7 years of torture: Danielle Dieffenthaller still awaiting kidney transplant

“Torture,” is how filmmaker and producer Danielle Dieffenthaller described the past seven years of her life.

From being diagnosed with stage-five renal failure in 2018, to undergoing heart surgery in 2024, she said life has been exhausting.

But now with a generous, potential kidney donor on standby, she needs to raise around CAN $18,000 (TT$93,600).

Her daughter Xica Dieffenthaller-Lee-Poy created a GoFundMe campaign titled Kidney Journey Continues.

She explained several delays that have happened since the initial diagnosis.

Dieffenthaller, sister of soca artiste Kees Dieffenthaller, has been on dialysis since 2019, but the transplant unit was “virtually shut down for two years" during the covid19 pandemic.

“When it started back in 2022, I was the first to offer my kidney. The transplant unit took nine days to test me. We were at the crossmatch lab when we got a call from the hospital saying they found blood in my urine, so wouldn’t be a good match. They then told her to get ready because she would receive a deceased donor kidney. Which – news flash – does not exist,” the post says.

A benefit concert was held in 2022 to help raise funds for her titled Staying Alive. Several local artistes performed, and the proceeds went to the Nation Organ Transplant Unit and the John Hayes Memorial Kidney Foundation.

Two people decided to become donors as a result of it.

“It took nearly four months to work up the first donor, who discovered she had early breast cancer and was able to deal with it then. But then it took another four months to work up the other donor who was waiting in the wings.”

But the woes continued.

Because Dieffenthaller was on prolonged dialysis, she had to get double heart valve surgery last August.

“It has been a difficult few years for my mother and our family as she has had to deal with the deaths of both of her parents in addition to everything else.

“She has yet another generous live donor waiting, but having to pay out-of-pocket, these tests cost thousands. We would appreciate your help once again. My mother still has a lot to offer this country and the world, and I wouldn't want to lose her from this disease.”

Speaking to Sunday Newsday, Dieffenthaller said she really thought she would have been able to have the transplant by now and “move on with my life.

“(It’s been) torture. Absolutely torturous.

“When the doctor said I need to fix my heart, I’m like, ‘What’s wrong with my heart?’ They say, ‘Well, your valves are clogged. You need heart surgery.’”

Asked how she has been coping, she said she has a “really, really good network of friends and amazing family” who keep her grounded.

That and her “bad mind” attitude of not giving up. She said she is still recovering from heart surgery.

As of February 21, around CAN $4,023 (TT$20,919) had been raised.

She said in addition to this, All Stars Steel Orchestra also donated some earnings from its Kaiso Fuh So show to her.

She mourned the loss of a friend, Anderson Mitchell, who had been battling similar health challenges.

She said he, sadly, died, three weeks ago.

He had chronic kidney disease for over a decade.

“Both of us were helping each other…But his fight ended.”

With a sigh, she said, “It’s been really trying.”

She also urged everyone to pay attention to the signs their bodies give them, regarding their health.

In her 2022 interview with Newsday, she had said, “I was rolling with the punches, but I was also ignoring signs like breathlessness, swollen feet, and a couple of other things, and I was busily explaining them away, maybe I need to exercise, I should cut down on salt – except I don’t use any – I did everything but go to a doctor."

She said she is thankful for the donations thus far and her family remains hopeful she can secure the transplant soon.

Those interested in donating can do so at http://bit.ly/3Qw78nm.