More Than a Patient — I’m Brian
My name is Brian James Buhain. I was born on October 16, 1981, and I live near Los Angeles, California. For the past 6 years, I’ve been on dialysis. Three times a week, I’m connected to a machine that keeps me alive. It’s something I depend on, but it’s not the same as living a normal life.
Before dialysis, I had energy and freedom. I could be present with my family and friends without thinking about my health every moment. I could go where I wanted and live without limits. Now, everything I do revolves around treatment, and it’s changed the way I live day to day.
Dialysis takes a lot from me. It drains my energy, my time, and my independence. After each session, I feel exhausted. Some days are harder than others, and I don’t always feel like myself. It’s not just physical—it’s the feeling of losing parts of who I used to be.
A kidney transplant would change everything for me. It would give me my energy back, my freedom back, and my life back. I know this is a big ask, but I’m not ready to give up. I’m still fighting, and I believe there’s someone out there who can help me keep going.
Brian’s Story
I love reading and taking long walks. I used to spend a lot of time with my family, going on vacations and just being present in those moments.
Now my week is built around dialysis. Three days a week, I’m hooked up to a machine that keeps me alive. After each session, I’m slow. I’m tired. Some days, I don’t have the energy to do the things I love.
I’m still here. But I feel absent from my own life.
I miss being present. I miss having energy. I miss being me.
I need help.
Please reach out to my kidney coordinators:
Sonya Tasevski, RN, BSN, CCTC
Cedars-Sinai
Call: 310-423-6697
Email: sonya.tasevski@cshs.org
Cedar Sinai Patient Services
Kat Talento
310-423-2563
Tell them you are calling for Brian Buhain, DOB: October 16, 1981.
You are not committing to anything.
You are just taking the first step.
Contact Sonya Now
I may be in dialysis, but in the meantime, please reach out to my kidney coordinator:
Sonya Tasevski, RN, BSN, CCTC
Cedars-Sinai
Call: 310-423-6697
Email: sonya.tasevski@cshs.org
Cedars-Sinai Patient Services:
Kat Talento
Call: 310-423-2563
Tell them you are calling for Brian Buhain, DOB: October 16, 1981.
How to Help
Join Brian’s fight by donating or sharing his urgent kidney transplant story.
Donate Kidney
If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, please take the first step by contacting my transplant coordinator directly.
Sonya Tasevski, RN, BSN, CCTC
Cedars-Sinai
Call: 310-423-6697
Email: sonya.tasevski@cshs.org
Cedars-Sinai Patient Services
Kat Talento
310-423-2563
When you reach out, please say: “I’m calling for Brian Buhain, DOB: October 16, 1981.” You are not committing to anything—you are simply starting the process and learning more. Your call could change my life.
Share Story
Help me share my story so it can reach the one person who can change everything. By being my advocate, you help create the visibility I need to be found by my kidney donor.
Please take a few seconds to help:
Like my pages.
Follow my accounts.
Like, comment, and share my posts.
Repost to your network.
It only takes seconds, but it helps grow my reach and gets my story in front of the right person.
You are part of this miracle, and I thank you for being my advocate.
Stay Updated
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