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NEVER GIVE UP! Cancer. Failure. KIDNEY TRANSPLANT 

Hi, My name is Leanne. I am raising funds to help my sister, Erica, receive a life-saving kidney transplant. Unfortunately, with the cost of a kidney transplant in the United States, our family needs to ask for assistance from the people we know and those we don’t know yet. Please take a minute to read Erica’s story and consider helping Erica live life and inspire others. 

NEVER GIVE UP – KIDNEY FOR ERICA RUNDLE!! BE A C.H.A.M.P.I.ON. FOR A C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N. 

Courage Honor Attitude Motivation Perseverance Intitegry Optimistic Necessary 

 

Cancer stole a kidney when Erica was 2…NOW, at almost 42, Erica is in dire need of a new Kidney in order to live! 

Erica was born the 12th person diagnosed with a very rare syndrome known as Chromosomal 11p deletion. Erica and her family were told she had Aniridia, which meant Erica would have difficulty seeing and may end up blind. The doctors also informed us that Erica had a 75% chance of being severely mentally disabled and had a 75% chance of developing cancer by the age of 6. Unfortunately, all of that was true. Erica had a very limited amount of vision to start with, which continued to deteriorate as glaucoma and cataracts started to eat away at her eyes. Erica had many eye surgeries to try to maintain the little sight she had to no avail…She is now 100% blind. Erica also has been diagnosed as mentally disabled with a mentality level of 18-24 months and has ADHD. Erica also developed cancer in the form of nephroblastoma (Wilms Tumor) and required a kidney removal despite having gone through 3 months of chemo. When erica was 13, she once again, underwent surgery for a kidney biopsy. At that time, we were told Erica was already beginning Kidney failure of her one and only kidney remaining and were told Erica would be lucky if she even lived another year. The doctors also told us that Erica would NOT be a candidate for kidney or eye transplants. 

Recently, Erica was diagnosed with STAGE 5 chronic kidney disease and FSGS (Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a disease in which scar tissue develops on the glomeruli, the small parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood) Erica’s one and only kidney is now functioning at 17% and continuing to decline from there. 

Erica is a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a friend, an inspiration, and most notably a C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.. Amazingly, after all of the diagnoses, disabilities, surgeries and death dates that the doctors gave us, Erica has proved them wrong and will be turning 42 this year. Despite being mentally slow and blind, Erica still wants to help with all the chores on the farm. Erica stacks wood, helps with hay bales, and takes care of her horses, dogs, and cats. She has shown many people, even her family, that disabilities don’t prevent you from living and enjoying life. 

Despite all of Ericas complications, Erica remains upbeat and hopeful. Erica does comprehend that if she does not have surgery to replace her bad kidney, she will get even sicker. What she doesn’t understand is that we need to raise the money for this transplant and find a kidney for her. This has been a 40+ year fight with surgeries, medical bills, stress, and struggling paycheck to paycheck to give Erica what she deserves. We have come to the realization that we cannot do this all on our own, and we need to ask for assistance and accept help from others. 

Erica has been tested and approved to have a Kidney transplant (great news), and we have been told we need to do it now as her kidney function is currently at 17% and continuing to decline as you read this. Due to all of her medical issues, the doctors do not want her to go on dialysis. In order for Erica to have a transplant, we need to have proof of at least $20,000, set aside in an account, just to begin looking for a kidney. The estimated costs that Erica and her family need to cover is roughly $164,000 to cover 20% of the medical transplant, the donors’ non-medical cost related to donating a kidney, and the non-medical cost for Erica and her caregivers during the approximate 2-month stay near the hospital after the transplant. The money will cover the cost for both a Living Donor to donate a kidney and Ericas transplant costs. The average cost of a kidney transplant is $448,000 (2019). Anti-rejection meds after transplant are just over $5000 a month. 

This is why we are turning to family, friends, people we know and people we don’t know, asking for help. It’s unbelievable the amount of money you have to show upfront in order to save a life. That’s why we wanted to break it down for everyone to see and hopefully understand why we are asking for help. Even if a kidney were available for Erica, she will not receive it if the money is not shown in the account. There are several ways you could help Erica continue to defy the odds, live life, and continue to be an inspiration. All donated money that is remaining after all bills are paid will be paid forward to someone else who is struggling in the same life or death situation. 

So, to our family, friends that we know, and friends we do not know yet… We ask you to help make this life-saving transplant possible for Erica. Suppose you are willing, able and wanting to be a C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N. yourself. In that case, we could use your help with monetary donations, donations for fundraising events coming up, or become a living donor. 

Funding: $164, 020 

Funding would cover: calculated using current federal per diem rates for reimbursement of costs 

*20% of medical portion of transplant: 20% of $448,000 = $89,600 

Must stay within 5 miles of the hospital 

*Donor and 1 donor caregiver – non medical costs for up to 3wks = $10,170 

*Erica and 3 caregivers for 7 wks. (Erica requires 24/7 care 365 days a year). $64,250 

Kidney Donation: 

Become a living donor. YOU could be a match for Erica or someone else. IF you are interested in seeing if you could be a living donor, take a short survey at mayocliniic.org/livingdonor. If you are able to donate a kidney and not a match with Erica, you can still donate a kidney to someone else and state your kidney donation is intended for Erica Rundle. Doing so will allow more than one person (possibly several) to have another chance to continue living. Someone would receive your kidney, and Erica would be matched with a kidney that works for her. 

We also ask (if you are willing) to share this with your friends and family across the country. 

If you have any questions about our kidney transplant journey or would like more information about being a donor, please feel free to contact us, and we will answer what we can or direct you in the right direction. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts 

NEVER GIVE UP – KIDNEY FOR ERICA RUNDLE!! BE A C.H.A.M.P.I.ON. FOR A C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N. 

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