Matt's Match- Searching for a Kidney

06/09/2023

This is my best friend Matt! When I met him in 6 years ago, I knew he was my forever person.… Anne-Marie Baker needs your support for Matt's Kidney Support

06/08/2023

06/08/2023

Currently sitting at St Vincent's in Indianapolis waiting to be taken back for transplant!
Thank you so much to everyone that's been following, supporting, and contributing.
We're not out of the woods yet but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
:-)

05/02/2023

Kidney failure/dialysis patients NEVER GET RESPITE. We NEVER go into REMISSION. NEVER. We must continue dialysis at home or in clinic, FOREVER. Or die. Yes you read that right. We never get better. Think about that. We NEVER get better. Never get a break of extra time off. Never a vacation.

We get anemic, low iron stores, fatigue, foggy brain, weakness, special diet, often need multiple shots per month. We end up with heart disease, hyperparathyroidism which negatively impacts the bones. We often have multiple surgeries & procedures, sitting for many hours, being stuck by large bore needles. We often get muscle cramps & suffer from what we call "dialysis hangover". We didn't cause our organ failure, nor is it caused by alcoholism. Many causes are genetic. Or just dumb luck. We often don't even look ill, but be assured we are on the brink of death.

We often feel alone & a burden to others.
We get sepsis & must still do dialysis.
We get a stomach bug & must still do dialysis.
Break a leg...
Get in a car accident
Get pneumonia
Have surgery
Travel to a wedding, funeral, vacation
BUT WE MUST STILL DO DIALYSIS.

Dialysis is our life support. We can choose to stop Dialysis, but we will die. It may take days or weeks but death shadows our lives. We don't get respite or remission or vacation from our kidney failure.

Transplant is NOT a cure, only a treatment.

We don't get better. We only walk the razors edge between life & death...EVERY minute, hour, day, month, year.
Don't pity us.
Don't ignore us.
Be kind, be understanding, be compassionate. Continue to invite us. Dont forget about us.♥️♥️♥️

BE STRONG FELLOW DIALYZORS ♥️🥰

04/13/2023

My family is the most important component in my life. A couple times a week my boys ask what we will do once I get a transplant?

The answer; we're gonna go to a water park as a family. They get so excited when I say it. I can't wait to see their faces when we all finally get to go together.

I'm fighting for them.

Please consider donating.

Thank you.

12/11/2022

I feel like the past year+ of being on dialysis has been tough physically and emotionally. I feel like I've had to be "strong" and push my limits just to maintain who and what I was before. I realize now that it has been a mistake to do that.
I am who I am.
I'm fighting for my life and it's not always obvious.
I deserve to love and be loved.
For the first time in a long time since this has started I am feeling better about myself.

I have an awesome wife.
I have a good and supportive family.
And I have friends that really care and support me.

I am grateful in every way.

Thank you all!
Fingers crossed that I will find a transplant soon.

11/12/2022

So, being on Peritoneal Dialysis I can't go to water parks or submerge my body in water anymore due to the risk of port infection.
One of my promises to my boys, James and Orion, is that as soon as I get a transplant one of the first things we will do is to go to a water park.

We used to go quite a bit so this is hard for them.

I'm picking the boys up from school and while we are waiting to be dismissed I get a call from St. Vincents hospital. They were calling to inform me that my final approval to be put on their transplant list has gone thru. The boys hear this and get incredibly excited. After I thank them and hang up Orion screams with joy

"We're going to a water park! Right daddy? You're gonna be better now?!"

It was so sweet. I had to explain (hard to help them understand) that I'm listing at more hospitals to increase my chances of getting a transplant.

I'm looking forward to that day when their excitement will meet expectation.

11/08/2022

Today I was told today that;
Although I am an ideal candidate since I am type O i will be waiting for 5 to 8 years for a deceased donor. That's incredibly troubling as I've become increasingly worse over the last year since starting dialysis. I don't know that I will survive that long. It's a strange feeling to know your likelihood of death is so increased or that you have to get inches from death before you can be saved. It all feels like such a gamble.
All while I rapidly deteriorate and watch as others go on to live their lives. I am in pain daily. I am vomiting daily. I am exhausted and bone weary.
5 to 8 years feels like a prison sentence.

11/03/2022

Please share and help Matt find his match!

Thank you

10/14/2022

Today has been a real struggle. Passed out this morning while getting my iron injection. I'm doing my best and I am still looking for a live donor.

In the good news department, St Vincents added me to their list for transplant as well. Please reach out and share if you know anyone who is an O+ blood type and wants to be a super good person.