Like most young people her age, Kelsey Crider was looking forward to college in the fall of 2007… and all the fun and challenging experiences that going to college has to offer. But Kelsey’s pre-college physical quickly changed the expected and anticipated to the unexpected and unfathomable. Kelsey was diagnosed with medullary cystic kidney disease; a hereditary disorder that results in gradual and permanent loss of kidney function, and in Kelsey’s case, the loss was significant and required a kidney transplant as soon as possible. At about 12% remaining kidney function, Kelsey began dialysis, 4 hour sessions, three times per week, while the search began for a compatible donor.
Since her diagnosis Kelsey has had two kidney transplants. The first occurred in October 2007 and the second occurred in April 2008. The kidneys were donated by her father and a family friend. Although the transplants were successful initially, over the next few weeks following the surgeries Kelsey’s body struggled to maintain her new kidney. Eventually her body rejected the kidneys. Since July of 2007 Kelsey has had 7 surgeries, two hospital stays with durations of a month or longer each, as well as massive quantities of rejection drugs and steroids.
In spite of this very challenging ‘unexpected’ event in Kelsey’s life, she remains very positive and focused on what’s ahead, and getting her body strong for another transplant. Her future - to continue to college and resume her life’s ambitions - rests on the identification of a new, compatible donor.
Please join the many friends and family members in the extremely difficult search for a donor, and in support of fundraising efforts on Kelsey’s behalf – the costs for organ transplants and continued medication support (for life) are tremendous – your kindnesses are so very appreciated.