Charles "Chuck" Jurries received a new kidney via a paired exchange transplant (thank you always, Andy Jipping!!) on March 28. Two weeks in, however, Chuck developed some troubling symptoms and was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis with Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare (only 7 in a million people have this) autoimmune disease which attacks the kidney's filters. This is what destroyed his native kidneys. FSGS is not curable, but is treated with ace inhibitors, steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and plasmapheresis. He has had around 20 plasmapheresis treatments as an inpatient at the hospital. This process filters the plasma (where the FSGS antibodies are found) from his blood and replaces it with donated plasma - ten liters at a time. Quite often additional IV treatments are given while he is there - typically between 4 - 8 hours. He has also developed steroid-induced diabetes. He seems to be constantly juggling new medications (he currently has 23 prescriptions!!!), appointments, and diagnoses. This is not the first LFEBridge we've established for Chuck, however, with the medical complications come additional unexpected expenses. His insurance has helped some, but his doctors are currently letting him work only two days a week and the bills are beginning to pile up. If you've already donated, thank you! Would you please consider sharing this request with others? PS - If you'd like to read more about FSGS, check this out: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/focal
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