My name is Aaron. I am 50 years old. I reside in Carrollton MI,which is in Saginaw County. I work at Nexteer Automotive as a production worker. I also got married on Oct.27,2024 and my wife has been a huge support for me.
Some of you may know that I have stage 4 kidney disease. This journey started in 2023, my kidneys have gotten worse since requiring me to start dialysis. I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy and have been on many different medications to help with this. My mom, wife and I met with the dialysis nurses and owner today and decided to start the process until a kidney is found.
Dialysis(hemodialysis) is a life-sustaining application where the body’s failing kidneys are replaced, using similar principles to remove metabolic wastes and excess fluid from the blood.
Dialysis treatments are just to help me stay alive and assist the kidneys with filtering out the blood and giving me energy.
Getting a transplant would offer me more freedom,ability to live longer, healthier, have a normal life and enjoy my marriage. A transplant would also allow me to do fun things, such as bowling, photography, golf, spending time with family, friends, and church.
However I have a hard time asking anyone for anything and it may be due to my personality. I am an INFJ and tend to keep to myself and feel guilty for asking for help. However, I am asking for a kidney. I have A negative blood. My wife was a perfect match, however was denied because her GFR is normal but not good for Henry Ford.
To register to become Aarons donor, please go to henryfordlivingdonor.org
Fighting an Invisible Enemy
By Angela Kline
October 27, 2024
Bay City, MI (AK) – On the outside, this vibrant young lady seems full of life, but on the inside, Sarah Jane is fighting for her life.
A closer look at the picture will reveal a bandage covering her catheter, which is inserted straight into her artery on the upper right side of her chest. These dangling tubes are the only visible evidence of her struggles with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
At a very young age, Sarah Jane discovered that she had inherited Polycystic Kidney Disease, a rare genetic disorder that results in the growth of large cysts inside of the kidneys. Receiving a kidney donation is the only known way for Sarah to be free of this disease. Despite receiving the devastating diagnosis at the age of 13, she was told that her body would not suffer the negative effects of PKD until she was well into her sixties.
Sarah stated, “I was aware of my future condition, though there was nothing I could do to prepare for the inevitable. I loved life to the fullest, expecting to have many years before my fate was revealed.”
In 2009, Sarah fell in love with Nicholas Meyer, and they were married on October 20, 2018. Sarah and Nick considered having children, but due to her family’s history of passing on this horrific disease, as well as the medical complications that would result, they made the heartbreaking decision not to bring a child into this situation. Apart from that choice, Sarah said the two were leading a normal, fulfilling life as any young couple would.
That all changed one devastating afternoon. At the age of 36, Sarah received the devastating news that her kidney function had severely deteriorated and that she would have to start dialysis right away in order to rid her blood of the toxins. Sarah woefully described the start of her downward spiral, saying, “Everything happened so quickly. In order to receive peritoneal dialysis, I had to have the first surgery, which involved three incisions made in my lower stomach for the tube to be inserted. This allowed me to perform at home treatments to cleanse the toxins from my body. But that failed. It became an emergency situation that they had to implant the catheter into my neck so that I could begin hemodialysis.”
Working for a local nonprofit agency, Sarah spent over 12 years advocating for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries. The realization that she was unable to carry out her responsibilities and was released from her position as programming supervisor was emotionally taxing for her. After spending her entire life helping others, Sarah had to accept the fact that she was the one with the “disability” and that she needed other people to keep her not only financially stable but also alive, relying on dialysis technicians and a machine.
Sarah expressed how the small things had been taken for granted, as the port in her neck goes straight into her artery, she cannot get it wet due to the possibility of an infection. “Not being able to swim, take a bath, or have brunch with my husband; to others seems so insignificant, but these are just a few of the physical drawbacks that used to be so normal, but now I long for.” On the days that she undergoes dialysis treatments her body is too drained to do anything but sleep. Literally, her body is drained of blood, the toxins are filtered out and her blood is pumped back into her body.
As Sarah looked off into the distance and said, “Unfortunately, one of the most difficult things I have had to deal with is the mental anguish. Yes, my body is exhausted, and I am constantly ill due to a weakened immune system, but the mental fatigue causes others to believe I am insane. One day, I went to the hospital because I was in excruciating pain. Upon noticing that I had been prescribed anti-anxiety medication in my records, the attending physician said I was experiencing a panic attack, gave me an anti-anxiety medication, and sent me home. I ended up back at the hospital and admitted, as the pain that I had been enduring was due to cysts rupturing.”
After losing her career, suffering mental strain, and enduring endless pain and fatigue, Sarah was thrilled to share that she has been recently selected to be represented by a benevolent organization, “Kidneys for Kids,” a charitable nonprofit organization that promotes the survival of those in need of a kidney transplant.
My name is Justin, I am 41 years old and Im in Stage 5 (End Stage Renal Failure)
I was diagnosed in April 2024 from some irregular bloodwork. After a 2020 work injury and trying to push through the pain with Motrin so I could continue working to survive, it was too much for my kidneys to handle. I started with peritoneal dialysis at home, which was ok at first until the nephrologist gave me too many medications which built too many toxins in my body for the peritoneal dialysis to be able to remove on a daily basis. I decided to fire my nephrologist and with to Hemo dialysis and got a new nephrologist. First I had to get an access port in my chest until I was able to get a fistula put in my arm. I received a fistula in my left arm which stopped working after a week, so I had to get another fistula in my right arm as well as another surgery to move the vein \artery for better access. I go to dialysis 3 days per week and have had to change my diet to mostly vegan, which has helped tremendously. I have been on the UofM since February 2024 for kidney\pancreas transplant.
I’ve had a few friends and family get tested but they were unable to donate due to health issues. I have a good support group that keeps me going through this tough time.
My Dad’s Struggle With Kidney Disease
In 2022, my dad, Jesse Ramos, learned that he was already in the final stage of kidney disease. Because his condition was so advanced at the time of diagnosis, dialysis became an immediate and ongoing necessity. He currently undergoes dialysis three times a week, a physically demanding schedule that has significantly impacted his health and daily life. Since starting dialysis, he has experienced serious complications, including multiple episodes of atrial fibrillation, which ultimately required heart surgery. The combined toll of dialysis, cardiac complications, and recovery made it impossible for him to continue working. Since his diagnosis, my dad has held onto hope through two potential kidney transplant opportunities, both of which ultimately fell through. He now needs a kidney transplant from a living donor, as dialysis is only a temporary solution and is typically effective for about five years for his blood type. In addition to managing his own health, my parents are the legal guardians of my 12-year-old niece, adding to the responsibilities they carry while navigating his medical journey. My Dad’s blood is o positive.
Henry Ford contact: henryfordlivingdonor.org, they fill out the questionnaire and Henry Ford is supposed to reach out after
Additional info in case needed – My Dad’s Story From My Eyes
My name is Alena, and I am the daughter of Jesus Ramos, who many people know as Jesse. My dad was born on the 25th of August, which I always thought was meaningful because his name is Jesus, they were both born on the 25th, and he has always been someone I
could rely on completely. Just like Jesus is someone people place their faith in during hard times, my dad has always been that steady, dependable presence in our lives. Throughout this journey with his illness, my dad continues to be the person we look to
for strength, reassurance, and consistency.
For the past three years, my dad has been living with kidney failure and has been on dialysis three times a week. Dialysis can only sustain him for so long, and it has taken an extreme toll on his body. Most days, he is exhausted and does not feel like himself.
Even on those days, he always shows up.
My dad is one of the hardest working people I know. He worked 60, 70, even 80 hour weeks my entire childhood without complaining because his only goal was to make sure we were taken care of. We were fed, happy, and protected from worry, that was all he ever
wanted for us. He never made us feel the weight of how hard he worked.
One of my favorite things about my dad is how many people know and love him. We cannot go to a grocery store without someone stopping us to say they worked with him or for him and to tell us how great he was. He worked his way up from being a cook at Tony’s
takeout literally right next door to his home growing up, to becoming a district manager for Cracker Barrel, overseeing stores in Ohio and Michigan, all through hard work and dedication. He earned respect simply by being the kind of person people wanted to
work for. I always felt proud knowing my dad was someone others looked up to.
As a father, my dad would give the shirt off his back for his kids, or for anyone, really. Any friend we brought around was fed and cared for without hesitation. He loved providing. I have always looked at him as a hero. I still remember coming home from elementary
school one day and learning that our neighbor’s house had caught on fire. My dad helped an elderly woman get out safely. From that moment on, I truly believed there was nothing he could not do.
Even while being sick, my dad never stops showing up. He does not miss pom competitions for my sister or niece. He drives over just to see his grandson or to surprise us with something he knows we will love. My parents are the legal guardians of my 12 year
old niece, and while my dad’s role looks different now than it did when we were growing up, he still shows up one hundred percent. Even while being sick, he takes her to and from school, brings her to pom practice, drops off things she forgets, takes her out
to eat between school and practice, and is a constant support system for her. She relies on him deeply as a father figure, just as we always have.
My son, Ovie, is obsessed with his Papa. They play cars together, line the cars up, and race them. Ovie calls for Papa multiple times a day, sometimes three times a day, even when he is not around. He knows Papa will always play with him, it’s so sweet. He
looks for him before anyone else, and no one makes him smile the way my dad does. Their bond means everything to me, and I want to see it continue to grow for years and years to come.
What hurts the most is that when it was finally time for my dad to slow down and enjoy life, he got sick. The chapter of his life that should have been about rest, family, and happiness became centered around dialysis appointments, hospital visits, surgeries,
and emergencies. For three years, he has gone to dialysis three times a week, and for most of the week afterward, he is drained. Still, he pushes through. But it is not fair.
We have had a few maybes along this journey, potential donors who ultimately could not continue. Each time, my dad allowed himself to hope, and each time that hope was taken away. Despite that, he keeps going.
My dad deserves this kidney because he has spent his entire life putting others first. He deserves to play with his grandkids, be present for the things he wants to do, and experience life without the constant burden of illness. More than anything, he deserves
the opportunity to be healthy again and to live without worry, for once, for himself.
Please contact the living kidney donor program at Henry Ford hospital to register to become Jesse’s living kidney donor – henryfordlivingdonor org
