Brielle Trice lost both of her kidneys to stage four Wilms tumor cancer when she was just 11 months old
She soon after began her grueling dialysis routine and received a feeding tube because food became hard to hold down
But Brielle’s life will change on July 1 thanks to Tim Hilterman
He decided to donate one of his kidneys after meeting Brielle at church
Brielle is currently undergoing food therapy sessions to learn how to use utensils and become comfortable with tasting food
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Published: 18:32 EST, 26 June 2015 | Updated: 00:25 EST, 27 June 2015
A 4-year-old Ohio girl is learning how to eat for the first time as she prepares for a kidney transplant next week that will free her from a feeding tube – and change her life.
Brielle Trice lost both of her kidneys after she was diagnosed with stage four Wilms tumor, a rare cancer that primarily affects children, when she was just 11 months old.
She then had to begin a daily 12-hour dialysis routine, and soon after was given a feeding tube because food became hard to hold down.
Cancer survivor Brielle Trice, 4, is learning how to eat for the first time as she prepares for a kidney transplant that will free her from a feeding tube and change her life
Brielle lost both of her kidneys after she was diagnosed with stage four Wilms tumor when she was just 11 months old. She has since had to undergo a daily 12-hour dialysis routine and a feeding tube (pictured)
But all that will change for Brielle thanks to fellow church member Tim Hilterman, who is donating one of his kidneys to the cancer survivor.
Hilterman met Brielle and her family, who took her in as a foster child when she was 18 months old and have since adopted her, at the Westwood Alliance Church in Ontario.
The father-of-four didn’t know anything about kidney donation when he first met Brielle. But when he found about more about her situation, he knew he had to help.
‘If it were my daughter that needed a kidney and I wasn’t a match, that’s exactly what I would be praying for, someone who would be willing to put their name in the hat,’ he told the Richland Source.
‘The chance to give Brielle a kidney that works and completely change her life for a long period of time, it’s absolutely worth it.’
But Brielle’s life is about to change in a major way thanks to fellow church member Tim Hilterman (pictured), who is donating one of his kidneys to the little girl
The father-of-four didn’t know anything about kidney donation when he first met Brielle. But when he found about more about her situation, he knew he had to help
Brielle is already preparing for the biggest change in her life after the July 1 surgery: being able to eat solid food.
The 4-year-old is currently undergoing feeding therapy sessions, being taught how to use utensils and experimenting with soft foods that don’t require chewing, according to the Mansfield News Journal.
Although Brielle at first would spit the food out or immediately need a drink of water, she is slowly getting used to the chance to taste her food – especially when it’s vanilla pudding or ranch dressing.
And after she begins with liquids and purees, Brielle will finally get the chance to eat the plate of food her family put out for her every night at meal time so she can feel ‘like everyone else’, her mom Alysia Chicon told ABC.
And there’s something else Brielle is excited to do for the first time, something most young children don’t often look forward to.
‘Brielle told me, “When I get my new kidneys I’m going to pee”‘, said Chicon.
‘It’s one of those things you don’t think of.’
Brielle is is currently undergoing feeding therapy sessions, being taught how to use utensils and experimenting with soft foods that don’t require chewing
And mom Alysia Chicon, who adopted Brielle when she was 18 months old, said her daughter is even excited that she will finally get to be potty trained
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