Monica LaSalle, Gilpin County.  There seems to be no end to the amount of sacrifice our veterans give after finishing service to this country, and Jesse Peterson and his family are no exception.

His mother served in WWII doing top secret work, some of which involved spot welding contacts for triggers on fighter planes. She was contaminated with silver vapor and bismuth vapor from welding in a small glass enclosure that left her with COPD, which eventually killed her. Jesse’s older brother by 27 years old was diagnosed with kidney failure and was on dialysis for over 20 years before succumbing to his disease. In those days, it was not diagnosable beyond kidney failure, so Jesse isn’t sure if it was the same as what he has been dealing with for the past 4 plus years. Because of this family history, he does not have any family able to donate the kidney he is in dire need of receiving to alleviate his 10 percent kidney function.

Jesse is no quitter. From 1968-1970, he was a marine fighting the Vietnam War. Upon discharge, Jesse moved to Gilpin County where he proceeded to be involved in several local mining operations until he landed at the Chaffee Mine where he worked for several years and eventually took over the operation. Veterans with PTSD from all over the country have come to work for Jesse, where he has started casting solid ounce silver ingots as souvenirs.

When doctors first diagnosed him with Stage 5 kidney failure due to a rare disease, only 60 people in the country have this same disease, they put him on a donor list because he was already at only 10 percent function. He was sent to the Mayo Clinic by the Veteran’s Hospital, where he was referred to their stem cell research program.

Jesse bought a plane ticket, paid for his lodging and headed out to Cleveland. Upon arrival, he was told by the Vets Administration they would not pay for any of his appointments with the clinic. He is in a unique position because he doesn’t have diabetes or heart disease, and he isn’t on dialysis which leaves him unqualified. He knew he had to do something to improve his situation rather than sit around on a waiting list with no end in sight. He headed home to do his own research.

Jesse went back to his hometown doctor Michael Camaratta, who prescribed Renatrophin PMG, which contains bovine kidney cells, and he began a daily regime. Don’t think he hasn’t sought out a “witch doctor” as he calls Kinesiology, for he also saw Katheryn Camaratta, who encouraged him in developing his own treatment program. In addition to the kidney cell medication, his daily regimen consists of a Kidney Blend from Vitamin Cottage, niacin supplements, and a “Frozen Lemon” recipe that simply consists of freezing lemons whole and grating them entirely onto food or in beverages. Some reports are indicating the method is capable of curing cancer; Jesse does this daily and his doctors have confirmed that he has already improved his condition as well as other ailments from which he suffers.

The Mayo Clinic has still maintained contact with Jesse about their stem cell research program. He has also been in touch with the UC Health Stem Cell Program, where they have found a capability of bringing kidney function back from his current 10 percent to anywhere between 20-30 percent function. This would allow him to function without dialysis. The initial procedure costs $8,700, with a secondary procedure to cost $4,500. So far, Jesse and his people have raised $3,000. They are looking to gather at least the next $5,000 to be able to commit to the initial procedure after his consultation with UCH this Thursday. They have also started a Plumfund on Facebook called “A medical fund for Jesse Peterson” which lists the worst-case scenario amount of $60,000 needed – “A new kidney or bust”.

Like I said, Jesse Peterson is no quitter. Here’s hoping he gets the funding he needs to keep fighting the good fight.

(Originally published in the December 27, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)