My name is Marguerite, and I am asking for your help to save my life.

I was born in Alabama and grew up in New York City.  I attended New York City public schools and colleges.  I have always enjoyed serving the public.  I worked with the Post Office and put myself through college and became a registered nurse.  I enjoyed my work as a nurse and then I became ill and could no longer work.  I have one biological son and I became a foster parent to two young boys whom I later adopted. Prior to my illness, I had an active lifestyle.  I enjoyed meeting up with friends, having dinner and shopping. 

I was diagnosed with LUPUS in 2001.  In 2017, I was placed on dialysis.  For many years, I went to a dialysis center three times per week.  I am currently utilizing an at-home procedure called peritoneal dialysis so that I do not have to go to a dialysis center as much.  I use this procedure every night for 8 hours a night.

I am experiencing many impacts of kidney disease.  I cannot work as a nurse anymore.  I am experiencing problems with low blood pressure and blood flow to my legs.  I have a lack of energy and cannot complete basic household chores.  I must rely on my family to take me to my appointments, to the hospital, and to help me with chores of daily living.  My mother cooks all of my meals and takes care of my house for me.  I lack energy and cannot function the way I used to be able to function.

There is a song that gives me hope and inspiration. "You'll Never Walk Alone" was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein II for the Broadway musical Carousel in 1945. Rodgers and Hammerstein II wrote: "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high. And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of the star, is a golden sky. And the sweet silver song of the lark...Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone. You'll never walk alone." When I reflect upon the meaning of these lyrics, I gain confidence and determination to push through all of my obstacles and setbacks. I am currently walking through a storm, but I remain hopeful and optimistic that there is someone out there who will help me to see "the golden sky and hear the sweet song of the lark." Faith, hope, and determination will get me through day by day by day.

I am looking for a living donor with blood type O+ to get a second chance at life.  I am ready to start living again.  I want to live my life for my family and my children, not live my life around my illness.  My children have had to make so many sacrifices because of my health.

My gratitude for such an altruistic and selfless act would be boundless.  I would consider myself to be blessed by an angel, and I would do whatever I could to pay the blessing forward to someone.  I could not donate an organ, but I could donate my time to a professional organization.  Perhaps I could use my nursing background in a volunteer capacity that would help someone else.

I now have one grandson, and my hope is that I can live to see him graduate from college (he is not in elementary school).  I am so happy to have him in my life and I would like to see him get married and have a family of his own.  I would like to be able to do some travelling and see this country and other parts of the world that I have not seen before.  Most of all, I would like to have greater independence.

Thank you for taking your time to read and understand my current life situation, and we would appreciate you considering donating or spreading the word.

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Marguerite