Make an Impact!
If you have known Casey Simpson for any length of time you know that he is undeniably smart, skilled, generous, and hard working. You have likely benefited from one or all of these qualities. Right now, he needs your support. We are raising funds to help bridge Casey and his family back to a new normal for everyday life.
In a nutshell, on May 17th Casey’s kidneys failed. By the end of the day, he was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF). It was unclear if his body would be able to recover. He was hospitalized and after receiving the highest quality of care he is home. He is in good spirits and has proven to be even stronger than we all knew. He is on the road to recovery, but the reality is that life will never be the same. He needs your help.
It’s not easy to ask for help. The reality is that we all have needed or will need it at some point. This is an opportunity for you to pay it forward. We ask that you give any amount that works for you and your family. Thank you and know that what you give makes a difference!
More of Casey’s Story:
At the end of April, he noticed he was feeling really run down, his body was achey and tired, and he just couldn’t get enough rest. As he put it, his instinct told him, “Just keep pushing yourself.” Tired and achey had been a normal part of life for over a decade. His response had always been grab a few ibuprofen, wash ’em down with a Dr. Pepper or Red Bull, and get back to life. Casey has had a strong work ethic and pushed himself since he got his first job at 15. As he put it, “It’s what you do. It’s all I’ve ever known.” He started to worry that this was different. The acute pain and exhaustion weren’t normal and he sensed that it wasn’t just too many long days or just gettin’ old.
After a few weeks of trying to tough it out, his body finally said, “Enough.” The intensity had become unbearable. At times, he couldn’t think clearly and he would become disoriented.
Jen, his wife, had the presence of mind to push back against the “I’ll be fine” and get him to the nearest ER, in Rockwall. The ER docs there could quickly see that he needed a higher level of care than they could provide. He was taken by ambulance to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas where he was admitted to their dedicated renal unit. The news was grim. It was determined that he was in End Stage Renal Failure. Testing revealed that his kidney function was at 5%, and that he had scarring on approximately 90% of his kidneys. At this point there was no way of knowing if his body could recover.
The very good news was that after 6 days, he shows enough improvement that he was a candidate for dialysis and that he would be going home. Before discharge he had abdominal surgery to place a catheter for peritoneal dialysis. It would take some time for his body to recover from the surgery and to make all the preparations for his continued care. In the meantime “smaller” (not necessarily easier) changes needed to be made: diet, new routines, and remembering just push through it isn’t the answer. The surgery and preparing to transition home were positives. This was also when the reality started to sink in that life would be different.
How will life be different?
Time and Routine: The treatments or flushes start at bedtime and continue for up to ten hours until the process is completed in the morning. Casey will get 5 days of training while the needed medical equipment and supplies are put in place. He will need the support of the dialysis indefinitely.
Diet: The convenience of highly processed foods and fast food that so many of us take for granted are largely a thing of the past. Preparing healthy meals takes more time, planning, and are a lot more effort.
Work: Ideally, the dialysis will be effective enough that Casey will be able to get back to work in some capacity. The reality is he won’t be able to work as many hours or do work that is as physically demanding as before. This of course impacts income. It will also be an adjustment because Casey is one of those people who thrives when he is working, and has for 45 years.
Financial impact of treatment for ESRF:
The cost of dialysis is prohibitively high with reports ranging from $27,000/year to over $300,000/year. Fortunately, medicare pays approximately 80% of the cost and for some, medicaid can help supplement the remaining 20%. There are also many organizations and foundations that provide aid for renal care and support in general for families. These supports are indispensable. However it takes a minimum of three months to go into effect. AND there is still so much additional impact beyond the treatment on individuals and families. Even with financial supports for much of the treatment are on the way, life goes on, bills don’t stop, and he has almost entirely lost his income at least for now.
How does it impact the family when you donate?
Your support helps provide for very basic needs:
- Daily cost of living: housing, food, shelter, utilities, car payments, gas money…
- Copays for medication and weekly doctor’s visits
Of course keeping the lights and water on are essentials. Also, knowing that these basic needs will be met can help reduce some of the stress of daily life so that Casey can heal and his family can find a new normal.
We are grateful for anyone who has taken the time to hear his story.
We are ALL grateful beyond words that he got to come home and look forward to many more blessings.
Again, Thanks for showing up to hear some of Casey’s story.
It’s not easy to ask for help and realistically everyone needs it at some point. This is your opportunity to give back. Donate any amount that works for you and your family. Know that your generosity makes a difference!
