One of the most essential requirements of health and wellness is having a loving community that looks after each other. At Aspen Integrative Medical Center our mission is to not only provide exceptional patient care, but to also build a stronger community by supporting our patients’ needs outside the walls of our clinic. As such we’ve created a “Community Asks” board to bring awareness of certain patients in need. It offers us all an opportunity to give back, open our hearts, and get further together. 

One of our community members is struggling to fund a life-saving kidney transplant. Any bit of help is appreciated. Here is her story in her words…

Hi my name is Lisa Maestas. My husband, Joe Maestas has been battling renal disease for a number of years due to hereditary diabetes. In September of 2023, Joe was admitted to FMC in end stage renal failure. Joe was placed on hemodialysis and was also found to have fluid around his heart. A pericardial window procedure was performed and he spent 2 weeks in the intensive care hospital. Joe was subsequently transitioned to peritoneal dialysis and referred to Mayo Clinic transplant center in Phoenix to begin the process of testing for a kidney transplant.

Joe and myself are hopeful that I may be considered for a living donor for him as we share the same blood type. Joe has already begun the extensive testing that is required for the procedure to begin. I myself have just begun the process of living donor testing.  The testing and screening process is complicated and requires traveling to phoenix and staying in Phoenix for the testing. Traveling means loading and transporting all the solutions and equipment for 3 days away from home. Not to mention treatment lasting 10 hours each day for the dialysis. It’s really an arduous process. Additionally, paying for food and lodging each time we have to go.

I still work and Joe is retired. I don’t have benefits at my job so my time in Phoenix is unpaid. After the surgery, we have to remain in Phoenix for 6 weeks to ensure that they monitor Joe for kidney rejection and medication adjustments. This involves paying for food and lodging away from home for 6 weeks, not to mention no income and all the bills at home.(house payment and utilities).

I have created a “Go Fund Me” 3 months ago and it has been dismal the response we haven’t received. This surgery is a must not a frivolous want. Mayo Clinic said we needed to have a minimum of 5k in our savings for this process. This is very difficult as we have medical bills and expenses coming in almost daily.

Aspen Integrative was kind enough to be a platform for us to get our story out there in hopes that it will reach many more people than my social media account.  Any support would be greatly appreciated and cherished.

Thank you for your time and support,
Lisa and Joe Maestas

Do you have a community ask you would like to see fulfilled? Please contact us and we’ll do everything we can to support you.