Father’s Day has a whole new meaning for Brian Bailey and his daughter, Brianna, as she fights to stay alive on dialysis and Brian continues his effort to find her a kidney donor.
Brianna started feeling sick in 2019, right before her 31st birthday; her kidneys were failing due to diabetes. Brian, whose most important goal has always been to take care of his daughter, wanted to donate his kidney. He wasn’t a match, so Brianna started dialysis.
“It just did a whole 360 on my life,” she said. “Now I can’t go to school or continue the dreams I want to do in life because I’m on dialysis.”
Brian may not have been a donor match, but the West Philadelphia dad put his energy into volunteering and advocating for Gift Of Life, where he raises awareness about organ donation.
“He always says his mission is to see me outlive him,” Brianna said and she’s determined to regain her future. “I want to live and hopefully I want to give my dad some grandkids someday.”
Brian is determined to succeed in helping his daughter no matter how long it takes.
“She’s strong, she’s strong. She’s just waiting and I’m waiting too,” he said. “I just want to be a hero for her.”
More than 87% of people on the national transplant waiting list need a kidney transplant, facing a three- to five-year wait. Honor Brian and Brianna by becoming a registered organ donor today.