Inspiration

Valerie Naifeh

Imagine a man who could expertly pair wine with food, play 18 holes of golf or more on any given day and never hesitate to share entrepreneurial tips with rising business owners, and you’ve described Bradley Naifeh.

A third-generation business owner, Naifeh passed away in 2018 from a rare blood disease — amyloidosis — that occurs when an abnormal protein builds up in a person’s organs and interferes with their normal function. Brad’s widow, Valerie Naifeh, and his mother, Jeaneen Naifeh, continue his legacy of giving back.

“Before we came to Houston Methodist, Brad was bouncing from doctor to doctor from our home base in Oklahoma City. He was getting sicker, and no one could determine why,” says Valerie Naifeh, who owns Naifeh Fine Jewelry in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. “Brad was scared and frustrated. He wouldn’t want people to suffer the same journey.”

That life-altering experience galvanized Valerie and her mother-in-law to create the Bradley Z. Naifeh Amyloidosis Clinical Research and Treatment Endowment at the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center. The fund advances the research and patient care efforts of Drs. Barry Trachtenberg, Arvind Bhimaraj and A. Osama Gaber, who are conducting and overseeing important work around amyloidosis.

BRADLEY NAIFEH AND VALERIE NAIFEH WERE INSPIRED BY HOUSTON METHODIST’S TREATMENT OF HIS RARE DISEASE.

Thanks to the generous endowment, Dr. Trachtenberg is also expanding educational opportunities about amyloidosis — with an emphasis on spreading awareness in Oklahoma. The Looke Transplant Matching Fund maximized the impact of the Naifeh gift by providing a matching opportunity.

Amyloidosis mimics other diseases and disorders, making it hard for physicians to diagnose right away. Valerie wants to change that through her family’s gift.

“My husband and I were surprised at the lack of knowledge about this disease,” admits Valerie. “Yes, it’s rare, and it can’t be solely diagnosed with a blood test, but a simple 24-hour urine test immediately points you in the right direction. Our overall goal is to get people diagnosed earlier.”

Amyloidosis caused irreversible damage to Bradley Naifeh’s heart, making him a candidate for a transplant. He was referred to the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center, one of only two programs in the country performing the procedure on amyloidosis patients at the time. Although Bradley died waiting for a heart transplant, Valerie says Houston Methodist was the first place where they truly felt heard.

“The doctors and nurses were incredibly supportive and committed the entire time,” she says. “We went from having no hope to the possibility of a heart transplant. Houston Methodist was the only hospital that could address all of my husband’s medical needs.”