A Kidney for Kate
A Future for Kate. Help Us Find a Match to Save a Life.
It all begins with an act of kindness.
You’re here because you care, and your time and attention means the world to us. This website is a place of hope, built for a truly wonderful person, Kate. She’s in urgent need of a life-saving kidney transplant. We invite you to read her story, learn about the process of living donation, and discover the many ways you can help us find her match.
What Happened?
In October 2024, Kate’s life took a turn that no one could have imagined. After unexplained inflammation, anemia, brilliant white vision, shortness of breath, and no comfort for pain; she went to the hospital. Initial tests had her sent to the ER immediately. After a few hours of more testing the reasons why now had a narrative.
Kidney Failure and Heart Failure.
Tests and imagery showed that her kidneys had completely failed (below 5%) and had a mildly enlarged heart. BNP levels nearly 100x times higher than normal, Troponin levels 6 times higher than normal, and creatinine levels 10x higher than normal. Had she waited another day to go the hospital, she most likely wouldn’t be here today.
BNP - Assesses the severity of heart failure.
Troponin - Released when heart muscle is damaged, detects heart attacks.
Creatinine - Waste product by muscle breakdown, Kidneys filter this as urine.
What Could Be Done?
After two days in the hospital, they had to place a chest catheter to immediately begin dialysis. This is a grueling medical process that removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do their job. One session takes FOUR hours!
Don’t Forget About the Heart
Her left ventricular chamber was found to be moderately decreased. With the ejection fraction at 40%, normal is 60%+. Later testing would show that her RCA artery was 100% blocked and has been for awhile as collateral arteries had already grown around the blockage.
The Widowmaker
The RCA blockage is scary, but the fabled LAD artery is famously called “the widowmaker” for a reason. The LAD supplies over 50% of the blood to the heart and any blockage above 80% is cause for immediate action as these heart attacks only have about a 12% survival rate outside of the hospital. Her LAD happened to be 80% blocked. They placed two stents in the artery. Due to the combined blockages, it’s believed she had been suffering mini heart attacks.
What’s Next?
Since then, she’s been going to dialysis three times a week, going to heart doctor appointments, and working. She’s also had two eye surgeries, dental work to clear her for the transplant list, and one failed fistula surgery. All of her blood work and recent imagery show that she’s a perfect candidate to be a transplant recipient. Not to mention the gigantic feat of losing 40kg+ since Octobers 2 week stay.
The Importance of Dialysis
Simply put, without it, there is no Kate. Dialysis is extremely harsh on not just the body and heart, but also the mind. The longer the dialysis goes on, the risk of complications can grow. She’s a survivor and has the scars to show it. From sleepless nights and feeling close to death to worried about what’s this all for and losing two fur babies 2 months apart, she’s still here for the fight.
Why Help Kate?
Because she’s awesome! You always hear about that one person who lights up the room when they enter, that’s Kate. She is passionate, she is caring, she is strong, she is smart, she is funny, that’s Kate. You won’t catch her being sad, she’ll go out of her way to make sure everyone is good before worrying about herself, she is always ready to go on an adventure, if not she’ll make it one, that’s Kate. Her laugh is honestly the best, it’s infectious, and with her being the easiest person to get a laugh from, everyone laughs, that’s Kate.
What’s Needed?
A kidney.
Someone who is compassionate enough to donate something small from them that would mean a new life for her. It’s not only a gift of anew, but the preservation of others as well. A donation would ensure that she gets to continue living and having the quality of life to interact and play with her nieces and nephews. Go to their school plays, their sporting events, their graduations, their marriages, and their families. A donation would allow her to grow old with her sisters and help them through the ups and downs of life. A donation would let her be with her parents and continue being their first one who has all the same characteristics and traits from the Hawaii days. A donation would mean she can continue being the rock and loving partner in our 2 decade plus adventure. And a donation would mean she can continue holding onto the loving memories, stories, photos, videos, and trinkets of our 3 amazing fur baby gentlemen, Atom, Buttars, and Cota. The ABC Duggz! They are her world.
What Can You Do?
Just being here and reading her story means a lot to Kate. She’s not one to ask for help, she’s not one to want the spotlight, but now it’s her turn.
Her Life Is On The Line
Here are six ways to help Kate find a kidney and a new lease on her beautiful life.
Apply To Be A Match
This is obviously the ultimate option of compassion and love. There are quite a few tests that need to be done to match. Also, if you’re not a direct match for Kate, there’s an exchange program where it’s done as a just as good as being a match for her. A living donor in any situation is better long term than a deceased donor.
Information related to this can be found here:
Share Your Stories Of Her
If you are seeing this, there is a good chance that you have a story about Kate. One of friendship, one of family, one of work, one of growing up, and/or one of seeing her journey so far. She would love to hear it, she would love to see you share it, and if you’re able to share the web address of www.kidneykate.com within that memory...that would be amazing!
You can share your story with us here:
Get A Decal For Your Car
We are having decals made for your car, office, mugs, notebooks, windows, mailboxes, street signs (shhhhh), or where ever else you can stick things.
If you are local and want to meet up for some, please do reach out. Or you can follow the link to the decals and we will get them mailed out to you.
Decals:
Share This Site
Sharing a link to this website is powerful and helps spread awareness of her need. It will also help others see what they can do to help her find peace and able to continue doing what she loves for just a bit longer.
Use these links to share on your Social Media:
Using Your Network
Not all of us use social media, but we do have a friend, family, or work network. Sharing her story within your own network can help her find the match she needs. Even in randomness can the chaos provide a much needed path.
Donate For Advertising
Any and all donations received will be used in efforts to keep the process of finding Kate a kidney. Whether it’s to help pay for decals, flyers, paid advertising, or anything else of the sort would be greatly appreciated. This option has been proven to be successful in others finding a much needed match.
Donation Links Here: