Deshero Mcclain

Deshero McClain 

Transplant Type: Kidney

Deshero McClain is awaiting a new lease on life. In 2011, she was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by severe hypertension. Deshero was born with a small artery to her left kidney, which caused diminished blood flow. She is the only person in her family affected by chronic kidney disease, even though she has ten siblings. Deshero has been on dialysis for nearly nine years, which leaves her tired and takes a toll on her quality of life. Doctors say a kidney transplant is critical.

During this difficult time, Deshero is grateful for the love and support of her family and friends. She is a single mother of two sons and has six grandchildren. Her illness prevents her from being the active mother and grandmother she longs to be, and her sons have struggled to help support her. Deshero enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, and has taken dance classes on and off since high school. In order to be considered for a transplant, Deshero had to lose weight, and a Latin dance class helped her lose 50 pounds and come off her blood pressure medicine. She is still able to dance at home, but now she struggles with muscle cramps due to dialysis and limited fluid intake.

Deshero looks forward to receiving a transplant that will free her from dialysis and give her more energy. She wants nothing more than to be healthy so she can enjoy being an active mother and grandmother, live her life to the fullest, and reach her goal of being a dance teacher. But right now, she needs your help.

The average kidney transplant costs more than $440,000, and that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, Deshero still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Deshero lives 140 miles from her transplant center. When she receives her transplant, she will have to stay nearby while she recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging. Deshero was laid off from her job due to COVID-19, and her doctor has told her she cannot return to work because she falls into the high-risk group. This further adds to her financial burdens.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Deshero. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Nevada Transplant Fund, 3249 W Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Deshero McClain” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Transplant Center: University of California Davis