Brenna's Medical Expenses

On Wednesday, May 7, our world was turned upside down.  My daughter, Brenna, was rushed to the emergency room due to kidney failure.  After many tests, it was determined she had been living with one kidney grossly undersized, and the other was killed by a tumor.  Yesterday she had a kidney removed, and because the remaining kidney is too small, she will be on dialysis 3 times a week while waiting for a donor kidney (assuming we get the all clear of cancer!).  Brenna has been told over the years she has high blood pressure, but no doctor would look into the reason why.  It was always explained away as a child's nerves for being at the doctor's office.  As her mother I knew that was not the case, but no one would listen.  Calm natured children are not supposed to have high blood pressure!  We now know the high blood pressure was a result of her bad kidneys, but I guess we are "a day late and a dollar short there"...

Despite her body having to work overtime, Brenna was always a very happy and athletic girl.  She wowed people on the soccer field with her toughness and gained smiles for her good natured attitude.  She turned heads when she'd hold her own with the boys playing indoor soccer, or when she hit the floor hard digging the ball up during a volleyball match.  We were all already impressed with her; to know she did all of that with a failing body, well, I simply don't have the words...

Brenna is 18 years old and a biology major at the University of Santa Barbara.  She lives on her own, far away from family.  I currently live in Utah, but dropped everything to be with my daughter.  I spent most of each paycheck on my classroom, so flying to California with less than 12 hours notice, reserving hotel rooms, and getting a rental car has drained what little I had in my bank account.  I'm in the process of looking for a new teaching position in an area with a lower cost of living, but pays better than where I am now, so I can better handle the financial part of Brenna's new lifelong situation.  A parent of a student suggested I try this website to help raise funds to help pay our share of cost in Brenna's medical bills.  At this time, I have no idea what our share is.  Not only does she already have a lengthy hospital stay and surgical bills accruing, Brenna will also need to pay for transportation to and from the dialysis center 3 times a week, and she'll have monthly prescriptions to fill.  We are not accustomed to asking for handouts, but until I can secure a new teaching job, I'm not sure how to finance our new medical adventure.  We graciously thank you in advance for any and all support given to my most amazing daughter, Brenna.

Brenna spent her 18th birthday in her UCSB dorm with her roommates :)



Brenna always has the most incredible headers!!


Serve it up!


Bren with her best friend Sierra.  They put their "glasses" on so they could call lines during a volleyball tournament.


Brenna practicing with her indoor boys team.  There was some skepticism about her playing in a boys league, after 5 minutes of watching her on the field, all concern was gone ;)


Brenna playing football at a family reunion in Chicago. Her "cousin" has special needs and loves football! Bren met him for the first time last summer, and she was happy to play :)


One of my favorite pictures from when my babies were little :)

Everyone who meets Brenna can't help but fall instantly in love!!  I'm very lucky to be her mom ♥