Jazmine

Connecting Jazmine with lifesaving benefits

Jazmine* is a 26-year-old woman who lives in a three-bedroom apartment in Canarsie, Brooklyn, with her brother Reggie (not his real name) who is 20. Both of their parents are deceased, and her home healthcare attendant has been taking care of Jazmine since she was 10 years old.

Jazmine has developmental disabilities that affect her ability to learn, to understand complex issues, and to remember things and people she has met. She is deaf and communicates with sign language. She is HIV+.

Project Guardianship became Jazmine’s guardian several months after her father died (her mother passed away several years prior). It was the hospital where she was receiving kidney disease care for over 10 years that petitioned the courts expressing concern for her upon her father’s death and because Jazmine was likely to need a kidney transplant (Jazmine required dialysis three times a week due to end-stage renal disease and high blood pressure).

Jazmine has since undergone successful surgery and a kidney transplant and no longer needs thrice-weekly dialysis!

About a year ago, the hospital kidney care team advised that Jazmine was a good candidate for a kidney transplant, though she was not yet medically ready because of her high sodium diet. When her diet and physical and physical health improved, we worked with her kidney care team to oversee Jazmine’s placement on an “active transplant” list. Jazmine has since undergone successful surgery and a kidney transplant and no longer needs thrice-weekly dialysis! This was a big step towards her continued health improvements and future quality-of-life.

Project Guardianship also worked with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to make sure Jazmine has adequate after-care. This includes a home health aide and visiting nurse service to administer medications and to monitor her post-surgery, as well as her participation in an adult day program (now virtual due to COVID). 

Jazmine continues to live in her childhood home and shares the cost of rent and utilities with her brother Reggie. We are excited to see the progress that she has made, and we continue to advocate for her increased independence, health and well-being.