Brandea McGill

Brandea Needs Your Help

My mom, Brandea is a 39 year old mother of four fighting End Stage Renal Disease. Her kidneys were severely damaged and scarred after a long bout with kidney reflux as a child. She has spent most of her life in and out of hospitals, enduring various procedures and surgeries. In 2008, when she was eight months pregnant, we nearly lost her and my baby brother due to Acute Double Renal Failure. After sustaining years of medical trauma, Brandea’s kidneys are now in chronic failure. She needs a lifesaving kidney transplant.

Brandea began a career in healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant when she was only sixteen years old. She then furthered her medical knowledge and career by attending college in the Medical Assisting program, and later added Phlebotomy to her list of skills. As a CNA/MA she cared for many people including elderly and post-op rehabilitation patients. She worked in hospitals, retirement and assisted living facilities, as well as volunteering in her children’s school clinic. She is looking forward to returning to college and advancing her medical career after transplant.

Brandea’s illness forced her to leave the work she dearly loved. She has dedicated her life caring for and helping others. Now, finding herself the person in need of care, Brandea is reaching out to friends, family, and her community for help.

The associated costs of kidney transplantation, post-op care, medications, etc. can be a detrimental financial burden to an already overwhelmed family. Immunosuppressant medications are a necessity to preserve the life of the transplanted kidney and prevent rejection and Brandea will need these medications for the rest of her life. Many of these costs are not covered by insurance, thereby creating a lifetime of financial hardship.

To help with the financial burden of Brandea’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her 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 the South-Atlantic Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution to help my mom.

Thank you in advance for your support of my wonderful mom and our family! Show Brandea your support, stop in and sign the guest book.

Most Gratefully,

Ericka Garraffa, Brandea’s Daughter