LEHI -- A little more than two months ago Crystal Hadlock spent most of her time playing with her two little girls, but now her time is spent hooked up to a dialysis machine that is keeping her alive. Hadlock was born with only one kidney but was living a normal healthy life until she was in a car accident and doctors discovered a problem with her only kidney. Hadlock was recently diagnosed with a renal artery aneurysm, meaning the vein running from her heart to her kidney was damaged.
"We found a surgeon that could do the surgery because they have to take the kidney out and re-implant it," Hadlock said. "But for some reason my kidney clotted off and I lost it."
She says another surgery was unsuccessful in trying to repair the damaged kidney, and the 27-yead-old now is living without kidneys. Hadlock had no insurance before the surgery and while she qualifies for Medicaid, out of pocket expenses still add up. But Chiropractic USA in Pleasant Grove is working to help Hadlock and her family.
"Crystal has been a patient here for the past year and her surgery didn't seem like it should be a big deal and then the world crashed down around her," said Chris Moore, a chiropractor at Chiropractic USA. "Every year we do a charity fundraiser in the office and we thought, 'Why not for Crystal?'"
The chiropractors are donating their services in exchange for donations for Hadlock. New patients can get a complete spinal check-up and adjustment for just $20. Moore says those services can normally cost more than $200.
"This is probably the best deal we have ever had," Moore said. "We are happy to be able to donate our services in exchange for a donation if it helps." Crystal "is a great person and a great mom and anything we can do to help her out we are more than happy to do."
Hadlock does dialysis three times a week for three to four hours at a time and is on a very restrictive diet that cuts out all salt and potassium and limits fluid intake.
She has been on the wait list for a kidney transplant since the beginning of December but says because she is a young and otherwise healthy person it could be six months to a year before she gets the kidney she needs.
"It is really hard," Hadlock said. Dialysis "is like having a part-time job and I feel sick most of the time. It is not very fun."
Moore says in addition to monetary donations he has had several people offer to be a kidney donor for Hadlock, even if they aren't a perfect match. He also says although $20 is the minimum for the services many patients have donated more.
"I think it is amazing. It means a lot to me that people are willing to do what they are," Hadlock said. "I am really grateful for a lot of help that has been given to us. When Dr. Moore told me what they were doing it just made me feel like there is hope."
The promotion at Chiropractic USA will run at least through the end of December.
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