Kameron Binns

Hello Family and Friends,

I would like to share my Brother, Kameron’s Journey. He was accepted to the University of Washington Medical Center’s Liver Transplant list on March 18, 2022. Kameron has been experiencing severe health challenges for the last several years, but in fact he has end stage liver disease, and is in need of a lifesaving liver transplant.

I’m letting you all know, so that if anyone who wants to help him would have the opportunity to do so. I also need help just spreading the word.

There are 12,000 people on the U.S. liver transplant waiting list, and there are simply not enough donated livers from deceased donors, which means that he may not survive while waiting for a liver from a deceased donor.

But many people don’t know that a liver transplant from a living donor is an important additional option for people needing a liver transplant. I wish that I could donate a portion of my liver to Kameron, but I cannot due to health reasons. Since I can’t donate, I am doing what I can for Kam which is being his Living Liver Donor Champion and Caregiver, the person that will advocate for Kam and teach others about living liver donation in the hope of finding someone who might be willing to consider making such a donation.

If you don’t know Kam, you should know a little about him. Kam has been a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and colleague, doing all he could to help others in need. many times he would help even if it meant putting others’ needs above his own. After our dad passed away in 1998, Kam lovingly took the responsibility of providing a home for our mom and sister Tarilee.
Kam had a larger than life spunk and ambition throughout his youth and adult life. He was an Eagle Scout, a varsity cheerleader (he could do the splits, back flips, and backhand springs across the entire gym floor). He loves all sports, and was Utah’s youngest certified basketball referee at age 17, a 3-year letterman in baseball, all while working as a waterman and lawn mower at the SLC Cemetery!
Kam then served and successfully completed an LDS mission to Taiwan, learning to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese. After that he graduated college in International Studies–East Asia. He went right into working as a data processor. At the same time, he pursued his passion for sports, coaching baseball and basketball, as well as refereeing.
Kam worked in our family businesses, which ranged from restaurants, to hot tub stores, before trying his hand at real estate. That was when he discovered his love of building. He and Tarilee built houses on Bainbridge Island, Washington, for many successful years before Tarilee fell ill. He then decided to become a Licensed Certified Welding Inspector and master of special inspections, which included inspecting concrete, reinforcing steel, masonry, and soil density. Kam worked at this career until his disease worsened April 24, 2021.
Kam has many talents, passions and hobbies. He always put family first while enjoying spending time with his nephews and niece and their kids. He is always the FUNCLE (fun uncle), taking them to sporting events, museums, camping, sightseeing, etc., as well as supporting them in their own activities. He has a passion for photography and volunteered taking action pictures of local sports teams. He loves the arts, and has taken many art classes, including painting and sculpting. And he was never the one to shy away from tying a quilt with his sisters.
Kam has many medical conditions and procedures that he needs to do to stay stable. He has to have abdominal fluid removed every 7-10 days, sometimes up to 15 liters (about 33 lbs., done by paracentesis). He needs many medications to prevent dizziness and confusion that can lead to falling or hepatic coma. Both have happened to Kam, resulting in lengthy hospitalizations.
While his disease is overwhelming, Kam has kept a positive attitude and has completely changed his behavior to now include a very healthy lifestyle with proper diet, exercise and support groups. The previously mentioned conditions will all be resolved with a live liver transplant–which procedure boasts an overall 90% survival rate.
Here are some things potential donors should know. (1) A living donor’s liver will regenerate back to normal in approximately three months, and the donor will live a healthy, normal life after donating a portion of their liver. (2) The liver recipient’s insurance will pay for the donor’s evaluation process and surgery. (3) The transplant team will not let a person donate unless they determine that the donor is healthy and surgery poses the least possible risk to the donor. (4) The surgery can be scheduled electively at a convenient time for the donor.
If you are between ages 18-60, healthy, with no major medical conditions or past major abdominal surgeries, and you are interested in learning more about the live liver donation process, please contact me. If you are not a candidate please consider sharing Kam’s story. You never know who might want to help save his life!
You can read more about Living Donors at: www.unos.orgFamily and friends of Kameron Binns are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Kameron 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!