Amica Phoenix

Amica Phoenix is a 28-year-old young lady who is determined, compassionate, and eager to live a normal life like others her age. Amica needs YOUR help. She needs a kidney transplant to save her life.

As a young adult, Amica was diagnosed with lupus, a complicated and unpredictable disease that often leads to organ damage. She retained fluid and experienced swelling which put extra stress on her heart. Ultimately, the disease damaged her kidneys and caused kidney failure. There are only two treatments for people living with kidney failure: dialysis or transplant.

While Amica waits for a transplant, she must do dialysis treatments to keep her alive. For the last three years, she has and continues to spend 15 hours each week on dialysis. She’s hooked up to a machine 3 days a week for 4 hours at a time to filter the toxins out of her blood. Dialysis is hard and severely limits Amica’s quality of life. She experiences extreme fatigue and lacks the energy to do the things she loves. Dialysis isn’t living, it’s existing.

Amica’s life has been drastically changed by kidney failure. All her energy is spent managing her health. While most people in their 20’s are focused on their careers, relationships, and starting a family. Amica’s days are filled with dialysis treatments and doctor’s appointments. She lost a lot of weight and doctors told her she needed to gain the weight back to get on the transplant list. She’s endured multiple hospitalizations and suffered cardiac arrest. Despite these challenges, Amica’s a fighter who isn’t giving up!

Friends and family describe Amica as a caring and thoughtful young woman who cares deeply for her family. Her dad describes Amica as a shy, quiet, and loving person who is “sweet as pie.” She has a heart for helping people and always looks for the best in others. When she has the energy, Amica enjoys staying active by participating in aquatic classes at her local YMCA. She loves to cook, look for new décor
for her condominium, and create art.

A new kidney will allow Amica to live her life freely without the constraints of dialysis. She’ll be able to return to work, provide for herself, and start living her life to the fullest. She’ll have the energy to complete renovations to her condo and can revisit her love and passion for art. With a new kidney, Amica can try new things she’s never done before like travelling and taking baking classes. Most importantly, a new kidney will allow Amica to spend more precious time with her family.

The wait times to get a kidney from a deceased donor can be 3-5 years. Amica’s doctors and transplant team have advised her to look for a living donor. Finding a living donor will help her get “off the list” sooner and on to living her life. A kidney from a living donor often has better outcomes, averaging 15 to 20 years or more versus 8-12 years for a deceased donor kidney. Most living donor surgeries are done laparoscopically and discharge from the hospital is usually 24-48 hours after surgery. The life expectancy of a living donor is typically longer than the average person.

To learn more about living kidney donation or start the testing process on Amica’s behalf, please contact Breanna Bronson at The Christ Hospital at 513.585.1427 or [email protected]. The living donor process is confidential and Amica will not be notified if you contact the transplant team. All costs for testing and surgery are covered by Amica’s insurance.

Please like and follow Amica’s story on Facebook at FUTURE 4 AMICA.

Thank you for considering giving the gift of life through living kidney donation. You could save Amica’s life or one of the 100,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant.

Family and friends of Amica Phoenix are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Amica has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!