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Ugyen & Tandin After Kidney Transplant Dear Acharaya-la and organization,  This journey began in September, 2014 when Ugyen and her husband, Tandin, left Bhutan. Ugyen was in critical need of a kidney transplant and in Bhutan, Tandin had been confirmed as a possible match for donating his kidney. They travelled by train to Bangalore, India seeking to be placed on a kidney transplant list . They established a modest residence in Bangalore as they underwent seemingly endless testing. Ugyen had to receive hemodyalisis during the wait, and Tandin had to undergo tissue typing to see if he was an acceptable donor.
In December, 2014, the couple discovered that Tandin was, in fact, a good donor match, and Ugyen, following kidney dialysis, was gaining strength for transplant surgery. Ugyen received her kidney from her husband in January, 2015. There were some difficult times during recovery for both of them, especially for Ugyen. She did, however, progress according to the schedule outlined by her kidney transplant team, and has been given the go-ahead to return to Bhutan. As of June, 1, 2015, they are on their way home. They are required to return in 3 months to the Bangalore clinic and hospital for exams and testing. Their financial status remains dire and they will require addition help for this trip. It is estimated that they will need $5,000 in additional funds for doctors' visits, medication, lab tests, transportation, food, and housing. Of the $9,600 received in the initial request for funding, $9,100 have been spent over these nine months. It's clear, with your generosity, Ugyen is alive today! Acharya Tashi and Bodhi Seeds received this thank you that goes out to all of you from Tandin:  Bodhi Seeds has an URGENT FUNDRAISING APPEAL that we would like to share with you all, in hopes that it will inspire you to help in whatever capacity you are able.
Ugyen Lhamo is a 44 year old Bhutanese woman who is suffering from acute end-stage kidney disease/failure. She is the mother of two children, a son (age 20) and a daughter (age 17). She is also a devoted wife to Tandin Wangchuk, and loving friend to many. To continue living, Ugyen requires a kidney transplant. Her husband, Tandin, has agreed to be the donor for her kidney. It is reported that Ugyen has been suffering from acute migraines for a long time, relying on medication to relieve the symptoms. She has been told that the migraine drugs may have been the cause for her kidney failure. Ugyen has been described by her sister, Tshewang Lhamo, as being: “Soft and gentle. She was one who always said, "welcome to my house" even when there was no food or money. She is patient and kind and found a way to help others even when she did not feel so well. She took care of her husband's Mom and Dad as well as her own two children. Her husband is skilled in making bells and has worked on consignment out of their home, often making enough for the family's food. As you know, he is faithfully at her side now.” The Bhutanese government will pay for Ugyen’s surgery which must be done in Bangalore, India—5,000 miles from home. She would not survive the wait list for the surgery if it were done in Bhutan. The medical facility in Bangalore requires payment for laboratory studies which are quite frequent, hemodialysis (cleaning of her blood because of the loss of kidney function). In addition, the impoverished family must also raise money for their own room and board before the surgery and during the recovery phase. Tests must be done on Ugyen as well as her husband/donor. Cost of kidney failure is very high in India. The cost of getting haemodialysis (12 dialysis / month) is around Rs. 12-15,000/- per month whereas for peritoneal dialysis it is around Rs. 18-20,000/- per month. (Other sources put the range between 20,000-24,000/month). Getting a transplant done costs around Rs. 4 lakhs on an average. After that the per month recurring costs may vary from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 10,000/- depending upon the condition of the patient. A normal person in India cannot afford this extremely costly treatment. The problem is compounded by the fact that kidney failure is incurable. So these costs have to borne till the patient passes away. This puts a perennial load on the patient and his/her family. This is the most important reason why only 2-3% of kidney failure patients in India get treated. Summarizing costs on the high end:
Total costs (high side): 48,000 IR ($780/month) for costs related to preparing for surgery
Total living costs (on low side): approx. $755/month Total living plus medical costs: approx. $1,535 per month (does not cover medical costs for donor) Ugyen will need at least $1,535 per month, while in Bangalore, until her transplant can be performed. After the transplant, there's no knowing what the cost will be, because we can't predict complications that might arise from the transplant surgery and from harvesting her husband's kidney. We are told she will need to remain in Bangalore for six months post operation. Post op, she'll need continued support for room and board, as well as immuno suppressant medication, which alone cost on average 15,000 IR or about $250 per month. This is an extensive, continuous, life long undertaking. We don't know what costs are borne by the Bhutanese government, but Bodhi Seeds is doing everything we can to help in the short term and long term. Before this appeal, Bodhi Seeds had already sent $3000 to help cover the medical and accompanying expenses. Due to the severity and scope of the situation, those funds have already been exhausted. If you are able to contribute to this worthy cause, please do. Any amount, in any capacity, will make a difference. Thank you for your kind consideration. To place a donation, please click here. |
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