Calgary Family's Urgent Search for Kidney Donor to Save 8-Year-Old Daughter
A Calgary family is in a race against time to find a living kidney donor for their eight-year-old daughter, Brianna Bodkin, who is experiencing kidney failure just nine months after being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Without a donor match in the coming months, young Brianna will require dialysis treatment while waiting for a transplant from a deceased donor.
A Rare Blood Type Complicates the Search
Brianna's situation is particularly challenging due to her rare blood type, which has significantly hampered efforts to find a compatible donor. Neither her parents nor her sister are eligible donors because the kidney disease is genetic in nature. The family has been instructed by medical professionals to actively seek a living donor, as transplanted kidneys from living donors typically last longer than those from deceased donors.
"She's such a trooper — I think she's braver than me," said Brianna's mother, Jill Bodkin. "The first time she had to go for blood work when we got out of the hospital, I was a mess and I was crying. My husband's just like, 'Jill, you have to be brave for her, you have to be the strong support system.'"
Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
Brianna was diagnosed in June 2025 after being sick for approximately five days. Medical investigations at the hospital included blood work, X-rays, and an ultrasound, which led to suspicion of chronic kidney disease that was later confirmed through biopsy. Since her diagnosis, Brianna has endured weekly visits to the Alberta Children's Hospital for blood work, receives at-home injections to maintain her hemoglobin levels, and follows a strictly restricted diet.
Currently, Brianna's kidney function has declined to around 10 percent, which is the threshold when medical teams become serious about pursuing transplant options. If a living donor cannot be found within several months, she will need to begin dialysis treatment while waiting approximately one year for a transplant from a deceased donor. Although children under 18 are prioritized on transplant waiting lists, most adults can wait several years for this life-saving procedure.
Family Faces Double Diagnosis
In a devastating turn of events, the family's eldest daughter Brooke, who is nearly 13 years old, was diagnosed with the same genetic kidney condition in December. Brooke's kidney function currently stands at about 23 percent, while Brianna's has dropped to approximately 10 percent.
"It's been quite the roller-coaster," Jill Bodkin reflected on their family's experience. "I felt more prepared for Brooke's diagnosis after going through the same with Brianna, but having two children with kidney disease has been a challenge. It's been a ride, but I am a glass-half-full type of person. The girls are so brave with all the blood work and all the needles and the hospital visits, but at least it is treatable in some capacity."
Medical Support and Awareness Campaign
The family has expressed deep gratitude for the medical team at Alberta Children's Hospital, describing them as "so incredible and so supportive." Jill Bodkin emphasized that she doesn't believe she would have been able to navigate this difficult journey without their guidance and care.
Beyond the immediate need to find a donor for Brianna, Jill hopes that sharing their family's story will raise awareness about pediatric kidney disease and organ donation, potentially helping other families facing similar challenges. The Bodkin family's situation highlights the critical importance of living organ donation and the urgent needs of children requiring transplants for survival.
As the search continues, the family remains hopeful that a compatible donor will come forward to provide Brianna with the life-saving kidney transplant she desperately needs to avoid dialysis and regain her health.
