Doctors have told me that I’m dying of kidney disease. Each visit to the hospital is bringing more and more devastating news. My family is still reeling from the loss of my father, who was taken from us in a tragic accident almost 16 years ago. If his absence has been a wound we’ve not fully healed from even after all this while, I keep wondering what will happen to my family if I die too.
As a teacher, I once found joy in shaping young minds, watching their curiosity grow with each lesson. But now, every day is a battle just to get out of bed. Pain has become my constant companion as I face an uncertain tomorrow. The dreams I once held so close, of a stable career, of making my family proud... they are slowly slipping away from me.
It all began with headaches—persistent, throbbing pain that seemed to tighten its grip on me with each passing day. In 2021, the headaches became unbearable, affecting my ability to teach and draining the energy I once had for life. At first, doctors thought it was high blood pressure, and I clung to the hope that medication would bring relief. But the symptoms only worsened, and I soon found myself shuffling between doctors’ offices, desperate for answers that never seemed to come.
Eventually, the truth came crashing down. I had a rare congenital condition known as a horseshoe kidney. My kidneys were fused together, and failing to perform even the most basic functions. Despite following every treatment plan and taking every prescribed medication, my condition continued to worsen. Simple tasks like walking across a room or eating a meal became exhausting battles. It was as though my body was slowly giving up, no matter how hard I fought to hold on.
My mother has been single-handedly keeping our family afloat after my father's death
For around 8 years, she managed to raise us children while scraping by on a small pension. Then, in 2015, she finally got the opportunity to take over my father's job as a bus conductor, a position she continues to hold today, carrying the weight of our family's survival on her shoulders. Despite her own health issues and the physically demanding nature of her work, she remains our sole provider.
But now, because of my health, the burden on her has grown unbearable. We have exhausted every bit of our savings on my treatment. With my younger brothers unable to contribute financially, there is no relief in sight. Each month brings a new wave of expenses, from costly medications to the urgent need for a kidney transplant. My mother’s income is no longer enough to cover even the basics.
My mother has made a choice that no parent should have to make
Despite the risks to her own health, she has decided to donate one of her kidneys to save my life. At 55, working as a bus conductor is already taxing on her body, especially with her struggles with thyroid issues and anemia. Yet, when it came down to it, she didn’t hesitate. The doctors have warned us about the potential complications. Both of us will be vulnerable during the recovery period, and my mother will need months of rest before she can return to work. For a family that depends entirely on her income, this means an even greater financial crisis. But my mother is determined to give me a fighting chance, even if it means sacrificing her own strength and risking everything we have left.
My survival now depends on the generosity of others... of you...
I am reaching out with a humble plea for your support because I may not have much time left. The transplant is my only chance to escape the grip of this disease, but the cost is far beyond what we can afford. With my mother unable to work during her recovery, and our savings already drained by years of medical expenses, we are left with no options.
Your kindness can not only help cover the costs of the transplant but also provide the means for my mother and me to recover without the constant worry of unpaid bills. I want to live—to regain my strength, to relieve my mother of this burden, and to finally give my family a chance to heal. Any help, no matter how small, will bring us closer to that hope.