Today is the day. Rachel Povhe is getting her life-saving kidney! We’ve been following Rachel’s story for months now and this news is simply wonderful!!!
It has been a very tough year and a half for Rachel Povhe.
The young mom and wife has end stage kidney disease – her kidneys are failing.
It all started when she was pregnant with her baby girl. “Since Amelia was born premature at 28 weeks due to my kidneys failing, it seems like it has been one thing after another the past year and half,” Rachel tells me, “It has definitely been a roller coaster first with her health and then starting dialysis this past January.” Amelia is a beautiful and healthy one and a half year old now but Rachel’s kidneys are getting progressively worse.
We first told you about Rachel in February. Her husband, Matt started a Facebook page and posted about his wife’s condition. Month after month – this young mom and wife has been holding out hope for a kidney donor. “So I am feeling okay, I am doing peritoneal dialysis and while it is time consuming, it is doing its job of cleaning my blood and keeping me healthy enough for transplant.”
The Gowanda mom says her husband and baby girl are her biggest supporters. “Adding dialysis on top of caring for an infant is not easy. I have been able to spend time at home taking care of her, and Matt still works full time and still somehow manages to take care of both me and Amelia. Amelia is a total daddy’s girl and he is the best daddy. I really don’t know what I would do without them. It’s not easy but we make it work.”
Still, even with failing kidneys and regular dialysis – Rachel feels blessed to have her sweet baby Amelia – born at just 28 weeks –Â by her side. “We are so blessed that she is a perfect, tough little girl and she brings so much love and joy to our lives.”
The waiting is always the hardest part – but a few months ago – something amazing happened.
Brandi Behling saw the post on her cousin’s Facebook page. She knew right away she wanted to do this for Rachel. Brandi and Rachel exchanged emails back and forth and Brandi continued on getting tested for donating her kidney. After talking, they realized they actually knew each other. Sort of. Brandi was Rachel’s riding instructor at Motorcycle Safety School in 2017.
Small world.
Brandi has undergone testing and it turns out she is a perfect match.
Perfect!!!
Obviously this family has been through more than most can imagine and they could really use our help.
“The go fund me has raised a little over half of our goal of $5,000. The go fund me was set up to cover our costs as our insurance has a an out of pocket cost of $5,300. We are extremely grateful for all the donations we have received so far. We know these times are hard for people and appreciate everyone that has contributed. My donor Brandi Behling is the most generous person I have ever met. Not only is she donating her kidney to me, she is also helping us fund raise for the surgery. Her friends and family have contributed to us which is awesome. Brandi and I have been getting together a couple times a month and I’m getting to know just how amazing she really is!”
To help this beautiful family with out-of-pocket surgery costs – CLICK HEREÂ for their GoFundMe Page.
In a world filled with a whole lot of negative news – consider this: Our story was viewed well over one million times, shared by hundreds of thousands. Over 500 people reached out to the transplant hospitals offering to donate their kidney to Rachel. 500!!!! People are good and they care. People like Brandi Behling who is giving the gift of life to a young wife and mom who will always be grateful.
“I am so lucky that Brandi is giving me a chance to be here with my family.”
The transplant surgery will take place on September 10th. We are praying for all of you!!!!
According to Kidney.org – Over 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month. 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list.
Our past stories about Rachel’s journey
Young mom & wife with stage five kidney failure in need of transplant, looking for donor
Young mom & wife with stage five kidney failure has found a ‘perfect match’ donor!
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