Donate Life: The Dominique Brunner Story

Update:
The huge blessing of the liver and kidney have been a God Send - however, given how sick Dominique was going into the transplant - her recovery has been slow and unfortunately she has had several pretty significant setbacks.  They had to put in a tracheostomy shortly after surgery to help with pneumonia and sepsis.  This removed Dominiques ability to speak (temporary).  Imagine waking up after 8 days in a medical coma to realize you have no voice?  I cannot even imagine how scary that would be.  Dominique has been on and off the ventilator over the past 2 weeks - again, more setbacks.  Her incisions are struggling to heal, her new kidney is very sleepy requiring 24/7 dialysis, her fluid balance is like walking on glass all day every day - must have the perfect balance to keep EVERYTHING where it needs to be, and... and...and.  This family needs prayers, they need them NOW!  Dominique needs a huge win and so do her parents.  Amy is spending 12 to 14 hours a day at the hospital - Amy does not live in Birmingham...so she does not get to go "home" at night.  She is in a hotel a few blocks from the hospital.  The enormity of everything is crushing - the struggle is physical, emotional and hugely financial.  It is costing Amy $14 a DAY just to park!  All those little things add up very quickly.  If you could please consider one less latte this week - that $5 to $500 will be the best donation you have ever made!  This family is so deserving!  


Dominique Arianna Brunner was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (cancer in her liver) just prior to her second birthday.  She underwent massive chemotherapy and liver resection to remove the tumor – this was not enough – she required a transplant.  Due the primary diagnosis of cancer she would have never qualified for the national organ donor program, her only hope was for a very new procedure rarely done on children – a living related transplant.  Dominique’s aunt unselfishly gave part of her healthy liver to save little Dominique.   To complicate matters, at the time Dominique and her family lived in Florida – the only place performing living related transplants was Nebraska.  Amy, Dominique’s mom, gave up everything and moved to Nebraska while Dominique’s dad had to stay behind in Florida for his job which provided the insurance making all of this possible…

 

Fast forward to the age of 16, Dominique and her family are now living in Atlanta and while there were some bumps along the road with Dominique and her liver, she did not let it stop her…until it did.  Her liver began to fail – another transplant was necessary.  Her mom never left her side through her months in the hospital.  Again, by the Grace of God, Dominique received a liver from an unknown donor.  She had another amazing chance to live her best life!  She successfully graduated from high school after having spent most of her sophomore year in the hospital and was working full time and established an amazing life in the Atlanta area with Tyler the love of her life…

 

Fast forward again to today, Dominique is a beautiful, caring, amazing 27-year-old who has again been forced to put her life on hold while she fights every minute of every day to stay alive – waiting for you guessed it – another liver.  Unfortunately, right now Dominique is too sick to be listed for transplant – her poor body is tired.   We will NEVER give up hope– Dominique is sicker than she has ever been.  Complicating matters, Dominique’s mom now lives back in Florida more than 6 hours away – Amy works full time as well is sharing caregiver responsibilities with her 2 sisters for her mother who is well into her 90’s.  Amy needs to be with Dominique, Dominique needs Amy to be with her –   Financially it is not feasible for Amy to not work, having dedicated her entire life to keeping Dominique alive, Amy is facing an impossible reality – it is my ask, having been through this incredible journey at every turn by Amy’s side – that we help to make it possible for Amy to be back with Dominique.  Please consider donating to help Amy continue to support Dominique as she has always done – and when prayers are answered, and the transplant happens – there will be several months that Dominique will require full time care – we have to make this possible!   Please whatever you can $1, $10, $500 whatever you can share will make this possible.

 

Dominique has lived her life knowing that the multiple gifts of organ donation provided to her have allowed her to live.  She has taken explicit care of herself and not once taken these gifts for granted.  Her mom has been by her side throughout all of the highs and lows.  We need to make this possible for Amy to be by her side when her phone rings again with yet another amazing gift of life!

 

Let us not love with words or speech, but with actions… 1 John 3: