Karen Vanessa sings for Organ Donation

My eight year old son, Kamren and I relocated back to Michigan last spring due to downsizing at my company and complications to my health, caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. I have struggled with Lupus since the beginning of college, experiencing chronic rheumatoid arthritis, skin lesions, seizures (a coma episode for 6 days in 1994), two bouts of Chemotherapy, and chronic fatigue syndrome. When I was about to be laid off from my Senior Travel Consultant position having been in the industry for 15 years, and actually transferred to Wisconsin with an affiliate of the same company, I developed Stage 3 Renal Disease, which quickly progressed into End Stage Renal Failure. I had to come home, so we are with relatives until things settle.
I am in need of a kidney in order to survive. I currently have to go to dialysis twice a week for about 3 and a half hours each visit and I am also allergic to the medicine used in the dialyzer machine.
I drive an old manual transmission vehicle with over 145,000 on it about 25 miles to mile treatments.
I have listed myself with the National Kidney Foundation-Michigan Transplant List through William Beaumont Hospital, in Royal Oak, Michigan. (I am also waiting to hear back from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital to see if I can be listed there as well). I have only officially been on the list since 8/01/09 so there are thousands of people with various needs ahead of me. If I had a Living Donor who is compatible to me, I could get a new kidney right away and God willing, live a full and blessed life with my son.
Many people who need transplants of cannot get them because of a shortage of donations. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants, and about 18 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. Organ and tissue donation helps others by giving them a second chance at life. You can help by:
Joining your state's online registry for donation, if one is available.
Declare your intentions on your driver's license.
Also, you if you are interested in personally helping me, message me, or you can contact the Beaumont Hospital Transplant Office at 248-551-1033 and let them know that you are interested in being evaluated for the Live Donor Program.
You can always donate blood at your local hospital and ask that it go to the transplant department or you can make a monetary donation in my behalf to the National Kidney Foundation's Michigan "Gift of Life" Program (www.giftoflifemichigan.org). Please go to www.kidney.org for more information.

Thank you in advance for your support.

May the Lord continue to bless you.
Karen Vanessa-Ford Martin

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• ESRD
• National Kidney Foundation
• Organ and Tissue Donation
• National Lupus Foundation

[12818042]

Gone to soon!A beautiful person inside and out.Me and karen had classes together.Karen kept you laughing, and always had a joke to make you smile.

[ariellay11]

I have lost my cousin, Ms. Karen Vanessa Ford-Martin. She was a great cousin, a wonderful mother, a faith friend, a lovely singer (which you hear here!!). She was funny, pretty, generous with her heart and love. She loved Jesus and Jesus loved her too. It was time for her to go home to glory, yes it was too soon. The suffering is over. I miss her already. RTF-B

[SuperRay72]

I just got the word - she was a very wonderful giving person..... :( 

[jaklipa]

I'm sorry to say Karen passed away while in the hospital waiting for a kidney...

God rest her soul. She is singing with the angels now.

God Bless you my friend.

10-08-2010

[kristee321]

Karen that was incredible. What a brave, beautiful, courageous soul you've been given! All my prayers and thoughts to you, your son, and the whole family. I hope you don't mind, but I'm posting this on my Facebook to help share the word.

God Bless- Kristin