Robert and Gracie Lambert underwent their kidney transplant surgeries at the end of August, but Robert has had to have a number of follow-up surgeries.
“He’s had to have three surgeries as of today,” family friend Sherrie Gallegos told UWK. “Blood flow to the kidney stopped, so they had to intubate him and then purposely paralyze him from the waist down to allow the kidney to settle.”
“Robert didn’t rest at all since he has woken up from a paralyzed state,” she continued. “He is very groggy and agitated because his kidney is not working as well as it should to help the liver remove meds and toxins.”
Robert had to have a fourth surgery this weekend.
His daughter, Gracie, who donated her kidney, is recovering from her surgery. “Gracie is doing well she’s a trooper,” Gallegos said.
“We’re all just praying his body takes the transplant and he comes through this well.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with pre- and post-transplant expenses, long-term medications and care, and everything insurance doesn’t cover.
Original Story
LIVINGSTON PARISH — “A perfect match.” Those were the words the Lambert family had been waiting to hear. After years of uncertainty, they finally found a donor and the match came from within the family.
Robert Lambert has been battling kidney failure for years, endured countless hours of dialysis, and even lost his vision. Now, as he is in end stage kidney failure, the Lambert family discovered his daughter, Gracie, is a perfect match.
“I was elated. I mean, just to find something like that out is incredible,” family-friend Sherrie Gallegos said. “When they found out that Gracie was a match for him, she messaged me. You know how sometimes you can feel the excitement in a text? I could just feel their excitement, and it brought tears to my eyes.”
Gallegos said Robert and his wife, Susan, and their three children have been through a lot, but they are always there for others.
“They’re wonderful people who will do anything for you,” she said. “She’s cooked dinners to make sure my family had a hot meal on the table. I don’t know anybody else like them.”
As Robert and Gracie prepare for their surgeries, credit card bills, medicals bills, and the out-of-pocket procedure costs are adding up.
“The surgery is $500,000, and insurance covers all but $150,000,” Gallegos said. “I know it’s been difficult on them, having to worry about this.”
On top of the stress of bills and the surgeries, Robert’s condition makes it impossible for him to work, and Sharon has taken on the role as a full-time caregiver and can’t work either, so there is no income coming in. A family-friend created a GoFundMe account to help the Lamberts with all of their costs.
Gracie, who is in her 20s, and Robert have both been cleared for surgery, which will take place at Tulane University. As long as everything goes according to plan, the transplant surgery is expected to happen at the end of August.
Donations to the GoFundMe will help the Lamberts with pre- and post-transplant expenses, travel and lodging for the family to get to New Orleans, long-term medications and care, and everything insurance doesn’t cover.
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