If you would like to be Zachary’s HERO and get tested to see if you are a match…PLEASE CALL… If you would like to get tested to see if you could be Zachary’s HERO !! Please call.
612-672-7270 (Local, Transplant line)800-328-5465 and dial 1 (Long distance, Transplant line) 612-672-7272 (Local Fairview On Call line)800-824-1953 (Long distance, Fairview On Call line)If they have trouble getting through on the Transplant line. This is the donor line. Zachary is A+ If you are A+ A- O+ O- and are in good health, under age 60 with good Blood pressures and no Diabetes you could be Zachary’s HERO!!!! Let them Know it is for Zachary Elsenpeter
12-17-03
This site is dedicated to little Zachary Elsenpeter Help-Zachary.com.
On December 17 2003 my life changed for ever. I gave birth to a 6lb 3oz baby boy not knowing the life struggles that he would endure. We named him Zachary. When Zachary was 2 weeks old the Doctors told us that he was in kidney failure and would need a life saving Kidney Transplant to save his life. I felt numb and thought; this doesn’t happen to babies, only old people. The next 11 months we lived in and out of the hospital with many surgeries, procedures, 21 medications and 24 hr J-tube feeds. When Zachary was 11 months old he was finally big enough to receive a life saving Kidney Transplant which my husband his daddy was a perfect match. On December 1, 2004, My husband donated one of his Kidney’s to our 11 month old baby boy. I will never forget that day that they wheeled both my husband and my baby back to the operating room, I felt like someone was ripping my heart out of my chest and I was helpless. I prayed with lots of family and friends has we waited in the waiting room not knowing if my life was coming to an end. My whole life was in the hands of God and the surgeons. When the surgeon came out with a big smile on his face I knew that everything was going to be fine. Zachary’s kidney started to work the minute they connected it to him and he peed all over the table. That first month Zachary had many surgeries, complications and countless infections. On Christmas Eve 24 days after our hero his daddy gave him that second at life, we were all finally home as a family. Having a Transplant is not a cure, being on all these nasty Medications and being immune suppressed Zachary is at risk of developing cancer and other organ failure throughout his life. Zachary has his labs drawn Every Monday ,Wednesday and friday to look for signs of complications and rejection. We live day to day not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
I also want people to know how important organ donation is. Without this life saving Transplant Zachary would not be here today. Many people don’t realize that over 100,000 people are on a list waiting for that one phone call that could save their live, 17 people die every day that didn’t get that call that they fought so hard to wait for. Zachary went into Acute, chronic and antibody rejection in October 2009 and his Kidney is failing . Zachary is one of the those people waiting for that call. I don’t want to be one of the 17 families that didn’t get that call. So please make sure you check the box on your driver’s license or let your loved ones know that you want to be an Organ Donor.
Zachary is now 6 years old and the last 6 years their have been a lot of ups and downs. Zachary has had over 30 surgeries multiple infections and countless hospital stays. Zachary has had two Nissenfundelplaction’s because of severe GI reflux. His Last Nissenfundelplacation did not go as planed and they perforated his stomach. Zachary now gets reoccurring aspirating Pneumonia and is on 24 Hour J-tube feeds. Having a Kidney Transplant is not a cure it is only to help improve his quality of life. Zachary is currently still on 34 medication every day, J-G tube feed for nutrition and he has a Mitrofanoff that I Catheterize him through daily. With all of these struggles you would think that he is a sick boy, on the inside he might be, but on the outside he runs and plays like any other 6 year old. He even learned to ride his bike this year without training wheels, which the Doctors are a little worried about. Zachary will always have life struggles throughout his life. But NOTHING will hold him back!!
We believe strongly in the power of prayer and the ability of Jesus to heal our precious Son. Whether He does this through modern medicine or simply a divine touch, we aren’t picky. We are asking others to join us on this journey and fervently pray for our Zachary. The road is long and unbelievably hard. We have 3 children, all who are intensely affected. Zachary is 6, Kiley is 10 and Austin is 4 . Please keep all of us in your prayers as we walk this journey of Solid Organ Transplant life. Thank you.
Please visit the Zachary News page for updates on his progress and consider a donation to help Zach and his family.
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