Homer Glen Woman Battles Kidney Disease

HOMER GLEN, IL — Christine Hare, of Homer Glen, was first diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2007, after a hospitalization to remove her appendix. During this hospitalization, a CAT scan showed that Hare's kidneys were full of cysts. She almost died during her surgery.

"I woke up in cardiac ICU at Good Samaritan Downers Grove the next morning," Hare said. "Every doctor and nurse said I should not have been alive and no one could figure out how I pulled through."

Hare said during her surgery, fluids backed up to her heart, causing her to nearly die.

"I never had health problems before this," Hare said. She described polycystic kidney disease as a "silent disease." She inherited it from her mother and grandfather.

After she got out of the hospital, Hare started seeing a nephrologist, a kidney specialist, every six months for blood work, and she changed her eating and exercise habits.

In January 2015, Hare's condition worsened when she received some blood work that had her nephrologist suggest peritoneal dialysis. She had surgery to place a catheter inside her abdomen in March 2015, and soon after began 10-12 hours of dialysis every night.

"Sometimes it's very painful, but it's keeping me alive," Hare said.

Hare has a GoFundMe Page set up by one of her co-workers to help with the costs of her various medical expenses.

"I still ask everyone to please share and find it in their heart to donate," Hare said. "My family needs help now more than ever." Hare's medical expenses have escalated, and she also receives peritoneal dialysis supplies.

"I receive 50 boxes a month of IV bags that help me survive," Hare said. "I do dialysis every night for 12 hours."

Hare continues to work part-time during the day at Charter Fitness of Homer Glen. Hare and her husband both work to support their family.

"Sometimes it's a toss up of 'do you pay this bill or put food on the table?'," Hare said. "There's days I feel nauseous and extremely tired, but I have to work to pay the bills."

According to her GoFundMe, Hare is now in end stage renal disease, but has hopes of finding a kidney donor to help improve the quality of her life.

"I love my family and I want to be here to see my kids grow up," she said.

Visit Hare's GoFund Me here.

Photo via GoFundMe.