For six years, I have been on dialysis—surviving, fighting, and dreaming of the one thing I wanted most: a kidney transplant and the chance to live a normal life.
About six months ago, everything changed. Someone very close to my heart offered me her kidney.
She had actually offered it two years prior, but I was bitter, angry, and hurting. I rejected her and her offer. But she didn't walk away. Session after session, she kept coming to my aid—caring for me and staying by my side even when I was hard to be around.
Then, six months ago, I had a frightening episode. For the first time in six years, I fainted and came terrifyingly close to needing the ER. She offered her kidney again. This time, I had found the will to live. I said yes.
We created a bucket list together, and for the first time in years, I allowed myself to imagine a future beyond dialysis.
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*The Latest News & Timeline*
On August 15, our donor testing began. Her compatibility results came back very encouraging—giving us every reason to keep moving forward.
However, during her ultrasound, doctors discovered gallstones. They placed a stent, but sludge caused a mild episode of jaundice shortly after. Thankfully, a second stent cleared it, but her medical team now requires a gallbladder removal before we can proceed with the remaining donor evaluations.
Here is our updated timeline:
*Sept 27: Specialized treatment for gallstones
*Sept 30: Gallbladder removal surgery
*October:Recovery (~1 month of rest)
*Late 2026 / Early 2027:** Resuming remaining clinical, psychosocial, and ethical evaluations and surgery 🤞
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*Finding Hope in the Delay*
Honestly, I feel terrible that she has to go through this unexpected surgery because of a decision made out of love for me. But I keep reminding myself: the testing caught this in time. It was discovered before donation, allowing her to get treated safely rather than facing a major medical emergency later.
As frustrating as the delay to early 2027 is, I am deeply grateful we found it—and even more grateful for her. She had every reason to walk away, yet she stayed.
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*Why the $20,000 Goal Matters Now More Than Ever*
The timeline has shifted, but the need to be prepared hasn't. Having this additional time makes me even more determined to reach our goal before surgery so I can focus entirely on recovery without crippling financial stress.
*Target Goal: $20,000
*Remaining Need:~$15,000
After six years on dialysis, I finally have a real chance at life—not a fantasy, but a real path toward a future where dialysis isn't the first thing on my mind when I wake up. A chance at the simple things, like a cold glass of chilled water and a normal day.
If you are able, please help us close this remaining $15,000 gap:
1. *Donate:* Any amount brings us one step closer.
2. Share:Spreading the word to your network is just as valuable as a direct contribution.
Thank you for standing by me through six years of dialysis, through the setbacks, and into this next chapter. Let's get this remaining $15,000 down to $0. 💙🙏
— Tristian