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Melissa Brandle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1995 at the young age of 13. Diabetes has taken its toll on Melissa’s health in many serious ways. At 16 she underwent a skin graft to repair a diabetic ulcer on her leg; at 20 she had cataract surgery to restore her sight. Again at the age of 32 she underwent eye surgery for diabetic macular edema in both eyes. By the Grace of God and Dr. Sippy her eyesight was saved. Last year at the young age of 33 she lost kidney function and was forced to start dialysis treatment four hours a day, three times a week.
Fortunately, Melissa was recently placed on the kidney/pancreas transplant list at The University of Utah Medical Center. Her call could literally come any day.
Transplants are lifesaving but financially draining. Even with insurance, Melissa is facing very high expenses including travel, motel expenses, post-transplant medications of up to $1200 a month, co-pays, lab fees and much more. After the transplant she must remain in Utah for a month and after she is able to come home she must return weekly for follow-up care.
The current and future costs are too great for someone in her position. To help with the financial burden of Melissa’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and the families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, and are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northwest Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.
Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Check back because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.
Gratefully,
Kim Robbins (Melissa’s mother)
(406)443-1083
party-bug@charter.net
It has been almost three months since transplant day. I have been to many doctor appointments and my labs have been great. I have had to make several trips to Utah and stay over night which kinda gets a little expensive so I will be doing a fundraiser at some point to raise money to help. I am designing a shirt and will be selling those to help raise money for travel and medical needs. This journey has been tough on me and my loved ones. I have a great support system to help me when I am down. I have down days and am sometimes really sad or mad it is kinda confusing to me. I know some of it is related to my meds tho. I am so grateful for this chance at life and my goal is to let people know how important organ donation is. I will post more later
Things have been going very well since the transplant. Thank you to everybody that has helped me along the way with prayers and financial help. I thank God everyday for this wonderful gift. I am doing everything I can to stay healthy and do what the docs tell me. I have a long way to go still but I have faith that I will get stronger everyday.
A Good News Update --- We are pleased to share our news that Melissa received the Gift of Life - her kidney transplant - on Wednesday, June 29th. Thank you for your support of our continued need to fundraise.
You're an amazing woman so full of strength Melissa and though today was a rough one (I'm sure)-know that God is holding out for the right donor, the right kidney, the right time. Keep your faith sweets!
Jodi (star gazer)
Melissa, I hardly know what to say. Wow! You have been through so much. Stay strong, keep fighting and I wish you the best!
Anthony O
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Melissa Maye Brandle
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
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