2021 Strut Warrior
Meet our 2021 Strut Warrior!
~Devree Guido~
Devree was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease. She had further complications with liver fibrosis, and by the time she was 2 years old, she needed a liver transplant. Jessica Guido (Devree's Mom), gave a piece of her liver to her daughter in hopes of helping her, but it got killed by blood clots. Devree received an urgent transplant two days later from their “angel” Melissa. Her kidneys started working again, and she was able to come off dialysis, and the new liver was working well. At this point, her family knew Devree would eventually need a kidney transplant due to her type of kidney disease. Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease is a progressive disease in which cysts grow and take over functioning portions of the kidney. In June 2020, her kidneys could no longer support her body’s needs.
Now, Devree has a new kidney!
Jessica Guido said, “She loves the craft projects they bring by for her to do and music therapy. They have a lot of things for children to do through their incredible child life therapy programs.” Jessica Guido encourages people to register with United Network for Organ Sharing, an organization that provides support to transplant recipients and donor families, to be an organ donor.
“We want most of all to thank the donor and family who decided to give Devree her kidney and the Stevens family for her liver,” Jessica Guido said. “Melissa lives on in Devree through that selfless act. Our kidney donor is still unknown to us, but we are forever grateful for their choice and feel sorrow for their loss.”
