Hi all,

I am setting up this page to ask for your help in supporting me through a very difficult time in my life.

As some of you will know I was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgA) in April, after going into the hospital for what I thought was only swollen glands. IgA is a rare kidney disorder that occurs when the IgA protein that fights infection settles in the kidneys and slowly destroys them.

For some people IgA does not have any strong effects but for me at the time IgA had already reduced my kidney function to 30%. I was given medicine to stem the deterioration and was told that although my kidneys would deteriorate more, the medicine would help to slow the process.

Unfortunately for me this wasn’t the case when I went to the doctor in October after finding blood in my urine. The doctors informed me that I only had 7% kidney function left and needed to go on dialysis immediately; my kidneys were done.

It was a hard conversation to have with my lovely wife Corinne who I have been married to for 8 years, but harder still to tell my 3 kids; Madi is 13, Kenzie is 11 and my boy Vinnie is 7. I explained to them that I would need a special tube fitted that pumped a special cleaner into my stomach. This tube acts as my kidneys, and I had to pump in the cleaner 4 times a day, every day, for the next 4 years. This is the waiting time for a new kidney on the NHS.

I’ve worked in construction for a long time and have always made it my 100% priority to look after and provide for my family.

The problem with working in construction and why I enjoy it so much is that its hands on; you’re always on your feet, sometimes all day, building, mending, helping the guys on site finish the job. Finally, you need to be there to work on site; you can’t do it from a laptop in your living room.

After my dialysis tube is inserted I am very worried that as it requires 45 minutes for each pump, 4 times a day, that it will be almost impossible for me to keep down the job I have now. Add to this the recovery from tube insertion surgery, the side effects of ongoing dialysis, the constant hospital tests and the regular cleaning of dialysis tubes.

With 3 children to support I’m worried how this will affect Corinne. She will help to carry the burden of this illness, but it will be hard to support me, provide financially for the family and look after our three children and I want to do anything I can to keep her going through this.

This is the reason for me setting up this page; to help raise funds for some vital things that will help me and Corinne while I commence the long 4-year wait for a new kidney:

• Childcare for my 3 wonderful children when their mum is working hard, and I am too unwell to look after them properly.

• A vital buffer while I recover from my tube insertion operation and its aftermath including training on how to use the tube and the many upsetting side-effects of ongoing dialysis; I won’t be able to work for a while.

• Private tests to explore other options including a reduced wait time for a kidney which would save me years of ongoing dialysis.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story, it means a lot to me. I need your help through this period in my life, but not just for me, for Corinne and the kids. Any support you could give us would be amazing and I’d be forever grateful.

Thanks so much, Dan.