Our Mission

The Diagnosis

June 10, 2010 was a life changing date. While it may just be another day on the calendar for you, this date changed my life in a major way. This was the day I was diagnosed with low kidney function due to IgA Nephropathy.According to Mayo Clinic, IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) inside the glomeruli (filters) within the kidney. Also known as Berger's Disease, IgA is a kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) lodges in your kidneys ultimately preventing the kidney from filtering waste from your blood.

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 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iga-nephropathy/home/ovc-20199316

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The Treatment

As I laid there in disbelief, I began to think how could this have happened? I am only 31 years old! The diagnosis resulted in various tests and medications over the next year. In July 2011, after changing my diet and continuing to monitor and adjust medications, the doctors suggested that I consider Dialysis.

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Dialysis - The process of removing waste products and excess fluid from the body. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to adequately filter the blood. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2980 

 

I was in denial. It wasn’t until I was no longer able to produce urine that I realized I had no other choice.  I was referred to Peritoneal Dialysis.One notable medical website clearly explains how Peritoneal Dialysis uses the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal membrane) and a solution (dialysate) to remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. The second type of dialysis is Hemodialysis, and uses a man-made membrane (dialyzer) to filter wastes and remove extra fluid from the blood.

 

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/hemodialysis-compared-to-peritoneal-dialysis-topic-overv iew 

 

My doctors were clear in explaining that Peritoneal Dialysis treatment would only work for a short period of time, and they were only aware of a small number of patients whose kidney function became normal again with this treatment. Unfortunately, I was not one from that small number. I was on the treatment for a year and a half, before my medical team and I began preparations for a kidney transplant.I was placed on the transplant list in Illinois and in Wisconsin.

 

The National Kidney Foundation reports “There are currently 121,678 people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the U.S. Of these, 100,791 await kidney transplants. (as of 1/11/16) The median wait time for an individual’s first kidney transplant is 3.6 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility and availability of organs. Over 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney transplant list each month. Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list.”

 

https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/factsheets/Organ-Donation-and-Transplantation-Stats 

 

Having an understanding of the statistics, and the length of time it could have taken me to receive a transplant, my doctors gave me yet another directive that I initially rejected; they suggested I ask my family members to consider being donors. Almost immediately I struggled with this recommendation. How do you ask someone to give you a kidney?

I decided I wouldn't. I made the decision to just let life be. After all, I had lived to see thirty plus years, and while I couldn't honestly say that I was fulfilled, I came to the conclusion that this would be my end. Because, 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.

 

However, despite my silence, people came to me asking "what do we have to do to donate a kidney?" Others sought the knowledge on their own, and took action. Numerous people were tested, both with and without my knowledge. Eventually, one was a match! My sister, Tarasia Hamilton- Dortch.  I told her no.  She had a family!  I could not ask her to risk her life for me! Her response to me was simple, yet powerful, "You would have done it for me"- and without hesitation, questions or any further thoughts I acknowledged "I sure would have". So together, we began the kidney transplant preparation.

 

The Transplant

I was placed on the transplant list in Illinois and in Wisconsin. 

There are currently 121,678 people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in the U.S. Of these, 100,791 await kidney transplants. (as of 1/11/16).The median wait time for an individual’s first kidney transplant is 3.6 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility and availability of organs.Over 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month- with a new addition being added every 14 minutes.

 

Having an understanding of the statistics and the length of time it could have taken me to receive a transplant my doctors gave me yet another directive that I initially rejected: they suggested I ask my family members to consider being donors.  Almost immediately I struggled with this recommendation.  How do you ask someone to give you a kidney? I decided I wouldn't.  I made the decision to "just let life be"- after all, I had lived to see thirty plus years, and while I couldn't honestly say that I was fulfilled I came to the conclusion that that would be my end. 

13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant

 

However, despite my silence, people came to me asking "what do we have to do to donate a kidney?"  Others sought the knowledge on their own and took action.  Numerous people were tested, both with and without my knowledge- and one was a match!  My sister, Tarasia Hamilton- Dortch. I told her no.  She had a family!  I could not ask her to risk her life for me!  Her response to me was simple yet powerful... "You would have done it for me"- and without hesitation, questions or any further thoughts I acknowledged "I sure would have".  So we began the kidney transplant preparation.

 

The Testimony

Even though my sister appeared to have peace about the transplant surgery, I still struggled as we prepared. I didn't want to put my family through this process. I became so overwhelmed that I began to pray that God take me from this earth, because I no longer wanted to be a burden on my family. It would ease my parents stress of running back and forth with me to the hospital. It would remove the risk my sister was taking to save my life. And overall it seemed (to me) that it would make circumstances easier for everyone involved.

 

It was in that moment of weakness that the Lord reminded me that He is the giver of life and there was still work for me to do. He gave me the scripture John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly". And in that moment my life changed again I CHOSE TO LIVE. My transplant took place March 29, 2013, on Good Friday.  And although every day hasn't been a good day, through it all, I am grateful I am ALIVE!

 

The Project

In November 2015, while driving down interstate 294 I began to repeatedly hear the words "I choose". But I choose what? What do I choose? It was almost time to welcome in a new year and I was still asking myself, what is it that I choose?  In my search for the answer to my questions, the Lord began to give me the vision of the iChoose Foundation. "iChoose to live" caused me to review my life and everything I had experienced.

 

It became clear that in my choosing to live, it was not just a decision for me, but a decision that would empower thousands of people dealing with Kidney Disease. The iChoose Foundation not only brings awareness to Kidney Disease but it provides assistance to those in need of counseling, medication and holistic support to LIVE through the process. In January 2016, the vision became a reality and the iChoose Foundation was officially launched.

 

*Under Take Action Tab JOIN THE PROJECT

No matter who you are, or what you do, there are ways for you to be a part of the movement. From volunteering your time to collect and distribute canned, and nonperishable food donations, to providing clinical, and therapeutic services to counsel patients, and their loved ones; The iChoose Foundation has a place for everyone. And of course, we always accept monetary donations to help support our mission, and special events.  See the donate now link above for details.

 

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