Sunday, March 18, 2018

An Open Letter to Save My Life

Help me by Sharing this Post:
I am Jackie.  I need a kidney.  Not necessarily your kidney, but someone's.  You can help just by sharing this post with your friends on FaceBook.  Together we can find that angel willing to do the extraordinary to save my life.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Anna Triguero and Family

I have end-stage renal failure due to polycystic kidney disease ("PKD").  It's a genetic disease.  I inherited it. I am currently on dialysis.  Ultimately I need an angel to step forward to save my life by volunteering to give me a kidney (blood type B or O).  Tall order, I know.  It's a big ask.  So I'm not asking.  But I am asking for your help in another way.  There's something else that you can do to help me (and others with a similar need), even if you're not a donor: I need you to spread the word by sharing this request, and I'll show you how to do that in this post.  Your job simply would be to get the word out about my need for a kidney.

I am told that the more people who know of my need, the better my chance is of reaching a person willing to be an altruistic donor.  So, now it's all about getting the word out.  That's where you come in.

Who Am I?
I am a wife, a mother, a daughter and a teacher.  I am a friend. I am a kind, compassionate and mindful individual. I volunteer at our local church food pantry.  I love my family and my job as an elementary school teacher, teaching for well over 20 years, mostly in kindergarten and first grade. 

I hope to watch my amazing girls continue to grow and start families of their own someday. I hope to enjoy the role of grandparent with my loving husband in the future. I enjoy reading, game night with my family and I love to travel. I have very happy memories of family vacations, with special times spent together on cruises, at the beach, and at our special place, Walt Disney World. I hope to continue enjoying life to its fullest and many more precious moments of time with my family and friends.

People tend to notice my smile and positive attitude.  I always try to do the right thing and help others.  Now I need someone to help me.  Anyone.  Thank you for your help in saving my life.

How to Help Me:
I need your help to find a kidney donor so I can live.

Please give me 15 minutes (or more) and use that time to tell the world about this website (Kidney4Jackie.com).
  • Email: Send this website to your friends (all of them) by email.
  • Facebook: Post a small note on Facebook with a link to this website (icon above).
  • LinkedIn: Post a small note on LinkedIn with a link to this website (icon above).
  • Other Social Media Sites: Post a small note with a link to this website (icons below). 
And ask your contacts, readers, friends and acquaintances to do the same (to give this webpage exponential distribution).  
 
Why this is So Serious - My Options: 
Most people have two well-functioning kidneys but can lead a full and equally healthy life with just one kidney.  Both of my kidneys are almost fully shut down by PKD.  So, medically I now have only two options to continue living:
  • dialysis (life expectancy about 5 years)
  • transplant (a new lease on life)
According to USRDS data, Kidney transplant recipients fare far better than dialysis patients. I need those additional years in order to continue helping others.

My family members are medically disqualified as donors because of the genetic nature of PKD.

Also, if a willing donor is not an exact match, through an arrangement called "Paired Kidney Donation" (kidney swapping) a donor who is not a match for me might be a match for someone else and I would be eligible to receive that person's donor's kidney that would be a match for me. 

If You'd Like More Information:
For more information, see Columbia University Medical Center's "Becoming a Kidney Donor" and/or watch this short video. 

Lloyd E. Ratner, MD New York Presbyterian-Columbia

To Speak with Someone Confidentially:
If you'd like to speak with someone confidentially (without disclosing your inquiry to me), please call:

Katie Murdock, Living Donor Coordinator, Hackensack University Medical Center, Living Donor Institute, at (551) 996-4453 (or complete online Living Donor Intake Form);
or

Angela Templeton, donor coordinator at Westchester Medical Center, Kidney Transplant at (914) 493-7864.

Your questions will be answered by a qualified person who is familiar with my case.

Speaking with a staff member is much better than speaking with me.  They know far more than I do and you will get better information from them.  So please, feel free to contact them.

Keep in mind that a confidential phone call to the hospital does not come with any obligations to proceed further.

Help Me by Sharing.  Unfortunately, "Likes" are Not Enough:
So, please help me by Sharing this post with your Facebook and other friends.  Please do more than "like" or comment.  Likes and comments are the "hopes and prayers" of social media.  Shares = action; the action needed here.

I need your help to find a kidney donor so I can live.

Together, we can do it.  Yes we can.

Thank you,

Jackie

______________
Note: It is illegal to exchange money for a kidney. No such request will be granted any consideration. 

83 comments:

  1. I will share the heck out of this. We're gonna find you a kidney!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shared ! Also had a comment from a friend with renal failure that received a kidney transplant. Had great results with a Dr Conti from Albany Medical Center. Prayers sent.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did you find someone yet? I'll call Katie and Angela tomorrow if you haven't.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will share this as well Jackie. My cousin's two year old son just had to have a kidney transplant done. Luckily his uncle was a match (I love my cousins!), both are doing very well since the surgery which was done in October of 2017. I wish I could donate, but I have a couple of auto immune diseases, so I can't, so as I said I will share your post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm O neg, Rh negative. I don't think I can help but my heart and prayers are with you, as the step daughter to the world's greatest dad, and step granddaughter to a grandpa who also had PKD.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Individuals with type O Rh D negative blood are often called universal donors.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kidney donors must have a compatible blood type with the recipient. Donors with blood type AB can donate to recipients with blood type AB only. Donors with blood type O can donate to recipients with blood types A, B, AB and O (O is the universal donor: donors with O blood are compatible with any other blood type)

    ReplyDelete
  8. B+ here! Willing to get tested.
    stcarmelitano@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Please connect with one of the donor coordinators shown in the article who can assist you in setting up medical testing. They also can help answer questions. Thanks for your interest in saving my friend Jackie’s life.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ellis- I’m willing to do whatever I can to help your friend.. I’m o positive. I don’t know anything about any of this but I read her story and my heart wouldn’t let me close this out and if I can live a normal life with one kidney and I’m compatible- I will def def def help! Should I start by calling one of the numbers above or would you like to reach out to me? Where is Jackie located? I’m in Barnegat NJ- 15 minutes from Long Beach Island (the shore) let me know where to begin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie lives in NY hence she is registered at both Hackensack and Westcher Medical Center for the transplant. Call Hackensack if it is more convenient for you as a NJ resident. First step is answering some questions, then a blood test.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  11. Dear Teri H,

    Thank you. Please email me directly at emirsky@mirskylaw.com. Very much appreciate your post.

    Ellis Mirsky

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Teri H,

    Please contact Katie Murdock, Living Donor Coordinator, Hackensack University Medical Center, Living Donor Institute (https://www.hackensackumc.org/services/surgery/surgical-services/organ-transplant-surgery/living-donor-institute/), at (551) 996-4453 (or complete online Living Donor Intake Form at https://www.hackensackumc.org/services/surgery/surgical-services/organ-transplant-surgery/donors/living-donor-intake-form/).

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jackie,
    My father had a kidney txp bc of PCK. Since he passed, it would be my honor to get get tested to see if I could donate my kidney to you. Email me @ jamiediblasi@gmail.com

    Jamie

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gladys,

    Thank you for your interest in helping save Jackie's life. Please call:

    Katie Murdock, Living Donor Coordinator, Hackensack University Medical Center, Living Donor Institute, at (551) 996-4453 (or complete the online Living Donor Intake Form at https://www.hackensackumc.org/services/surgery/surgical-services/organ-transplant-surgery/donors/living-donor-intake-form/);
    or

    Angela Templeton, donor coordinator at Westchester Medical Center, Kidney Transplant at (914) 493-7864.

    Thank you for your interest.

    Ellis Mirsky
    Blogmaster

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gladys, for inquiring. And thank you, Ellis!

      Delete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  19. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  20. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  24. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie, After 4 years of search through 4 states, we finally found a Kidney from an altruistic donor for my Wife Lisa. In 2015, Lisa received her new kidney at Weil-Cornell on 12-15-2015. Lisa and the donor were a near perfect match. I am pleased today that Lisa is doing great! As an aside, ironically, I am an Alumni of SUNY-New Paltz. Please let us know how we can be of any kind of help. Bruce at brusol@mac.com.

      Delete
  26. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  46. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  50. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  52. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  54. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  55. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  56. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  58. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  59. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  60. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  61. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  62. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  63. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  64. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  65. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  66. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  67. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  68. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Featured Post

Successful kidney transplant performed!

On November 12, I was given the most amazing gift!  A very special angel donated her kidney to me. This made our Thanksgiving a truly spe...

Most Visit Post