Andrea Keller

Andrea “Andie” Keller was born to Amelia Keller and Eddie Bridges joining her three sisters at their family home in Raymond, Washington. Andrea spent most of her life in Raymond and moved to Olympia, WA for college where she now resides. Diagnosed at age twelve with juvenile diabetes she has been insulin dependent ever since. Since receiving a diagnosis of renal failure, she has been doing peritoneal dialysis at home four times a day/seven days a week while maintaining full time employment at the Washington State Department of Health.

Although you would never know it by the positive attitude she keeps, the last few years have been very trying for Andie. Many complications from diabetes are attacking her body. She suffers from diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy that attacks the nerve endings in the body tissue. She also has a stomach disorder that interferes with her eating and digestion, often causing nausea and vomiting landing Andie in the hospital quite often for weeks at a time. Although often she is fatigued, she still has many sleepless nights. After undergoing a comprehensive medical evaluation, Andie has been placed on the kidney/pancreas transplant list at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA.

Through it all, Andie’s spirit has never faltered. She continues to inspire everyone she meets with her cheery presence and sense of humor. Andie is an inspiration to all those she comes in contact with, and even more inspiring she maintains a positive, can do attitude that is never shook by her struggles.

At times like these, the support of family, friends, and the community is crucial to help ensure a successful outcome. Even with private health insurance, Andie now faces significant transplant-related expenses. Her out-of-pocket expenses include co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, travel and relocation at the time of transplant, and the costly immunosuppressant medications (around $800/mo) she will have to take for the rest of her life.

To assist with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Andie’s honor has been established HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northwest Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. To make a contribution to Andrea:For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thanks for your support!