Meals Provide Connie Nourishment and Financial Relief

In her early twenties, Connie began experiencing severe back pain. Initially dismissing it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Connie was later diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease—a genetic disorder that causes painful cysts to grow on the kidneys and other organs and can eventually lead to kidney failure.

As Connie’s condition progressed, she struggled with frequent bladder and kidney infections. Despite her efforts to deal with the pain, her situation worsened, and she was forced to quit her job. “I found myself in and out of hospitals,” she shared. “Adjusting to life after that was incredibly tough,” she added.

In 2019, Connie lost all kidney function. She now goes to a dialysis clinic three times a week, with each session lasting four hours. “I have scars on my arm from dialysis, and whenever I finish a session, I feel drained and nauseous. I just want to eat something then go to bed because I have no energy,” she said.

Living on a fixed income, Connie took advantage of a free meal program in her building. However, those meals were high in salt and made Connie’s symptoms worse. Connie’s sister, who lives with the same condition, told her about Project Angel Heart. After hearing that Project Angel Heart meals would be specifically tailored to meet her dietary needs and delivered to her home at no cost to her, Connie asked her medical team to help her apply to receive them.

While Connie lives in Greeley, which was outside Project Angel Heart’s meal delivery boundaries until Fall 2024, she was still able to have meals shipped to her home during that time thanks to a generous grant from The Weld Trust.

Since receiving the meals, Connie said she has noticed a big difference in how she feels overall. She added that not only are the Project Angel Heart meals nutritionally balanced, but they also don’t interfere with her taste after dialysis. “I feel better after eating them because they taste fresh and they’re healthy, not like the junk food I was eating before. My doctor even told me that my labs have improved,” she said with a smile.

Moreover, Connie emphasized how the meals have alleviated significant financial stress—ensuring she no longer worries about having enough to eat. “There would be times before when I would be on my last dollar with nothing to eat. Now, I don’t have to worry because I have a healthy, delicious meal waiting for me in my freezer,” she said.