My name is Dawn Kettell and I've been a Registered Nurse for 31 years. Never have I felt so helpless. Watching someone's health deteriorate is not new for me. Watching someone you love go through this challenging situation has brought me to a very humbling and emotional state.

Breeann is my best friend/soul sister. She is the ray of sunshine on a cloudy day... so, let me tell you a bit about this amazing person. She is the girl who talks to everyone, uplifting and charismatic. Typically, the most beautiful person in the room, who has no idea. We met during a particularly low time in both of our lives. It was as if the Universe knew before we did. If you haven't figured out by now, I'm quite smitten in the sisterly way

So, Breeann has been diagnosed with heart failure for approximately 19 years, most of her adult life. Her two children have never known a mother who wasn't ill. She has been through so much since her diagnosis, including open heart surgery, multiple pacemakers and defibrillators, heart ablations, and infections. So, what's going on now...

Living with stage 4 heart disease has greatly impacted her ability to take care of herself. She has been unable to hold any meaningful work for many years. In April 2024, she had a cardiac arrest and was only brought back to life after being shocked by her implanted defibrillator/pacemaker 57 times and manual CPR. Since this incident, her condition has become critical. She is being placed on the UCSF Heart Transplant List as we speak. Because Breeann has a rare blood type, she is first on the list for her type. So, why am I reaching out...

This process involves a minimum of an 8-week stay in San Francisco. The travel is approximately 2 hours to the hospital. There is some housing available (potentially) on a sliding scale, based on availability and income. We have not really been able to save for this in advance secondary to her ongoing medical expenses. Her recovery is expected to take about a year. Expenses we hope to pay with donations are as follows: gas/transportation, hotel expenses for myself while she is in the hospital (I'm her caregiver), housing for both of us during the required 6-8 weeks recovery (hopefully in the Koz House), bridges/tolls, medical needs not covered, heart-smart food (many restrictions), and return visits to San Francisco.

Thank you for taking the time to read about this beautiful mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. We appreciate anything, and if you're unable, we understand