AMESBURY — Christy Manclark had just given birth to her son, Ethan, when she found out she had complications from polycystic kidney disease.
The Amesbury mother of two experienced kidney failure in November and has been on dialysis since as she waits for a kidney transplant, which on average takes five years.
"I've been on the donor list for about a year," Manclark said. "I'm overwhelmed by how many angels are out there and how generous people are, but there haven't been any matches yet."
Manclark, her husband, Jim, a paralegal in Boston by day and an actor by night, and a group of their friends are organizing a fundraiser called "Laughter for Life, a Celebration of Hope" on Sept. 5 at the Amesbury Playhouse to raise funds to help whatever expenses may come up.
"My insurance covers mostly everything," Manclark said. "But we want to raise money for the National Transplant Assistance Fund and Catastrophic Injury Program to help whatever donor I have down the line."
While insurance covers the surgery to remove and transplant a kidney from one person to another, donors rarely get the assistance needed to cover home bills and lost wages while recuperating from surgery.
"This is really all about the donor," Manclark said.
Through Manclark's fundraiser, she hopes to have enough to cover mortgage payments and utility bills for any prospective living donors down the line.
"Working with the national transplant assistance fund, they are setting up an account and allocating money for when I get a donor," Manclark said. "We want to be able to cover any expenses or travel needed."
For Manclark, balancing her daughter, Hannah's, soccer practices with trips to Anna Jaques for dialysis is a tiring job but says she could stay on dialysis the rest of her life if needed.
"It takes four hours, three days a week; it's a drag," Manclark said. "We went on vacation to New Jersey, and I had to find a dialysis center down there."
Though a struggle, Manclark stays focused on what is important and is hopeful about finding a donor in the near future.
"I'm so lucky to have this technology to keep me alive; it's scary to think I could have been dead back in November," Manclark said. "You hear kidney failure and you think you're going to die, but I have my kids waking me up each morning."
Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common types of genetic diseases, affecting more people than Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia combined according to the PFD Web site.
The disease causes fluid-filled cysts to grow on the kidneys, over time multiplying and causing kidney failure in about 50 percent of the cases. Dialysis and transplantation are the only treatments for kidney failure.
"Watching them go through this for two years has been a tough thing," said Lois Honegger. Honegger, administrative assistant to Newburyport Mayor John Moak produces and directs shows at the playhouse and has known the Manclarks for years. "Its tough on the two of them with two small children; we really want to help them."
Honegger, along with other friends, have already received generous donations for a silent auction to be held during the fundraiser.
From a week's stay on an island in Puerto Rico to a 32-inch high-definition television and jewelry from The Studio in Newburyport, Honegger says the reaction from the community has been wonderful.
The fundraiser will also provide a short series of comedic skits, dancing and a chicken dinner. The fundraiser is a fitting tribute to the Manclarks, as Christy and her husband met while acting in a play together nearly 10 years ago.
"I just really appreciate everyone helping me out," Manclark said. "It started as a show with me and my husband's friends, and now the show is just a small part of a big event."
