This story starts with the most incredible little girl, Brinley.  Brinley made her arrival in April of 2021 to her first time parents, Andrew and Dusty, just a young couple so excited to start their perfect little family ♥️

At only 3 months old, Brinley was diagnosed with PFIC (Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis) Type 2 - which is a rare inherited liver disease. PFIC affects the protein in our bodies that moves bile acids out of our liver cells and into our bile ducts - causing it not to function as it should. This causes bile acids to build up in the liver, causing the liver to become inflamed and/or damaged.

PFIC Type 2 is considered more aggressive than type 1. In PFIC 2 individuals liver damage is likely to progress more quickly. This quick progression is what ultimately lead to sweet Brinley’s liver transplant at just 2 years old. Her liver transplant eventually attributed to Brinley’s cancer diagnosis. PTLD is a cancer diagnosed only to transplant patients. After Chemotherapy and Immune therapy, Brinley rang the bell on June 14, 2024. - completely cancer free. 

PFIC is a strictly inherited disease, meaning you cannot catch it by coming into contact with someone who has it, it is genetic. As an autosomal recessive disease,  individuals who have it inherited a faulty gene from each parent. Before having Brinley, Andrew and Dusty had no clue either of them were carriers of PFIC. Although both are carriers (Dusty has one normal gene and one mutated one, and Andrew has one normal gene and his second is missing all together) neither Dusty or Andrew have been diagnosed with PFIC because each of them have a normal gene paired with their faulty ones. Brinley recieved Dusty’s mutated gene and Andrew’s missing gene, leaving her with a PFIC diagnosis. Andrew and Dusty’s combined genes have a 25% chance of creating a PFIC child every time.

That is where their IVF journey comes into play. After discussions I could never even fathom having, Dusty and Andrew have decided the only way they would ever want to grow their beautiful family would be in a way they could ensure they would not be putting another baby through the itching, feeding tubes, hospital visits, liver transplant and possible cancer threats they already watched their sweet Brinley go through. 25% odds are just not something they are willing to chance again. 

IVF gives the McCollum family the ability to bring their next baby into this world, knowing they will not be diagnosed with PFIC.

Dusty and Andrew began their IVF journey in the fall of 2025. The first round of medications did not yield an amount of follicles their doctor felt comfortable with going in to retrieve and fertilize. Doctors decided to give Dusty additional medications to allow more mature follicles for their second round. These medications did produce more follicles, initiating their first egg retrieval and fertilization process.  6 eggs were retrieved. 1 survived for fertilization. And sadly after a couple days it was discovered that one did not make it. 

Seeing the heartbreak on Andrew’s face after that loss is what sparked this GiveAHand Fundraiser. Knowing this amazing couple is trying to do the absolute best they can for their family. Trying to eliminate as many medical hurdles as possible for their future child and then seeing it crumble before them has to be impossible to bear. Seeing those 25% odds stare back at them daily with a beaming smile on her face and knowing they wouldn’t change her for the world, and also knowing they couldn’t live with their conscious if they took that risk knowing what they know now.  

Please keep this young family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this next set of life’s hurdles. If you are able I know every single penny given will lift a substantial weight off of their shoulders. ♥️