Kidney Transplant - Fertility Preservation

Posted by rkrack @rkrack, May 4, 2023

My husband (27) has started the process for a kidney transplant in Rochester. We have one perfect baby (9 mo.) but desperately want another in a few years. We understand it is not recommended to conceive on the anti-rejection medication he will be on post-transplant. We also found out that neither of our insurances support fertility preservation. We are having an incredibly hard time finding any type of financial assistance programs that are not for cancer patients.

Does anyone have any recommendations on specific programs? Has anyone else been in this same boat? If so, what did you do?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

ozy | @ozy | May 5, 2023

My brother and I have been relocated in Phoenix since January He’s waiting for a liver and kidney transplant. I try to be sensitive to him but he is making it very difficult. I’ve been an ER trauma tech for 22 years worked as a CNA since 1994. He gets mad if I ask questions cusses me out says he doesn’t want to hear the answers. As a care taker I know what I’m doing however the transplant issue is new. I’m getting tired of his verbal abuse. Feeling bad for feeling this way.

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | May 5, 2023

In reply to @ozy "My brother and I have been relocated in Phoenix since January He’s waiting for a liver..." + (show)

Hi, @ozy. Welcome to Connect. I have a liver and kidney transplant. It was a simultaneous liver/kidney transplant (1 donor, 1 surgery, 2 organs) in 2009 at Mayo Rochester. I know how your brother feels about being angry about questions. This is a difficult time for both of you as you.
I would like to connect you with others who have also had similar caregiving experiences.
You can help me to do that by telling me some of the questions that you struggle with the most.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 15, 2023

@rkrack, you and your husband are wise to think about fertility preservation. Like you, I'm aware of programs and financial assistance to young adult cancer patients considering fertility preservation.

Have you inquired with any of the cancer programs to find out if you and your husband might qualify despite not having cancer? Have you mentioned this to your transplant social worker? They may be aware of transplant-specific programs.