Bea Rose Santiago (Image: Instagram/@bea.santiago)
Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago has finally undergone a successful kidney transplant after years of suffering from chronic kidney disease.
The beauty queen expressed gratefulness to her brother, who served as her kidney donor, via her Instagram page yesterday, April 28. She also showed herself and her brother both wearing hospital gowns at Toronto General Hospital in Canada.
“Thank you to my baby brother’s love and bean I am 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,” she said. “Finally, after the [third] time and [three] years of dialysis! I feel brand new! I feel loved and renewed!”
Santiago also showed herself during her first and last dialysis sessions via her Instagram page yesterday. She credited the procedure as the one that initially saved her life.
“My last and first time dialyzing. Dialysis helped me stay clean for [three] years which initially saved my life,” she told fans. She also thanked the doctors and nurses who took care of her throughout her three years in dialysis.
“Bea Rose Santiago, dialysis patient now transplant patient saying as long as we’re together, there will be hope,” she declared.
Fellow beauty queens Megan Young, Pia Wurtzbach and Maggie Wilson were among those who expressed happiness for Santiago.
“So brave! What a woman! Congratulations Bea!” Wurtzbach said.
“Can’t wait to see you again once you’re fully recovered! Sending my love to your baby bro for being so kind and giving,” Wilson, meanwhile, told her.
Image: Instagram/@bea.santiago
Santiago was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2018. At the time, the beauty queen warned the public about kidney-damaging effects of pre-workout supplements and the harmful effects of “gym life.” /ra
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