Michelle has been battling kidney disease since she was fourteen years old. In April of 2002 her mother, Wanda, gave Michelle her first kidney. It was hoped that the transplant would last many years; however, in the first several months after her transplant she had a bout with the Ecoli virus. A few years later she had a bout with the BK virus, which caused significant renal stress. Luckily, with the help of her doctors she was able to battle back. Several years later, Michelle is still battling for her life; enduring peritoneal dialysis for nine hours nightly as she awaits a second kidney transplant. The average wait for a kidney in the United States is three to five years depending on blood type.

Michelle’s amazing brother, Tommy was tested to become a kidney donor. Tommy was just four months old when Michelle first began to have kidney failure. He has stood by her through the years before and after her first transplant. It probably goes without saying that they are very close. Unfortunately, Tommy was not a donor match. And so, Michelle continues her wait. Hopefully, she will receive her new kidney soon.