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Bea Rose Santiago gets kidney transplant from younger brother: ‘I feel brand new!’

By Hannah Mallorca Published Apr 29, 2022 10:31 am

Bea Rose Santiago feels “loved and renewed,” thanks to her younger brother.

Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, who had chronic kidney disease, has finally received a new kidney from her younger brother.

Santiago went through a kidney transplant after three years of dialysis at the Toronto General Hospital in Toronto, Canada. The beauty queen took to Instagram to open up about her surgery. 

“New kidney who this? Thank you to my baby brother’s love, [I’ve been] changed. Thank you world for showing me kindness and patience and of course to my family, friends, and strangers for your support, countless prayers, and positive energy,” Santiago said.

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A post shared by Bea Rose (@bea.santiago)

The Miss International 2013 titleholder added that she feels “brand new” after her kidney transplant. “I feel loved and renewed! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

In a separate post, Santiago spoke about her “first and last dialysis,” which she said helped her "stay clean for [three] years [and] initially saved my life.” She also thanked her doctors who “tirelessly helped" her for the past three years.

“Bea Rose Santiago, dialysis patient now transplant patient saying as long as we’re together, there will be hope,” Santiago said. 

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A post shared by Bea Rose (@bea.santiago)

The beauty queen also sent love to her younger brother using the hashtag “#MyBrotherMyHero.” 

Santiago was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in December 2018. She revealed back in 2020 that she underwent dialysis five times a week because of her condition.