“I do not remember life before diabetes, and it has been over 20 years living with this disease. I feel so very blessed to have the opportunity to be put on a list for a kidney/pancreas transplant. Not only will I no longer be hooked to a dialysis machine and dependent on others, I will receive a pancreas that allows me to be free from that disease. Even if it only lasted one day, it would be worth it. I am still young and feel I have a lot of life to give back to others.” ~ Brooke
Rachele “Brooke” Riley is a 40-year-old woman who is very ill. Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at a young age, this disease has finally taken a toll on her body. She is in need of a kidney/pancreas transplant as her only hope for survival.
Brooke received a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Business Leadership from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2009. She worked full time supporting her two children, while also attending college and taking care of her health. She serviced her community through volunteer tornado disaster relief efforts in Moore, OK and outreach programs in Enid, OK. As a blessing to those around her, Brooke is a kind and giving person, always ready to help the next person in line. In the words of her son, she is his best friend and the nicest, most generous person anyone will ever meet.
For Brooke, family has always come first. She has been a dedicated caregiver and support source for her elderly mother, widowed sister, daughter who is a single mom of two boys, and son who is in high school. As a devoted mom, she wants to be there to help guide her children in the growing years of their lives. However, since the decline of her health, she can no longer be a caretaker, bread-winner, and active participant in the activities of her family, church, and community.
She has been a strong warrior throughout this journey but in order for her to ‘press on’ she needs our help. Her family has adopted her warrior attitude and is fully committed to see her through this transplant process. However, the out-of-pocket costs associated with transplantation are astronomical. This presents a challenge that Brooke and her family cannot meet alone.
To help with the financial burden of uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in Brooke’s honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in South-Central Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only.
Please be assured that your contribution counts and is greatly appreciated. Brooke knows that organ transplantation is a precious gift – one to be appreciated for a lifetime. After receiving a new kidney and pancreas, Brooke’s goal is to go back to teaching as a profession. She also intends on volunteering to serve her local community, with a special focus on those living with kidney disease. If we all work together, we can help turn Brooke’s dreams into a reality.
