Kidney Transplant

Hi my name is Regina Froehle and I have been in kidney failure for the past year.  I have a genetic diease called Polycystic Kidney Diease (PKD.)  Right around my 46th birthday, my kidney function fell to under 9%.  My team of doctors and specialists started me on dialysis.  On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I go to a dialysis center (after working) to have my blood cleaned of the urea that my kidneys are not able to remove.  This treatment takes about 5 hours per visit per week.

I am the 4th member of my immediate family that has this disease, and the fourth one that needs a transplant.  My mom, and both of my sisters have all had successful transplants and are doing well.  These three ladies have had the benefit and love of a husband and family to help care for them during this extreme and dangerous life changing surgery.  My oldest sister, has a kidney that her husband was able to donate to her, my mom other sister both had the good fortune after years on the National Transplant list to get that phone call and have  recieived the gift of life from the untimely passing of someone's family member and loved one.  I have a 22 year old son, who does so much for me, he makes sure to be home on my dialysis treatment days, as afterward I am completly wiped out.  Besides that I have two cats and a dog to share my love, hope, and fear with.    

I am an elementary Montessori  school teacher at MAC in Mason, Ohio,  I also have been working on Sundays at Sidewinder Coffee and Tea (the best coffee shop in town) to help cover my extra expenses.  Dialysis is a life sustaining treatment, and an incrediibly  expensive treatment as well.  After 10 months of labs, procedures and even two surgeries (to build a fistula in my left arm-it is a subcutaneous dialysis port) I have finally been cleared for living transplant.  I am hopefully optimisitc that one of my friends or a perhaps a relative will consider getting tested and consisder giving me the gift of my life back. Please consider any donation toward this cause.  You can help- and I am so appreciative of the help I have recieved from co-workers, family and friends who have made me meals, and just gone out of thier way to learn and discuess my medical condtion.