Bradford residents came together at various fundraisers last year to support local teen Daleyn MacIsaac after being diagnosed with ANCA vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease that was attacking her lungs and kidneys.
Now, the MacIsaac family is reaching out to the community again, this time looking for a kidney donor.
The disease has caused a headache and financial strain for the entire MacIsaac family, with daily trips to SickKids Hospital in Toronto for dialysis treatment and overnight stays due to complications.
To complicate matters even more, her parents, Dale and Minerva, also suffer from their own health issues and have a 10-year-old son with severe autism who requires much attention and support.
When Daleyn was diagnosed late last summer, the doctors told her she would likely need a kidney transplant.
The time has now come for the family to start looking for potential donors.
Daleyn is not eligible for a transplant until December 2020 or January 2021, but would like to start the search process now.
To be a donor, the following criteria must be met:
- Must be 18 to 55 years of age
- Blood Type O
- A healthy weight for their height
- In good health without diabetes, cancer, kidney, heart disease and be COVID-free
- Only people who are in excellent physical and mental health are qualified to donate
- Willing to freely donate
Benefits of being a kidney donor:
- You can reimburse your mileage or other related expenses that you used during the application process
- The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care established a fund to help reduce the financial stress incurred by living organ donation
- The Program for Reimbursing Expenses of Living Organ Donors (PRELOD) is administered by Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN). PRELOD reimburses living organ donors for certain qualified out-of-pocket expenses and loss of income after surgery incurred through the living donation process. PRELOD aims to help reduce financial burdens that may prevent someone from deciding to become a living organ donor.
Minerva says she would love to donate her own kidney, but is unable to due to health reasons.
"I am not qualified to donate my kidney. I'm not healthy and (neither is) my husband," she said. "We have high blood pressure and diabetes and not in control. It's always high even if we are taking medicine."
She and Dale are doing everything they can to find someone who can help their daughter.
"Daleyn struggles daily to try and live a normal life," said Minerva. "She often feels ill and is suffering to get her blood pressure under control."
Daleyn does her dialysis nightly for 10 hours or more and has very low energy and stamina which requires a lot of rest. She is in daily contact with SickKids regarding her fluid balance, fluid intake, weight and blood pressure. She tries her best to keep up with school work in between appintments and is looking forward to the day when her health resumes to normal with a kidney transplant.
"If Daleyn doesn’t receive a transplant, she will continue to have dialysis which will continue to have a toll on her health and she will have to wait on the SickKids transplant list which can take up to one to three years," said Minerva.
If it takes longer than three years to get one from the SickKids waiting list, she will have aged out of eligibility, and be moved to the adult wait list, which can be a five to 10 year wait at minimum.
The healing process after a kidney transplant lasts anywhere from three to six months.
Daleyn says finding a donor would "mean the whole world" to her.
"It would not only be saving my life, but it would give me a normal life and to be able to enjoy going out with my friends and go swimming and not constantly feel sick and unwell, and I would also be getting a chance to learn more and experience more of high school and not have to go to the hospital all the time," said the teen.
"It would be a dream to get a kidney transplant and finally feel normal again and it would make all the changes I have faced worth it," Daleyn added. "Some people want money, expensive cars (or) luxury items, but all I wish and pray for is a kidney and to one day feel normal and live without all the constant struggles that come with kidney failure.
"By donating your kidney to me, you will not only be making my dreams come true, but be saving my life so even just spreading the word and getting this (get around) will be such an amazing thing and I appreciate every single one of you, just taking the time to at least even read. This is amazing and it helps."
Anyone who is interested in being a donor can get in touch with Minerva by sending her an email at [email protected] or text at 647-205-4031.
