Kansas Woman Who Lost All Limbs After Childbirth Finds Kidney Transplant Match

Brie Bauer spent years on dialysis waiting for a compatible donor before a perfect match was found.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:56pm

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Brie Bauer, a Kansas mother of three, lost all four of her limbs due to complications from childbirth that caused sepsis. After spending two years on dialysis and waiting for a compatible kidney donor, Bauer has finally found a perfect match that could allow her to use prosthetics for the first time since her amputation.

Why it matters

Bauer's story highlights the immense challenges faced by those with complex medical histories in finding organ donors, as well as the life-changing impact a successful transplant can have on restoring quality of life and independence for amputees.

The details

Bauer spent most days since her amputation on dialysis, as her medical history made finding a compatible donor difficult. Weeks, months and years passed without a match, until a perfect donor was finally found. The successful transplant could allow Bauer to use prosthetics for the first time, as the fluid retention from dialysis had previously prevented this.

  • Bauer lost her limbs due to childbirth complications and sepsis in 2024.
  • Bauer has been on dialysis for the past two years waiting for a kidney transplant.
  • Bauer was matched with a perfect kidney donor in March 2026.

The players

Brie Bauer

A Kansas mother of three who lost all four of her limbs due to complications from childbirth that caused sepsis.

Samantha Brenner

Bauer's transplant nurse who had seen how difficult the search for a compatible donor had been.

Dr. Jeffrey Klein

A transplant nephrologist at the University of Kansas Health System who noted that a successful kidney transplant could make prosthetic use possible for Bauer for the first time.

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What they’re saying

“If we were able to actually have a good ending for me where I get a kidney transplant, and we take out the time spent on dialysis and appointments, our quality of life would improve tremendously.”

— Brie Bauer

“It just so happened that this person was a match, a perfect match. So, it was very surprising that it turned out like this.”

— Samantha Brenner, Bauer's transplant nurse

“When you have limbs that require a prosthesis, if you swell, then you can't wear a prosthesis, or the size changes and it doesn't fit right. Coming off dialysis and having a kidney that can manage fluid for somebody is life-changing because all of a sudden, those other things are possible.”

— Dr. Jeffrey Klein, Transplant nephrologist at the University of Kansas Health System

What’s next

Bauer is scheduled to undergo the kidney transplant surgery in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Bauer's story underscores the immense challenges faced by those with complex medical histories in finding organ donors, and the profound impact a successful transplant can have in restoring quality of life and independence for amputees.