Liver transplant
Donation protected
Aloha, My name is Dustin...although most of my friends know me as Bubba. I run our family business, and have a cattle ranch. Started feeling very sick this last summer. After extensive testing, on Kauai and at Queens Liver Center since September of 2016 I, was getting no real answers and was actually misdiagnosed. I got a consultation with one of the leading Liver doctors in the country, Dr. Gish. He runs the transplant unit at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. That appointment was on March 1st 2017. I was diagnosed with a terminal liver disease. I was devastated to say the least.
My liver functions at 20% of normal. They use a formula called a MELD scale to determine the total damage to my Liver. A normal liver has a MELD score of 6. After a 15, I would be a candidate for a transplant. At 35 your are in a hospice situation. My new updated MELD score is 24 right now. Not the greatest of news. I suffer from nose and ear bleeding. Nausea every morning and night, fatigue to the point where I am not able to work a full day, not to mention the crippling anxiety and sleepless nights that comes with a sudden diagnosis of a terminal disease.
Without a transplant, I was given anywhere from 2 months to 12 months life expectancy. I go back on the 11th of April to find out my placement on the transplant list. If they find a tranplant match, before my health deteriorates, I will be unable to work for around 6 months. Keeping my house on Kauai, plus living expenses up there is something that is going to be a huge finacancial burden and something that neither me or my family had planned on. My portion, even after my HMSA helps out will be over 100k. Its an approximatly
a million dollars operation and follow up care.
At 38 years old, I have so much to live for. I still want a family and to grow old, but more importantly, be healthy and happy. I never imagined I would have to start a GoFundMe page but at this point it is my only option to hopefully offset any expenses I possibly can. Anything will help.
As most of my close friends know, I dont ask for anything. Ive prided myself on always pulling my own weight, even when times are hard. It pains me to have to ask for help. But im calling on my friends, family and there friends and family for my time of need. Please do whatever you can do. I will be forever indebted to you all. Thanks for spending the time to read this.
Bubba
My liver functions at 20% of normal. They use a formula called a MELD scale to determine the total damage to my Liver. A normal liver has a MELD score of 6. After a 15, I would be a candidate for a transplant. At 35 your are in a hospice situation. My new updated MELD score is 24 right now. Not the greatest of news. I suffer from nose and ear bleeding. Nausea every morning and night, fatigue to the point where I am not able to work a full day, not to mention the crippling anxiety and sleepless nights that comes with a sudden diagnosis of a terminal disease.
Without a transplant, I was given anywhere from 2 months to 12 months life expectancy. I go back on the 11th of April to find out my placement on the transplant list. If they find a tranplant match, before my health deteriorates, I will be unable to work for around 6 months. Keeping my house on Kauai, plus living expenses up there is something that is going to be a huge finacancial burden and something that neither me or my family had planned on. My portion, even after my HMSA helps out will be over 100k. Its an approximatly
a million dollars operation and follow up care.
At 38 years old, I have so much to live for. I still want a family and to grow old, but more importantly, be healthy and happy. I never imagined I would have to start a GoFundMe page but at this point it is my only option to hopefully offset any expenses I possibly can. Anything will help.
As most of my close friends know, I dont ask for anything. Ive prided myself on always pulling my own weight, even when times are hard. It pains me to have to ask for help. But im calling on my friends, family and there friends and family for my time of need. Please do whatever you can do. I will be forever indebted to you all. Thanks for spending the time to read this.
Bubba
Organizer
Dustin Leach
Organizer
Kapaa, HI
