Brianne was raised in her family's house in Lincoln, Illinois. Always very happy and outgoing, Brianne's family and friends considered her a ray of light. Brianne enjoyed playing with her Barbie dolls, creating magical lands on paper with her markers and other typical childhood activities.
When she turned four, the Bacon's had a son, Brandon, and the family spent those years creating special memories. Brianne had a particular passion for softball, and on Halloween, the young Bacon children could be found trick-or-treating.
At age ten, Brianne began to feel ill. Because she had always been such a healthy child, the Bacons were surprised when she began complaining of headaches. Although they felt it was probably just the flu, Rick and Stacy decided to take her to their family doctor to make sure that nothing was seriously wrong. After all, a family vacation to Disneyworld was coming up and if Brianne had the flu they wanted her to get better in time.
The family doctor concurred and began to treat Brianne for flu-like symptoms.
Unfortunately, Brianne's headaches did not subside, but continued to worsen and were accompanied by nausea and temporary black splotches in her vision. Once again, the Bacons returned to the doctor who recommended an MRI.
When the MRI showed a discoloration in Brianne's brain, the Bacons immediately sought the opinion of a well-respected neurosurgeon at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. The specialist determined that Brianne had a tumor near the brainstem and that surgery would be necessary. Brianne was very brave and still only concerned about going on the family vacation.
After surgery, the neurosurgeon informed the family that he had not been able to remove the entire tumor because doing so would unnecessarily risk vision loss and possible paralysis. Biopsies were performed by four leading hospitals, and all four determined that the tumor was non-cancerous. The family vacation was still on.
The time the Bacon's spent on vacation together exceeded all expectations. Brianne played at the beach and ran after Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, it would be the final family vacation that Brianne would enjoy.
Upon returning home, Brianne continued non-invasive treatment for her tumor. She enjoyed a relatively normal childhood. Even when she missed school, Brianne continued to excel in the classroom. Every report card contained all A's. Rick and Stacy could not have been prouder.
But around Memorial Day, Brianne had another spell of headaches. Again the Bacons visited Brianne's neurosurgeon. Another MRI was done and it was discovered that the tumor had grown larger indicating a probable malignancy. After another surgery, Brianne would have to begin an extensive fifty-six week regimen of radiation and chemotherapy to combat the tumor. The Bacons' hope turned to desperation. Their worst nightmare had come true.
Sadly, the day after Brianne started her treatments, she passed away at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield.
Reeling from the horrible emotional battle of Brianne's illness and subsequent brain death, the family knew that they had a major decision to make-Brianne was an appropriate candidate for organ donation and they had to decide whether or not to donate Brianne's organs.
Her mother Stacy had always been a supporter of organ donation and father Rick, a police officer, was well aware of all the issues involved. They had never thought that they would have to personally make the decision for one of their own children, but knew that, in the midst of their terrible tragedy, they might be able to save the lives of others.
They spoke with a member of the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois (ROBI) and called the family together. The representative from ROBI answered all the Bacons' questions and the rest of the family was in full support. Rick and Stacy knew that organ donation was the proper thing to do. Before Brianne was disconnected from the machines that kept her heart beating, a team of doctors took her vital organs so they could be transplanted into others.
In the end, Brianne was able to save four lives. The Bacons know that Brianne's death, although the most painful experience possible, resulted in the miracle of life for others. As time went by, Rick and Stacy were able to meet some of the people that had received Brianne's organs-truly the "gift of life."
Brianne's family and the recipient families continue to stay in touch. As Stacy says, "Even though we lost Brianne, we gained an extended family."
Brianne Bacon was but one organ donor in Illinois. Hundreds of others are heroes to the people whose lives they saved.
The Secretary of State decided that Brianne's story should be shared with others who would, hopefully, be inspired to make a similar lifesaving decision if ever faced with a similar tragedy.
The result is an engaging 30-second television spot that tells Brianne's story while emphasizing the crucial need for organ and tissue donors in Illinois. The filming of the commercial served as a reunion for the Bacons and the recipient families. It was a chance to share stories and reflect on Brianne's extraordinary life while reaffirming their belief in Organ Donation.
Click here to view the commercial
