prayers for my sister

I'm desperate to help my sister, and decided to post her story on forums where I am a member, in hopes that it will help her. Thank you for listening:

I would be so grateful if you would please keep my sister, Barb, in your prayers, that someone will give her the gift of life by donating a kidney. You never know where this special person will be found, so Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m trying to get the word out any way I can.

Barb, my older sister by four years, needs a kidney urgently because she has last stage PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease). She is 53 years old. Dialysis will buy her some time, but it will also take its toll.

Barb had a donor but it fell through. Time is ticking away and her transplant coordinator says we should pass the word ASAP, and to tell people that Barb's situation is urgent. She's in kidney failure and she canâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t wait for the transplant list - she was told it's currently a 7 year wait.

PKD has hit every generation on my dad's side, at least as far back as my great grandmother--every one died from it. The youngest died at 51 (my great aunt), back in the late 1950‘s. The oldest was my dad, who passed away in 2004, four months after his 70th birthday. His passing came after a long time of suffering the side effects of dialysis, removal of both kidneys, all a result of PKD. We have two uncles who received kidneys and still are living. We half jokingly call it the family curse because everyone on dad‘s side of the family has PKD!

The average age in my family to enter the last stage of PKD (kidney failure) has been early to mid 60's. My sister just drew a bad luck card when her kidneys started to fail in her 40â€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s. She has lived a clean life, never smoked, never drank, never did anything to hurt anyone. And, I feel very helpless. Siblings are the best match - I would help her in a heartbeat, however I also have PKD in both kidneys.

Barb, like most people, isnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t ready to leave this life yet. She and Gary, my brother in law, celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary on 09/10/10. They have one grown child, Jen, who married Ryan. Barb and Gary became proud grandparents last year when Jen and Ryan had baby Cameran.

Barb and her daughter Jen (my niece) are extremely close. They describe each other as their best friend, and it is so great to see a mother daughter relationship like theirs. More than anything, Barb wants to stay alive so she can help, and be support, to Jen (and Ryan) while they face the challenges of raising sweet baby Cameran, born with Down Syndrome. Cami already faces huge physical/mental challenges in her new young life, and Jen needs her momâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s support now more than ever. So, you see, Barbâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s work here on earth isnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t finished yet. It has only just begun!

We all have this common bond, our dear cats, and we are caring people, so I know that you will hold good thoughts and prayers for Barb. For that alone, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul. If you could possibly please take that extra step and pass the word around to your friends and family, or at your work, that donating a kidney will literally save my sisterâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s life. Humans can live with one functioning kidney. She just needs one good kidney.

If you want to help or know of someone who wants to donate, please pm me. I can give you Barbâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s transplant coordinatorâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s number to call and get details.

Thanks everyone. I truly appreciate you even reading this post. I love my sister and I am not able to help her except to help her look for a kidney. If you know of any other ways that I could get the word out, please let me know. I really appreciate any help you can give my family. Someone is out there, somewhere.

Update: last week Barb had a second bad episode in a month, of passing a kidney stone. (PKD patients are extra prone to kidney stones, aneurysms, infections, etc.) She feels a little better again, however it also rose her creatinine again. She had been hovering around 8% kidney function left until this kidney stone thing. Now she has less than 8%, which you can't go much lower until you hit 0%

Thank you in advance for any help and good thoughts, prayers.
Sherry

Those are beautful words of love for your sister. I will include Barb in my prayers.

Your family has so much to deal with. It is hard to comprehend so much PKD in a family.

Please keep us posted as you are able.

This a wonderful post, and a tribute of love. Prayers for your sister and for that person who is going to give the kidney.

I will keep your sister in my thoughts and hope that a donor is there for her.

Your sister will be in my thoughts. Hopefully a donor will be found in time for her.

Your sister sounds wonderful hun. Sending a lot of vibes her way!

for your sister

So sorry to hear this, I hope a donor will be found some way and save your sister's life.

That's a very touching story. So sorry your family has been so hugely affected by this disease. I'll keep you all in my thoughts and hope that another donor can be found soon.

I will keep your sister in my thoughts and prayers.

That is terrible, my grandad has failing kidneys due to his diabetes and he will have to start dialysis in the very near future. My thoughts are with you and I hope Barb finds a donor soon.xx

I am sending prayers and vibes for your dear sister.

thinking of your sister and family

Oh my, you all are so kind!! Thank you so much for your words of support and your prayers. I really REALLY appreciate it, because I want to hold onto hope that maybe somehow strength in numbers will help her--the more people holding good thoughts, sending good vibes, and saying prayers, that it will help find that donor--gives Barb good karma. It sure can't hurt!

Ruthyb, I'm sending prayers and good thoughts for your grandfather, that dialysis will help him. I remember when we took my dad to dialysis 3x a week, we would see many dialysis patients with diabetes who were doing very well.

We're anxiously waiting to hear how my sister's latest numbers are (kidney function) since this last bout of kidney stones. We found out that even though her creatinine rose immediately after the episode, that it may go back down just a little bit. It won't make a difference in anything for her except maybe keep her from feeling worse, physically--which so far she has done wonderfully except having extreme fatigue. I remember my grandmother was bedridden for years until she died, and my sister's kidney numbers are as bad now, and grandma's were when bedridden.

Thanks again everyone, you are so kind. I love this site. I feel like family already.