Dear Kidney Kars, I am writing to give thanks for all you have done for me to help me stay current on my insurance premiums.  Living with kidney failure has so many aspects that need to be addressed– always when you least expect it.  Last week, I had surgery to try and place a Peritoneal Dialysis catheter so I can dialyze at home.  This has been a long process to get that to work, and when I got to dialysis on Friday, my fistula clotted, and I needed to have a fistula-gram to open it up again.  This was much unexpected– but so like kidney failure.  Thank you again for the help and burden it relieves me of.  Merry Christmas to your donors who help improve our lives with their Kidney Kars and other donations.  R. Hammon

Dear Friends of the National Kidney Foundation of Utah:  I’ve been fighting renal failure for 2 1/2 years.  I’ve had lots of testing, with the end result of having a fistula put in my left arm, and doing 3 hours of dialysis 3 times a week.  I started dialysis last December 8, 2008.  One of the ‘blessings’ of end stage renal failure is all the love and giving from friends and family, and organizations like the  Kidney Foundation!  My ‘baby’ brother, and his wife have started the process of being tested to see if they can donate a kidney to me.  Words can not express my feelings of thanks and gratitude.  I am so grateful for the generosity of others, my family and the Kidney Foundation. Thank you, thank you!  From the bottom of my “kidney.”  –B. Jackson

Dear Kidney Foundation, I would like to thank the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho for your willingness to help me lighten the burden on my sholders.  My health and financial stress does not allow me to sleep well at night.  I cannot explain how grateful I am for your help, but from the bottom of my heart I appreciate your support in this time of need.  Your kindness to me will never be forgotten.  Yours truly, T. Katoa

I wanted to share a short note to say Thank you for helping us pay some of our bills.  I work for the School District and am out of work 3 months of the year.  The last paycheck I got was in June, and I won’t see another until the end of October.  Luckily my husband has two jobs, so we’ve been able to make our house payments.  But since I’ve had kidney failure, it’s been really hard to pay for everything, especially all my medical treatments and medications.  It was so hard for me to ask for (financial) help.  It was humiliating, but I had no options left.  I can not tell you how grateful I am for that little extra help paying for my meds.  It meant so much to me, and took such a huge burden off mine and my husband’s shoulders this summer.  God Bless everyone who has donated to the Kidney Foundation.  Thank you so very much for your assistance.  I can only hope that one day I’ll have a transplant and will be able to repay this kindness to the Kidney Foundation myself.  Sincerely,   Michelle S.

Thank you so much for the help you gave to us in paying a portion of our medical bills.  My wife and I have had to sell our home in order to be able to pay for my medical care while on dialysis.  Living with kidney failure has been a devastating blow.  It was always my goal to take care of my wife in our retirement, and now I’m the one who needs her to care for me.  I’m grateful to be living so I can see my grandchildren grow up and be a part of their lives.  But it’s been hard sometimes.  Thank you for helping me in this time of hardship.  It’s so wonderful to know there are people out there who can bless your life with their kindness.  Thank you.  Wendall R.

My husband and I would like to say thank you for the tremendous financial grant to pay our power bill.  We have been in such a financial crunch to pay all our medical bills.  We are in the process of trying to lose enough weight for my husband to qualify to be on the kidney transplant waiting list.  We are hoping that by October, he will be healthy enough to be eligible to be on the waiting list.  We truly appreciate great organizations, like the Kidney Foundation, who help people like us in need.  We are greatly in your debt, and praise God for another day.  We also pray for all of those who help us with my husband’s kidney problems on a daily basis; our doctors, nurses, and dialysis technicians.   Without the help and support of others, I know we could not make it.  We barely survive on my income.  Just know, that your help and kindness to us was deeply appreciated.  We keep you in our prayers that you may continue to help others, like us, who are in need.  Thanks to you, and all the Kidney Cars and other donations that make it possible for you to help us.  Sincerely,   R. & C. Tuttle, SLC, UT

Dear Kidney Foundation,  On behalf of my mother, I would like to thank you and the donors who help pay for the programs you provide to kidney patients.  I don’t know if anyone who doesn’t have kidney failure truly understands how much stress even the smallest help can alleviate. The Kidney Foundation’s help to my mother and I lifts a grave burden from our shoulders.  We are so very thankful there are such caring people in your Foundation.  People like this are very hard to find now days.  My words can’t really express how I feel and a simple thank you is all I can offer.  But if I ever become rich, believe me, the Kidney Foundation will be the first on my list to ‘give-back’.  Thanks again for your help.

–Hazel and Terry G, Salt Lake City, UT

We’d like to express our appreciation for the help with travel costs we received from the National Kidney Foundation of Utah.  Living 240 miles from the Kidney Care Center is difficult, but with your help I can receive the car I need to keep my transplanted kidney healthy.  Thank you.  P. Simon.

I recently received a grant to help pay my heating cost.  Words are not big enough to express my gratitude!  I have survived 38 years of CKD, dialysis and tranpslants.  I almost did not survive losing my job as a dialysis center social worker.  I was devistated.   The grant you provided got me through a couple of months until I can get another job.  The grant was a life-saver!  Because you paid my heat, I could pay for my medications.  Words are inadequite to say thank you Kidney Foundation.  T. Murdock.

Dear Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho, 

This letter is to say thank you for the love and support that you have given to our family.  We don’t have anything to give or show you how much we appreciate your help during this very trying time.  We ask Heavenly Father to bless the work that you do for those who really need your help.  Again, we thank you. 

T. Netane & family.