My name is Bethany and I am fundraising for my brother, Jesse, and his family as they navigate this time during my neice (Everleigh)'s Kidney Transplant in 2 weeks. Jesse will be donating his kidney to his 4 year old daughter (Everleigh). Unfortunately, due to Everleigh's mother's passing in April this year, Jesse will have to live apart from his other three children, for three months. Please help me in raising money to cover food, travel, accomodation, caregiving, loss of wages, and other medical expenses for Jesse's family during this time. Here is Jesse's latest update to our family and friends: "As most everyone knows by now, Everleigh was born with polycystic kidney disease (and only one kidney). Her kidney functioning has hovered between 30%-15% at various times in her life – on paper she is known as having “Stage 4” kidney disease. From early on, we knew that her life would require many different medical interventions. So far, we’ve been blessed with the best nephrology team, who has provided Everleigh with great care, and us (as the family) with all the necessary information and advice we’ve needed. Everleigh has gone through a lot in her lifetime – pyloric stenosis surgery, g-tube surgery, countless lab-work & medical appointments, etc. – but overall she’s been very healthy. To see her, you’d hardly believe she has a kidney disease. That being said, we’ve known for many years now that eventually the day would come when some difficult decisions would need to be made. Her kidney functioning has never gotten to the point that it’s been an “emergency”, but we can see from her blood work that there’s been a decrease of functioning in recent months. Also, Everleigh’s kidney was noted as being 17cm during the last ultrasound this March (compared to a normal size for someone her age, which is approx 7cm). Due to the size, it has already started to impact her stomach, and we realize this will have other negative effects on her as it continues to get larger. So the decision was made that Everleigh’s kidney needed to be removed sometime in 2024. This would result in Everleigh either requiring a kidney transplant from a live-donor, or else receiving dialysis (while waiting for the kidney of a deceased donor). Behind the scenes, since approx 2024, I had been working alongside the Living Kidney Donation program to see if I would be eligible to donate one of my kidneys to Everleigh. After many, many tests – I received confirmation that I am able to donate a kidney to her. A few days prior to Chantal’s (Everleigh's mother) passing in April, we discussed the necessity of doing this. It was really the final decision we made together as Everleigh’s parents before she passed away. So now August 02, 2024 is scheduled as our transplant surgery date. This will be a life-altering surgery for Everleigh. As far as the freedom it will give her in life to travel and experience the world, to not be restrained to a local area for dialysis, to have a normal diet (and eat endless bananas [her fav] w/o the potassium restrictions!), to not require the 6-week medical appointments and monthly blood work… It’s the life any parent would want for their child if they could provide it. So Everleigh is going to get the life she otherwise wouldn’t have. It’ll be hers now. Everleigh will be required to stay in Edmonton for 2.5 – 3 months, from the date of the transplant to the date of leaving. Only 2-3 weeks will be in-Hospital, but the remaining time is so that she can be close to the Hospital and medical team in case of complications. Delilah, Hudson and Grayson will be staying in Meadow Lake for that timeline. I will be mainly in Edmonton with Everleigh, although still coming back to SK from time-to-time to see the older kids and take care of other local responsibilities." I have made a goal of $7500. Please help me in fundraising for this amazing, resilient family. We cannot wait to see Everleigh start her new life in October!
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