Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! The Gift of Life Walk is a fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and, on a personal level for Jill, the 35 year old daughter of my cousin, Mary.  Mary gave her daughter a kidney 2 years ago but the story certainly doesn't end there.  This is Jill's story..................
Jill was diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy about 5 years ago and received a kidney transplant 2 years ago.  IGAN is incurable and has already started attacking her new kidney.  Even though she was one of the fortunate ones that received a transplant she still deals with the disease every day of her life.  She will continue to need transplants until a cure is found and to struggle with the side effects of the powerful medications she must take for the rest of her life.  It is a constant struggle  keeping her immune system low enough for her body to maintain her new kidney, but high enough to fight off other dangerous viruses.  Your kidneys truly affect so many other areas of your body. 
Sadly, Jill was misdiagnosed for so many years, one wonders how many other people are out there unaware of the kidney disease they may have and that may already be attacking their bodies.