A CALL TO ACTION

Kidney Donor Drive

from Rev. Brig Feltus,

ReMember Institute’s Curriculum for Diversity Consciousness Alumni Community,

and the friends and family of Natasha Feltus

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER REV. BRIG FELTUS:

***We are currently at $7700 as of 02/16/2021.

Dear Friends,
Some of you know that the alumni of my Curriculum for Diversity Consciousness come together occasionally to support Black women in need. It is with deep love and high regard that I have come to you, personally, to introduce you to my middle sister Natasha, who is in need of crucial support. Whether you consider getting tested to donate an organ, or contributing financially to her expenses, my family will be so very grateful.

I desire to see her healthy again. I desire to see her lifeline extended. I desire to see her body whole again. She is such a beautiful, talented, and loving human being in so many ways. If I wrote them all here, it would be a novel. Her courage is inspiring. Her generosity is honorable. Her integrity impeccable. She is worthy of life. And I want her to live. She has a son in his late 20’s and a granddaughter who is almost 8 years old. My sister is amazing, deeply spiritual, funny, sings all the time, cares deeply about and for others, peace-keeping, and loved by so many.

So, it is with purely selfish motives that I ask for your assistance to bless her by getting tested for live donor organ contribution, and/or the financial resources she needs to apply to multiple kidney deceased donor lists, and that she will need for the expenses of the transplant process, and expenses relating to being on additional donor lists outside of her local region in order to increase her chances of procuring a kidney for transplant.

Our intention is to raise $30,000 to cover recovery expenses, travel, lodging, out of pocket medication, and more. Please read her message below about getting tested as a potential organ donor, and/or contribute what you can. Organ donation information is at the bottom of this page.

ALL donations (minus minimal fees for payment processing) go directly to my sister to cover her needs. This is my company’s website. We are simply using the site to reach more people.

Next, read a short message from Natasha herself.

I thank you in advance, with all of my heart.

Your Rev. Brig.

Some of you may know that I have end stage renal failure (ESRF). I was diagnosed around five years ago with kidney disease. Over time, the disease has progressed rendering my kidney's unable to function on their own. 

At this point my options are to continue my current nightly 7 1/2 hour dialysis treatments and a kidney transplant. While I am grateful that dialysis is an option, a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, better quality of life and more time with all of you.

However, finding a kidney match for a transplant is not easy with a waiting list of more than a 100,000 people waiting for a deceased kidney. The list is long with an average wait time of five to ten years and time is not on my side. But, there is another option: A kidney from a living donor.

You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation.

• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.

• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.

• The recuperation for a donor period is fairly quick, generally two weeks.

• The cost of the evaluation and surgery would be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give more extensive information on this.

• Donors have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate them as a living donor. Their job is to help potential donors understand the risks and benefits and look out for their best interest.

Asking family members and friends to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but would greatly improve my chances of getting a transplant. If we’re not a match donating a kidney on my behalf also moves me up on the list. I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Consider being an organ donor after death and help me by sharing my story with others. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.

The road isn’t easy and is long but I am fighting! I am a young at heart, active, fun loving vibrant woman who loves life and has so much to give. I just need the time. 

Thank you!

Get Tested

Natasha L. Feltus is registered with Keck USC for her transplant. Her birthdate is 04/20/1970. You will need this information when you apply.

To be considered as a donor, please complete the online application here. (www.usclivingdonor.org)

To learn more information on the Living Donor Program at Keck Medicine of USC visit usclivingdonor@med.usc.edu or call (323) 442-5908.

You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273), or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.