06/06/2021
From a friend who had become family in the very first visit to our home ...
As many of you know I have been dealing with a couple of health issues over the last few years- an aggressive and relentless form of kidney disease has taken over my life since my little miracle baby came into this world. I was unknowingly born with a gene mutation that was “triggered” by my pregnancy. The last 4 years I have seen countless DRs and taken a wild amount of medications just to try and preserve the kidney function I have left. I never really ever thought about my kidneys and their function before- and now it’s all I ever seem to think about. It’s amazing how when one organ is malfunctioning - how everything else slowly starts to go downhill.. Each DR appt was giving me such anxiety because I knew I wasn’t getting better, and sure enough at my last appt this past week my DR said I have 12% function left and will need a transplant within the next 4-6months to continue to live. My life as I know it is changing right before me and I have no control. The fear of the unknown keeps me up at night. My DRs have said plan A is a transplant and plan B is dialysis. I did some research on dialysis & it totally broke my heart to see the reality of dialysis. Hours and days on end being strapped to a machine to clean my blood thru a tube in my neck.. just waiting to find a donor. I feel helpless. I feel hopeless. How and why is this happening...we truly are nothing without our health. I was told by my DRs that I am finally being put on the waiting list for my O+ blood type, but the wait list for a deceased donor is 3 years. I wonder why they wait until you are so low in kidney function to put you on the wait list.. I wonder a lot of things. I was informed by my DRs that because it is a family gene mutation I am unable to get a donor kidney from my parents and brothers. So here I am, wondering if anyone has ever thought about the idea of organ donation- specifically kidney donation. Trust me- I never thought about it either. I signed my donor card years ago but never knew about living donors and how these people can truly save lives. I am wondering if my match is out there🖤
The hospital also has an incredible program where if it is found you are not my match, you COULD still donate and save someone else- and in return at the same time someone who is a perfect match would donate to me on your behalf and save me, it’s called the Pairing Program. When I say it would mean the world and beyond to me and my family, I mean that so genuinely from my heart. It means I wouldn’t miss out on my daughters life, it means I could get a second shot at life, it means I could live freely and feel healthy again. I used to be so full of energy and now even excessive walking can be a struggle. If you could even simply share this post it would mean the world. Im doing my best to take care of my mental health and try not to dwell on all the negatives, although some days I feel so defeated. I know I just have to take every day one step at a time.
No one is too old to donate, and you can live a fully healthy life with just one kidney. There is an amazing donor team at the riverside hospital who is available to answer any questions you may have. In the picture below I have attached the phone number if anyone wanted to get tested to see if they could be my match. My name on file is Alejandra Zetino.
& Thank you, from the bottom of my heart🖤
