34 years ago my mom, Melissa Cones, received the gift of continuing to live through a cadaver-donor kidney. Now, we need your help to gift her a new kidney, ideally from myself or my brother.
When my mom was 18 years old she was diagnosed with stage 4 renal failure. She has been a living, breathing miracle, as well as a testimony to God’s goodness and plan! She has defied odds of ever having kids; my brother is 30, and I am 29, and we are both healthy, able-bodied adults! She is a grandmother to three beautiful grand-babies that love and adore their “Lala” just as much as she loves and adores them. From first glance you wouldn’t see my mom the way I do. You would see your average, beautiful woman. I see the mama that has had to take medication 2x/day, every day of her life, since March 19, 1991. I see a mama that because of her immunosuppressants that keep her body from rejecting her kidney, has also fought several different surgeries, cancers, illnesses, etc. all while being the world’s best wife, mom, and now grandmother. I see the woman that has to see a different specialized doctor every other month, to temporarily remedy her ailments, knowing there will never be an end to these appointments, because they help keep her alive! I see a woman who has more fight in her than anyone I’ve ever known, and I see a woman whose silent struggles go unnoticed except behind closed doors, simply because she doesn’t want anyone else to look at her differently. But she is different, and deserves to be celebrated because of it.
Due to the fact that my mom has already been a transplant recipient, insurance views her needing a new transplant as a “pre-existing condition”. Since most insurances will not cover pre-existing conditions, she has to go through health insurance marketplace. However, the sudden news that she needs a new transplant ASAP doesn’t change the fact that she cannot get the correct insurance until open-enrollment in December.
We are optimistic, but also realistic. My mom needs surgery ASAP. She can’t wait until December to get adequate insurance, to then go through the screening process of getting approved to be surgery ready, then screening myself, and my brother, for a match, and then scheduling surgery, etc. WE HAVE TO ACT NOW!
My mama is not only the most vital member of our immediate family, she is also a daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, and friend to so many that need her to continue to be a walking testimony of resiliency, strength, and an image of a preserving God-fearing woman, who continues to defy the odds!
Two of the most important numbers to pay attention to when determining kidney function are the creatinine, and the B.U.N. For a healthy, functioning kidney, a normal creatinine number is anywhere between .6 and 1.3. My mom’s creatinine has slowly been climbing over the last several years, but has made a drastic jump into scary numbers; two years ago it was 2.37, two months ago it was 3.03, and today it sits at 3.9 (the highest it has been in the 34 years she has been blessed with her current kidney). For a healthy, functioning kidney, a normal B.U.N number is anywhere between 6 and 20. Her B.U.N was 37 two years ago, 40 two months ago, and today sits at 60.
The average cost for a kidney transplant in the United States, without insurance coverage is approximately $446,800.00
Pre-transplant care (30 days): $30,900.00
Organ procurement: $135,400.00
Hospital admission (transplant): $142,500.00
Physician cost for transplant: $22,100.00
Post-transplant care (180 days): $88,200.00
Immunosuppressants and other medications: $27,700.00
We can’t thank you enough for your donation, your prayers, and your faith in God’s plan while we navigate this season of life. My mom’s new lease on life with be made possible through your generosity, and God’s will!! GOD IS NOT DONE WRITING HER STORY!!
