My name is Jessica, I'm from Cheektowaga NY and I'm 21 years old.  I am currently a veterinary technology student at Medaille College.

I have been battling kidney disease since I was 11months to a year of age. I received my first kidney transplant in 1999, but 9 days later, I rejected my kidney due to a disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). I was then taken off of the donor list, and now am being "worked up" for a kidney transplant after waiting 10 years.

The transplant surgeon even suggested that I have a live donor, in order for the treatments to work properly, that it would be even more beneficial. So, I come here today to get my word out there.

Besides going to school full time, and going to dialysis 3 days a week; MWF, I still manage to work a part time job at a dog daycare, called the Dog Days of Buffalo, I also take dance classes-mainly tap and modern depending on which classes and days they are offered. I also find time to hang with friends; going to movies, going to the mall, anything that a typical 21 year old does (don't worry I don't go out partying alot-don't drink a lot either). I even drive a car.

Even though I have been on dialysis for a count of 20 years, I have led a fulfilling life, but it would be even more fulfilling if I had a chance to have a normal life off of a life saving machine. I don't date, because of my schedule revolving around dialysis and school.

With coping with kidney disease, I tend to rely on my church. I attend a Roman Catholic church, where I also altar serve.

Organizations that I belong to are the Kidney Foundation, Renal Support Network (RSN) the Foundation for Children with Atypical HUS and several others. 

My blood type is A+ and I am being worked up at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore Maryland.