Donate Life - Dusty McCollum's Story
Our daughter Brinley was born with a rare genetic disease that affected her liver. This disease is called Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, or PFIC for short, which then has several subtypes that they are still studying. Her subtype is type 2, which can be more severe and progresses quickly. The disease eventually causes liver failure within the first 10 years of life, which then leads to needing a transplant at a young age. This disease also causes an insatiable itchiness that could possibly be managed with medication.
Unfortunately, these medications did not help her and she struggled constantly with the itch. Her healthcare team decided to list her for transplant in July 2022. My daughter received her transplant on Mother's Day weekend in 2023 at two years old! She has been absolutely thriving since. She can now sleep, grow, and learn like a normal toddler.
Our little girl has a chance at life because of organ donation! My family is forever grateful for the donor and their family who had the kindness to donate in a time when they were experiencing an unimaginable loss. Organ donation will always be near and dear to my heart.
Learn More
To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit our Donate Life page. To register to become a donor in Illinois, visit https://www.lifegoeson.com/.