Hi, my name is Bertha Oates. I’ve set up this Gofund on behalf of Breanna and her mother , Dorry Benison. Breanna is very sick and this young girl needs our help!

HELP!

Breanna Benison is just 19 years old. She’d just graduated high school this past May and started working when her health took a devastating turn.

Breanna, her mother Dorry's only child, had never experienced any health issues until the latter part of July, early August. She began experiencing shortness of breath, tiredness, persistent coughing, and an increase in heart rate. Her mother took her to their family physician who, in part, scheduled her an appointment to see a cardiologist in Birmingham, Alabama. Unfortunately, before the appointment date arrived, Breanna’s health became increasingly worse.

On August 16, 2025, Breanna began to experience confusion in addition to the other symptoms she was already having. Her mother, Dorry, immediately took her to their local hospital ER department. After numerous tests, the on-call physician had Breanna transferred to Princeton Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama after noticing she had a tremendous amount of fluid buildup around her heart. At Princeton, Breanna was diagnosed with heart failure and was told that she needed surgery immediately if she were to stand a chance of surviving. During the surgery to install an LVAD (left ventricular assist device), Breanna coded. Thankfully, her surgeons were able to resuscitate her. The LVAD was installed in her heart to help the left ventricle of her heart pump blood more effectively. The left ventricle is the main pumping chamber of the heart that sends oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Her left ventricle is now in complete heart failure.

As of the writing of this post, Breanna has been transferred from Princeton Hospital to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Currently, she is in CICU and has been placed on the heart transplant list.

Breanna’s road to recovery will be long and expensive, which is why I’m asking for your help.

Breanna's insurance will not cover the entire cost of her medical care, bills, or medications. Her mother, Dorry, is disabled and the income she receives monthly is how she takes care of herself and her child. Dorry doesn’t drive, so they don’t have a car. Because of that, she has to pay someone to take her to Birmingham to see her child. She stays for days on end at the hospital in Breanna’s room or in the hospital waiting room. She can’t afford a hotel room nor can she afford to pay for travel expenses. Right now, she’s trying to figure out how she and her baby girl are going to weather the storm they are going through. Let’s help her if we can.

This GoFundMe will help them so much. It will give them a head start on whatever medical obstacles they will have to overcome in the very near future.

If you would like to give directly to Dorry, her cash app is $DorryBenison or you can send your donation to her niece, Shawnteria Sankey at $ShawnteriaSankey. If you can’t afford to give, praying is free.

Thank you so much for your support. Please keep this mom and daughter in your prayers.

Shawnteria Sankey is in charge of this Gofund and she will make sure your donations get to Dorry and Breanna.