Brianne Beers' Kidney Fund
Donation protected
This is my beautiful cousin, Brianne Beers.
She is 28 years old and resides in Southern New Jersey with her loving and supportive parents and her yellow Labrador Retrievers. One look at Bri and you would never know that her organs are failing.
In the last few months, she has really started feeling the effects of kidney failure, feeling nauseous all the time, unusually exhausted, and shortness of breath. She also has pitting edema in her feet and tremors.
She hides her pain very well and has a great love for God, her family, and humanity. Even while struggling with her disease, she worked very hard to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to help people, like her, struggling with their health. However, she has not yet been able to work in the field she so loves because she’s awaiting a kidney to save her life.
When Brianne was 10 years old, she was diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) and was told that she would need a kidney transplant in the future. Although most people can survive on one kidney, both of hers are affected by this disease. Polycystic Kidney Disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes many cysts to develop on kidneys and can lead to kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
As the years have passed, Brianne’s kidney function has declined. Her kidneys now function at 14% combined. She is currently at Stage 5 kidney failure and on a transplant list at both University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
In the meantime, Brianne is in constant physical pain. She undergoes costly and painful monthly surgeries and testing that are not always covered by insurance. She is in the process of starting dialysis, and in preparation for this, a vascular access was made in her arm. Due to complications, she has had 6 angioplasties within the past year to unblock blood vessels for this access. She works with her dad when she is able to, to help as much as possible with the ever-growing medical expenses.
Once Brianne has a transplant, she will need to be on immunosuppressant medication for the rest of her life to ensure that her body does not reject the new kidney. The medication alone can be up to a few thousand dollars a month. The transplant team suggests that the patients start a fundraiser to help pay for their medical expenses.
In hopes of raising money, we also want to help raise awareness for ARPKD. In the United States, about 600,000 people have PKD. The recessive type which Brianne has is much more rare. It can affect other organs. Brianne's liver is also affected by it, so she may also need a liver transplant in the future. PKD is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure and causes excruciating pain.
Despite this long and trying time in Bri's life, we are all certain that when she gets her new organ and heals, she will live the life she was meant to have.
Thank you for any monetary gift you are able to make, big or small. Every little bit counts. If you or someone you know is interested in getting tested to donate a kidney to Brianne, call Comprehensive Transplant Center at (410) [phone redacted]. Her blood type is A+.
Please share this with as many people as you can and spread the word to help Brianne.
We look forward to the very near future when she receives the generous donation and can be the nurse who’s always there for her patients. She will know their struggle, understand the pain and disappointment, but also know with hope and faith that good things are just around the corner.
She is 28 years old and resides in Southern New Jersey with her loving and supportive parents and her yellow Labrador Retrievers. One look at Bri and you would never know that her organs are failing.
In the last few months, she has really started feeling the effects of kidney failure, feeling nauseous all the time, unusually exhausted, and shortness of breath. She also has pitting edema in her feet and tremors.
She hides her pain very well and has a great love for God, her family, and humanity. Even while struggling with her disease, she worked very hard to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to help people, like her, struggling with their health. However, she has not yet been able to work in the field she so loves because she’s awaiting a kidney to save her life.
When Brianne was 10 years old, she was diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) and was told that she would need a kidney transplant in the future. Although most people can survive on one kidney, both of hers are affected by this disease. Polycystic Kidney Disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes many cysts to develop on kidneys and can lead to kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
As the years have passed, Brianne’s kidney function has declined. Her kidneys now function at 14% combined. She is currently at Stage 5 kidney failure and on a transplant list at both University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
In the meantime, Brianne is in constant physical pain. She undergoes costly and painful monthly surgeries and testing that are not always covered by insurance. She is in the process of starting dialysis, and in preparation for this, a vascular access was made in her arm. Due to complications, she has had 6 angioplasties within the past year to unblock blood vessels for this access. She works with her dad when she is able to, to help as much as possible with the ever-growing medical expenses.
Once Brianne has a transplant, she will need to be on immunosuppressant medication for the rest of her life to ensure that her body does not reject the new kidney. The medication alone can be up to a few thousand dollars a month. The transplant team suggests that the patients start a fundraiser to help pay for their medical expenses.
In hopes of raising money, we also want to help raise awareness for ARPKD. In the United States, about 600,000 people have PKD. The recessive type which Brianne has is much more rare. It can affect other organs. Brianne's liver is also affected by it, so she may also need a liver transplant in the future. PKD is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure and causes excruciating pain.
Despite this long and trying time in Bri's life, we are all certain that when she gets her new organ and heals, she will live the life she was meant to have.
Thank you for any monetary gift you are able to make, big or small. Every little bit counts. If you or someone you know is interested in getting tested to donate a kidney to Brianne, call Comprehensive Transplant Center at (410) [phone redacted]. Her blood type is A+.
Please share this with as many people as you can and spread the word to help Brianne.
We look forward to the very near future when she receives the generous donation and can be the nurse who’s always there for her patients. She will know their struggle, understand the pain and disappointment, but also know with hope and faith that good things are just around the corner.
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Spitfire McLachlan
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
Brianne Beers
Beneficiary