Donor needed for Del. teen fighting uphill health battle

A Sussex County family needs the public’s help as their teenaged daughter fights not one, but two serious illnesses.

Rebecca “Becky” Reinas, 17, wears three bracelets on her wrists. The lime-green bracelet is in support of her mother’s battle with Lyme disease but the other two represent her own battles.

Becky was in 7th grade when a trip to A.I. DuPont in Wilmington finally explained years of dizziness and fainting spells. Now a junior at Indian River High School, we met her on Monday when she explained the event was so traumatizing that she didn’t recall much of the day.

“My grandmother told me I told her I thought I wasn’t going to live.” Says Becky.

After many tests, she was eventually diagnosed was Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and cardiomyopathy. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says the condition is characterized by the heart becoming enlarged, thick, or rigid.

“She had been asleep and started screaming my name and I came over, I could see from the outside of her room her heart beating of her chest and she was screaming that she couldn’t feel her legs.” Recalls her mother Mindy Alderfer.

Becky’s kidneys and heart were failing her.

Four years later, Becky’s battle with kidney disease has reached stage 4. According to the National Kidney Foundation, stage 4 indicates the kidneys have suffered severe damage which makes it hard to filter blood.

Becky needs a kidney transplant.

Her mother says they’ve turned to friends, family and social media. They have received an outpouring of support but no suitable donors.

Alderfer tells 47 ABC that with her daughter’s weak heart, she needs a live donor with Type “O” blood and in good health.

“She has a less chance that her body will accept the kidney if she has a donor to begin with, so the heart may not accept it.” Says Alderfer. “The heart…at this point…we don’t even know if it will get her through this surgery.”

They’re asking anyone willing to be a donor to help.

“I know they say beggars can’t be choosers but right now, I’m doing both because it’s life or death for her.” Says Alderfer. “It’s not…you know, she doesn’t have a choice with her heart and everything else going downhill.”

The family has also launched other ways the community can help Becky. This includes fundraisers.

To contact the family, please reach out to mindyjay30@gmail.com.