Kymberly's Road to a New Kidney

When you’re a young girl you consistently wish for a few things. Usually these wishes consist of glitter, ice-cream cones, and baby sisters. While I’ve had my share of glitter covered projects and ice cream, I was blessed with only one baby sister. Kymberly is truly an exceptional person. She’s sweet, caring, but mostly sarcastic, funny and strong willed. The type of person you need in your life to motivate you while keeping you humble.

In late 2013, shortly after moving to New York City to pursue her acting career, we found out she had a rare kidney disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering units. She began an aggressive treatment program hoping to restore her kidney function. However, by the end of 2014 she was in End Stage Kidney failure and in immediate need of Dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. Through it all, she refused to move home and give up on her dreams saying, “The sun will rise” and so will I.

I’ve witnessed her courage and perseverance from afar and wished there was something more I could do to change her situation. When the opportunity presented itself, I submitted the necessary information to be tested as a possible donor. The moment I found out that I was a perfect match for her was indescribable. I knew then we had an opportunity to beat the disease that had taken so much away from her in such a short time.

However, initially she would not allow me to move forward as her donor for fear of my safety as well as the safety and well-being of my children. She bravely faced continuing Dialysis for the projected 5-6 years while she waited on the transplant list. That decision speaks to the kind of person she is.

Finally after many debates and tearful conversations we both decided that she deserved a second chance to live the life she always dreamt of and I deserved the right to help her get there! On July 14th, I will be donating one of my kidneys to one of the most deserving people I know, my not so baby sister, Kymberly Burns.

We need your help in raising the funds to insure that she has the tools she will need for recovery. As a single person in NYC, she is unable to save enough to sustain her daily medication regiment, housing, and transportation while she is out of work. Please help me give my sister a fighting chance at life and everything that the rest of us have been blessed to experience.

Thank you all for you help!
Tiffany Baulkman