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Anonymous families bring holiday cheer to transplant patients

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Publish Date: 06:38PM 12/17/09

Dec. 17, 2009 – Three families are spreading holiday cheer to transplant patients and their families. The donor families, who wish to remain anonymous, are providing gifts and money to help the patients celebrate the season. Two of the families reside in Aurora.

For one donor family, this is their second year to provide hope to transplant patients’ families in the midst of the holiday season. Their generosity inspired two other families to provide gifts for transplant patients and their families this year.

The original donors, know firsthand how a medical crisis can change the meaning of Christmas. Their relative received a small bowel transplant in 2003, and the family recalls how the patient’s mounting medical bills prevented her family from providing gifts for their three children.

Remembering this difficult time, the family decided to celebrate Christmas 2008 by giving transplant patients the money they would have spent on gifts for one another. This year, they are continuing this tradition, and two other families are following their example by providing gifts to transplant patients and their families. With the help of the National Foundation for Transplants, three families will benefit from these secret Santas.

Rajinder Kaur, Aurora, Colo.
Rajinder Kaur, 37, was diagnosed nine years ago with IgA Nephropathy, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the kidneys. Doctors discovered this illness during her second pregnancy, and later said a kidney transplant was her only hope for a second chance at life. Fortunately, she received her lifesaving transplant in July 2009, after nearly a year on the waiting list.

Kaur and her husband, Gurmit Singh, have struggled to keep up with the financial obligations related to her transplant. Her COBRA insurance plan expired in September, adding to the strain. The family also faces significant travel and lodging expenses, as the transplant took place at the University of Utah, nearly 400 miles from her home.

The Kaurs were unsure how they could provide gifts for their two girls, ages 9 and 14, this holiday season and were thrilled to learn about this family’s generous offer to purchase gifts for them.

“Words cannot describe how helpful this is for our family,” said Singh. “With Rajinder’s transplant and all her medications, we are having a difficult time, and we are so thankful for this family’s kindness.”

Kim Smith, Campbell, Ohio
Kim Smith, 54, was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and diabetic nephropathy in 2003. She endured dialysis treatments for four years, and doctors said a kidney transplant was her only hope for a second chance at life. Fortunately, she received her transplant in November 2009, thanks to a generous living donor.

Smith, of Campbell, Ohio, is an ordained minister but has been unable to work for the past 15 years because of her health problems. She has helped raise 28 children and adopted five herself. Her four youngest children (twin 9-year-olds and two 10-year-olds, all girls) still live with her, and she did not know how she could afford Christmas gifts.

“I am very grateful for this family’s support,” said Smith. “It’s a tremendous help because the finances are so tight.”

Reynaldo Wilson, Pampa, Texas
Reynaldo Wilson, 34, began experiencing health problems in 2008 and was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease. Around the same time, doctors also discovered a cancer mass on Wilson’s right kidney. His liver condition is so severe that he cannot undergo treatment for the cancer until his liver is treated. Doctors say he needs to be evaluated for a liver transplant as soon as possible.

A liver transplant costs more than $500,000. When Wilson began receiving Social Security disability, Medicaid canceled his coverage, stating his disability income was too high to qualify for Medicaid. Wilson and his wife have four children, ranging in age from 2 to 14 years old. His declining health prevents him from working, and the disability income is barely enough for his family to make ends meet.

Without coverage, Wilson cannot afford the evaluation to determine if a transplant is an option, leaving his family feeling hopeless.

“On behalf of Rey and our entire family, I just want to thank this family for their support,” said Griselda, Wilson’s wife. “This has been such a rough year. When I asked Rey what he would like for Christmas, he said, ‘I just want to spend the remaining time I have happy, and have a happy ending.’”

To overcome their financial challenges, these families turned to the National Foundation for Transplants for assistance. NFT is a nonprofit organization that helps patients raise funds to pay for transplant-related expenses.

“We are so touched by the generosity of these three families,” said Jackie Hancock, NFT president. “It’s particularly inspiring that one family’s thoughtfulness has snowballed into several families helping transplant patients. The Kaurs, Smiths and Wilsons are all struggling to get by, and these gifts will enable them to truly celebrate this holiday season. What a wonderful example of kindness and compassion.”

To make donations in honor of Rajinder Kaur, Kim Smith, Reynaldo Wilson or any other NFT patient, please visit www.transplants.org and click on “patients we help” to search for them.

About NFT
NFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Memphis, Tenn. that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. NFT provides fundraising expertise and advocacy to transplant patients by organizing fundraising campaigns in the patients’ own communities. In the past 26 years, NFT’s fundraising campaigns have generated nearly $56 million to assist patients.

NFT currently assists more than 1,000 transplant candidates and recipients nationwide. For more information about NFT, please call 800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org.

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