance has financially been exhausted for possible donors during this time. This implies that she has the financial burden of covering not just her 20% portion of the transplant procedure but also the entire expense of the potential donor’s medical assessment. An estimate of $10,000 has been calculated for every potential donor. For the time being, MUSC has put several possible contributors on hold until she figures out how to handle this financial component.

Sarita remains hopeful and sincerely appreciates everything you can offer. Please give her another opportunity at life. If you have the means, consider helping her, it will not only lift her up in spirits but also help with her medical bills, prescription costs, and costs associated with possible donors.

Thank you for bringing awareness to the effects of kidney disease and being a part of Sarita’s kidney journey!

If you feel it is in your heart to be a potential donor here is the link.

https://redcap.musc.edu/surveys/?s=DTER8M8JLM

If you would like to speak her directly her phone phone number is 912-850-1609.

Family and friends of Sarita Rivera are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Sarita 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!