Wish Week is when the student council gives all the money they earn in one week to a certain person or family of their choice as a donation. This year’s recipient is Kelsie Sandoval, a 2021 DHS graduate with IGA Nephropathy. The DHS student council chose Sandoval because of the struggle people go through with kidney failure and IGA Nephropathy. IGA Nephropathy affects around 60,000 to 150,000 people in the United States.
“This is our sixth annual Wish Week, and every year we try to identify a family in need within our local community that we spend the week celebrating, recognizing, and learning about their particular battle,” said Shawna Magtutu, student council advisor.
IGA Nepthropathy is described to be, “…a rare autoimmune disease; it attacks the functions of vital organs, specifically the kidneys,” Magtutu said.
Sandoval has been inactive on the kidney transplant list; she currently has three potential donors going through rigorous testing, but donors are hard to find and very expensive. The average cost for a kidney in the United States is $446,800. That includes preparation, the surgery, and the recovery. More money can be spent due to care for IGA Nepthropathy, as much as $100,000 in Colorado. Certain foundations and insurance can help with this payment, but not fully.
Sandoval is currently training to start at-home Peritoneal Dialysis to give her kidneys extra help with their function. “At-home Peritoneal Dialysis is a needle-free, at-home kidney failure treatment [process] using the stomach lining as a natural filter to clean blood. A permanent abdominal catheter allows sterile fluid to absorb waste and excess fluids,” according to Google’s definition of the process.
We can help Sandoval and her quest with IGA Nepthropathy and kidney transplant by donating or by participating in a line-up of events.
To raise her spirits, from March 2 to March 6, the DHS student council hosted a dress-up week all themed around Sandoval and some of her favorite things.
On the second of March was pajama day, also known as self-care, because Sandoval needs a lot of recovery and self-care on her quest. Being unable to work she has been doing some of her favorite activities such as reading, writing, painting, watching movies and TV shows, going on picnics, and keeping up with her self care.
March third was Album Cover Day, where someone can dress as or represent a personal favorite album cover, since Sandoval loves music.
March fourth was book character day. Sandoval remembered this was her favorite dress-up day in school. Students and staff can dress up as one of their favorite book characters.
Thursday, March fifth was “Camping Trip Day.” Students and staff can dress as if they are going camping.
Finally Friday, March sixth was a Kidney Awareness Day, where students and staff wear green(the color of kidney awareness).
Dress-up days are great ways to show support for Sandoval, but donations help out too. Val o’Grams were sold by the student council from February tenth to thirteenth, Val o’Grams were a great way to donate and have some fun. A Val o’Gram is something a student could buy where they can choose from a selection of songs.
“Student council members pick three songs that are just kind of fun to sing, short little clips, and if you purchase a Val o’Gram they rotate into your class and sing to whoever you wanted them to sing to…and it’s just for fun and just for that Friday for Valentine’s Day because we won’t be here on Valentine’s Day,” said Magtutu.
Another great way to raise money for Sandoval is to donate. DHS is taking cash, checks, or credit cards for donations, and someone can also donate at BMO bank with a local account at 402 Main St in Delta. A person can also donate with Venmo(@Stepanie-Sandoval-81), Cash App ($stephsandoval24), and Zelle([email protected]).
One other way that was to help Sandoval out with money was the Mr. Panther Assembly on March fifth, where there was an assembly and dodgeball competition, people paid $50 a team to play (the first 30 teams got to play). Prizes were also given out to best dressed, best theme, best ‘ringer’, youngest elite athlete, senior most slayer, best spirit, etc.
Let’s all give our best wishes to Keslie Sandoval, and wish her a safe recovery.
