When Janell Araki first learned last November that her kidneys were failing, she and her husband, Darren, hoped to handle the dialysis treatment quietly and privately.

That changed about three months ago when doctors told the 38-year-old she had contracted calciphylaxis, a rare disease found almost exclusively in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Calciphylaxis affects all blood vessels in the body. Ulcers build up, usually on the legs and arms, and vessels fill with calcium.

Most often it's fatal, but new treatments are giving patients a better chance of surviving, Darren Araki said.

The soaring medical bills are ultimately why the Arakis have gone public and have agreed to let friends in the local entertainment industry put on a fundraiser for her Sunday at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

From 2 to 10 p.m., local acts Kupaoa, Vaihi, Weldon Kekauoha, Kapena, Na Leo, Maunalua, Natural Vibrations and Augie T. will take the stage to raise money for Janell's fight and expenses, now more than $50,000.

For a $20 donation (children 12 and younger are free), guests can dance and listen to music, check out food booths, a video game area and information provided by Straub Clinic & Hospital and the American Diabetes Association.

"It's overwhelming," Darren said of the support. "When Janell first went on dialysis, I would go to concerts in her place, and when people would ask, 'Where's Janell?' I'd just say she had other plans. But when her friends found out about her disease, so many acts volunteered their time to help out and play."

Chai's Island Bistro also has organized a fundraiser for May 22. Jake Shimabukuro and The Makaha Sons are providing the entertainment.

Janell said she's been overwhelmed by the support.

"I'm trying to keep positive and just take it day by day," Janell said. "In the beginning it was really hard to cope with, but because of all the support from my family, friends, and the music industry, I'm touched by it."

The Arakis met most of the acts through Precision Sounds, a business they co-founded in 1994. They provide equipment for concerts, weddings and birthday parties. Janell has largely been the face of the company, Darren said.

"This has been really tough," Darren said. "In November she was out doing concerts, and in a matter of days, her kidney failed. Now she's a prisoner of her own body. She wants to do things, but her body just limits her.

"We have a 14-year-old daughter, Jayna, and I remember very, very distinctly what the doctor told us the day we found out she had calciphylaxis. He said people with this disease don't have much time left on Earth. We were devastated. We were told they'd seen patients a year ago that didn't survive, but now survival rates are better because of some medicines."

One drug helping Janell, who found out she had type 1 diabetes when she was 13, is Sensipar. Darren said the couple has also inquired about another drug believed to help decrease the buildup of calcium in the arteries, but pharmaceutical companies haven't yet categorized it to fight calciphylaxis, making it difficult, or impossible, to get.

"Out of pocket it's $400 to $600 a bottle," Darren said.

Watching his wife dealing with the pain has been rough, he said. When Janell sleeps, she needs oxygen to help her breathe. She's been hospitalized twice for more than a week at a time since November, and she's lost use of one of the fingers on her right hand because the disease prevented blood flow to the area during dialysis, turning the top of her finger black. She's now learned to write, eat and depend on her left hand. She also has to be careful not to break skin, even from scratching too hard.

"With this disease, if you get a cut, it attacks the trauma area," Darren said. "That's why doctors don't want to amputate her finger."

Darren, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about five years ago, said the fundraiser is also to bring awareness to the public to take care of yourself and do what you can to prevent diabetes.

They also want people to know the American Diabetes Association really works. When her medical coverage ran out after only three months of Janell taking several high-cost medications, the ADA got her insulin back within two days.

"After seeing this disease pick apart my wife, you get very scared," Darren said. "Janell's strong, way more positive than I am. She actually turned to me the other day and said 'I'm not ready to die.' I looked at her and what do I tell a person who said that? I couldn't say anything. I just hugged her. She's been pretty positive and brave."