Dear Fellow Church Members,
We are overjoyed and humbled to be able to announce that we have found a kidney match for Traci. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, especially Pastor Jamie for keeping us in your prayers during this process Rocky Mount, you ROCK!! You all prayed so much for us over these last couple months, and God has delivered! We also wanted to thank everyone for sharing our story with their family and friends, and also recognize and praise all of the selfless members that inquired about donating. Your efforts have afforded the opportunity to save Traci’s life and we will be eternally grateful. Please continue to pray for our family as well as our donor’s family during this time as the transplant surgery is scheduled for August 23, 2022. Words can’t express how thankful we are for all of the support and we are blessed to have such an amazing congregation to lift us in during a challenging time. God bless you all!
Todd General
Friends and Family,
Few of you know of my wife Traci’s struggle with kidney failure, but it is at end stage, and I am asking for your help. While kidney disease may seem common to some, I can assure you that when your loved one is sick and could potentially not be there for your son, or partner, it causes additional stress and anxiety on top of the disorder for everyone. Traci is currently on the waiting list for a kidney doner, but she may not have that kind of time as the waiting list can be up to five years or even more. Getting regular dialysis treatments, usually three times a week for four hours at a time, will help her kidneys do their job function to keep her alive in the short term. However, a transplant would offer her more freedom and the ability to LIVE a longer, healthier, more normal life, not just be kept ALIVE. A transplant would also give her more time to enjoy spending time with our family and friends, while also having the energy to do the activities she has no longer has the energy to engage in.
While we have kept her condition private, the only way I know how to be of help, is to ask you for yours. My ask is to please read the information below about a live kidney donor and see if it would be an option for you, or for anyone you may know. While it would undoubtedly feel good to know how you helped someone very sick extend their life, just know that you would also be saving a family, a loving mother, and wonderful wife. Allow me to tell you a little more about the amazing woman’s life you would be helping to save! We met in spring of 2003, and then married in 2007. After six years of infertility, we were blessed with our son Ty, who was born in 2013. While there were a lot of challenges along the way, it pales in comparison to how much fun we have playing, laughing, and enjoying each other in the beautiful state of NC. It is hard to imagine that going away, but the disease definitely has had an impact on Traci’s energy and stamina. We are optimists and people of faith. We know that God has a plan for us through this medical challenge. Our hope is someone out there would like to be a hero, a superhero in fact, and save the day for our family.
If this is not for you, I would ask if you could just repost in the hopes that it is right for someone in your life/network. I would be forever appreciative, as would my family. To give you a little more perspective on the challenges of finding a living donor, and then how to become one, I have listed some of the facts below.
Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like Traci. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to her is difficult, but it greatly improves Traci’s chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.
You might not know a lot about living donation – We certainly didn’t know before kidney disease continued to deteriorate and affected her life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
* You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
* Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
* The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
* You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
I appreciate and thank you for taking the time to read our post. Since time is of the essence, if donating a kidney is something you would consider, please contact Traci’s transplant center immediately, and make sure they know it is regarding Traci General. Wake Forest Baptist, Living Donor Program 336-713-5685, 336-713-5340 or email LivingDonation@wakehealth.edu
I know living donation may not be right for everyone- but you can still help! Please share our story with everyone you know. Please keep me and my family in your prayers for a transplant opportunity to present itself.
God Bless, Todd General
Rocky Mount Church
Rocky Mount Church • 1739 Perth Rd • Mooresville, NC 28117
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