In a span of three weeks, Dalease Brown temporarily lost her vision, contracted Covid-19 and pneumonia, suffered a stroke, and was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Instead of letting the ordeal set her back, the experience became a catalyst in driving her to persevere and make a lasting impact in both her life and the lives of others.
About Dalease Brown
Dalease is a crisis outreach worker who has spent the past nine years serving her community through mentoring at-risk youth, assisting individuals impacted by the justice system, and advocating for those experiencing homelessness.
Raised in a family of first responders, Dalease was active in sports during her youth, had a deep love for soul food, and was deeply influenced by her grandmother.
In June 2022, Dalease went to the emergency room for a headache and was told that her blood pressure was dangerously high. What began as a brief visit quickly escalated to 23 days of battling several traumatic health challenges that ended with the diagnosis of end-stage renal failure.
The diagnosis became a turning point in her life, motivating her to do more, help more, and expect more out of herself and life. Dalease says, “This journey has strengthened my faith and renewed my purpose. I'm here for a reason – to give back to my community just as my medical team gave back to me when I wasn't sure I would make it.”
Dalease works 10-hour shifts as a crisis outreach worker, is on dialysis three times a week, and raises a child. She refuses to view her situation as a limitation, but rather an opportunity. Her diagnosis has motivated her to explore through travel and experiences she never would have tried before, including going back to school.
She shared, “If I am blessed to be connected with a donor, I plan to return to school to educate others about the vital connection between individuals’ mental and physical health and their collective impact on thriving communities.”
Do you want to help Dalease and her family? Please share the link to Delease’s story or reach out to Kidneys for Communities at info@kidneysforcommunities.org to learn more about how you can help. The Kidneys for Communities team is here to answer your questions.
KIDNEY DONATION
How does kidney donation work?
A donor doesn’t need to be an exact match. In fact, because of the Nobel Prize-winning paired kidney exchange program, your kidney donation will not only save one life, but it will save several more in the chain.
Living kidney donation is safe, and all costs associated with your donation are covered. Living donor kidneys also last much longer than deceased donor kidneys. A deceased donor kidney transplant, on average, lasts 10-15 years while a living donor transplant lasts 12-20 years.
Kidneys for Communities® Donor Benefits
Donating a kidney is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling acts someone can do.
Kidneys for Communities can help you through the process to help save a life, but we know there are many obstacles that can be prohibitive to the donor. At Kidneys for Communities, we take care of our donors with the industry’s most complete donor benefits package:
Onboarding and education
Personalized guidance through the donation process
Anonymity
Cost reimbursements:
Travel, food & lodging, lost wages, child, pet and adult care