For Kidney Transplant

Hello everyone. I just want to share my story and hopefully you can help me.

My name’s Jey-ar Camoral from the Philippines.

My story started when I worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker in Jeddah last March 2013. I was physically fit then and I passed the medical requirements which are necessary when one wants to be deployed overseas. My company provides for our many needs including the food that we eat every day. However, most of the food served are unhealthy, and most are rich in oil and fat. Also, our drinking water in KSA was refined and sourced from the sea, and I think this triggered my body to develop hypertension which reached 200/120. Last December 2015, I went home for a vacation. This was the time when I started to feel something different- my head ached and the next day, I noticed a blurred vision, and can’t see. I immediately arranged for a checkup as an outpatient with De La Salle University. According to the doctor, I was suffering from high blood pressure and it impaired my vision. He added then that this was caused by ruptured veins. My parents learned about my situation and advised me to consult another doctor and specifically requested that I get another opinion at Bicol Regional Training Hospital (a government hospital in our region). This is a local government hospital in our region, and they recommended this because they are concerned about the costs involved. I was confined here for a week for observations. I really tried to get out of the hospital as soon as the observations have ended since I was still in contract with the company. Even with a blurry vision and a high blood pressure, I forced myself to leave the country once again not just to work for the company but for my family as well. I’m the only one supporting my family and I really have no choice at that time.

When I returned, work has become a bit difficult due to my health status and I was forced to follow the same lifestyle- the same type of food and water. This continued until such time that I started noticing pains in my back, notably in the kidney area. I lost a lot of weight and became weak after that. My company provided regular check up it was not enough and I was soon advised to undergo dialysis or even kidney transplant.

I went home last June 2017 and I tried traditional medicine for almost 11 months. Nothing changed, in fact, my situation worsened. Last May 2018, I visited Generika for a check-up and they found out that I am in a critical condition and they referred me to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. I undergo a few lab tests and they advised that I should get dialysis. I was taken to an emergency room, gave me a catheter for peritoneal dialysis. This was the first time I undergo dialysis, and I am still doing it right now.

Describe the recommended treatment

My doctor recommended that I should undergo dialysis or even a kidney transplant. I was subjected to dialysis and my doctors (at NKTI) now recommends a kidney transplant. We are scheduled to visit the hospital right after Holy Week (April 23, 2019). I already received a confirmation from the hospital that I am scheduled for a checkup on this date. I already have a donor, my sibling, and we have already complied with the papers and requirements.

Explain how soon you need the funds

To get back at my normal life and to help sustain the needs of my family, I really need to get a kidney transplant. I have my donor- my sibling- but what I really need now is the money to be spent in the procedure, the laboratory tests, and other medicines. In NKTI, the procedure will take Php 100,000 for the laboratories and the post medication for the first year is more or less Php 100,000 monthly for the next 3 years. I was informed that the cost may go down as I proceed with the medications.

As of April 16, 2019, we have complied with the requirements and hopefully after Holy Week, I will be scheduled for a checkup and the procedures can start. This will take 2 to 3 months and once cleared, I can proceed to the transplant.

Update: I am now scheduled to visit the hospital on Tuesday for a checkup.

I am regularly taking my medications, but the bulk of expenses will happen once I am cleared with all laboratory tests and ready for the transplant. I will visit again the hospital this Tuesday (April 23, 2019) for further tests. This requires money on my part and as soon as the series of lab tests begin, I need to prepare more funds to cover these procedures.

Tell how these funds will help you or your loved one

No words can truly capture how important these procedures are. I’m the only one working for my family, and it pains me to see them hurting as well. I know that the procedures will take time and once successful, I may need to rest my body first before working. But knowing that I can undergo medications and the procedure brings hope to me and my family. I really need to show strength for my family, and I’m hoping that this platform can help me.

I heard many great things about this platform, and I am hoping that you can also help me. Any amount that you can share for my medications and transplant will be of great help for us.

Tell potential donors how urgent your situation is

I have been suffering from this condition for years now, and I really want to get back to my normal life and be of help to my family. My doctors recommend only one thing- a kidney transplant and I am planning to undergo the procedure this year after I cleared all lab tests. I’m scheduled to visit NKTI again this Tuesday (April 23, 2019).