Transplant Type - Kidney

We are thrilled to report that Avis received her lifesaving kidney transplant in October 2009! Her father donated one of his own kidneys, and they are both recovering well.

Avis suffered from a rare illness that destroyed her kidneys. Doctors said a kidney transplant was essential to her survival.

She was diagnosed at age 1 with glomerulonephritis, a rare and serious kidney disease that she developed due to an extreme reaction to the MMR vaccine. Doctors said she wouldn't live long and when she did survive, by some miracle, doctors said she would need a transplant by age 20. Doctors considered Avis to be a walking miracle when, at age 33, she was still surviving without a transplant.

Avis and her husband, Brian, have four children. Ironically, her kidney function improved during her pregnancies, but returned to their fragile state after she gave birth. She has been a dedicated social worker for 11 years. She looks forward to having the energy to be more active in her children's lives. But she needs your help.

A kidney transplant costs about $250,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with medical coverage, Avis faces significant expenses. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

You can help.
Your gift to the NFT Virginia Kidney Fund will enable us to assist Avis with her transplant expenses. To make a secure online donation, please click on the link beneath Avis's photo. If you prefer to mail your gift, please send it to NFT Virginia Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Avis Thomas" in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: VCU Medical Center