Support Jodi’s Liver Fund

Jodi is my big sister, who I have always looked up to. She is a Mother of two beautiful boys, Isaac age 7, Wyatt age 5.  She is a partner to her very supportive husband Scott, and together they are a team.  She is not only a mother and wife but also an amazing daughter, grand daughter, wonderful sister, step-sister, and a great friend to many!  She was diagnosed at 17 years old with hereditary Polycystic Kidney/ Liver Disease.  She suffers silently, and to look at her it’s hard to tell that she is so ill, but most people don’t understand that she has an invisible, chronic illness.  She has multiple cysts on her kidneys and liver, but it’s her liver that is making her so ill.  It is completely covered in large, fluid-filled cysts, inside and out.  An average liver weighs 1.5 to 3lbs, and her specialist estimate Jodi’s to be upwards of 30lbs.  Because of this, she can no longer play soccer or run marathons, two sports she loved.  She is exhausted all the time, but she tries so hard not to let this stop her in her day to day life as she knows one day she will have no choice.  Not to mention she is a school teacher, teaching Grade 2/3 last year, coming home to love and care for two young boys and then collapse into bed, and then struggle to get up and do it all over again.  Her liver is so enlarged now that it is pushing on all her other organs causing great discomfort, and at times difficult for her to breathe. Jodi has experienced a number of changes within her body from this disease, but through it all she has never lost her positive spirit.

This past week my inspiring best friend and sister Jodi, started her journey of injecting medicine into her body 3 times per day. She has to continue this for at least 1 month and then it will be daily for the next 5 months, and hopefully beyond if it works. The medication is expensive; for a 6 month supply it will cost close to $8,400.  Although Jodi was approved for a portion of the generic brand of this medication, Insurance does not begin to cover it all.  These costs do not include the needles, swabs, sharps containers and other medications needed to lessen the side effects of the injections.  This treatment is vital to improving Jodi's health on so many fronts.  The hope is that it will shrink the cysts and relieve some pressure from her other organs.  There are no other options at this time.  Although eventual for Jodi, surgeries are very risky, and only 1 in 3 survive a liver transplant.

During the next couple of months or more she will not be able to work, so she will also have a loss of income on top of the medical costs.  Her specialist explained to her that she may be very ill this next month or so as it’s an aggressive treatment to her body.  It also comes with severe side effects which will not be pleasant for her.  She’s already struggling with day to day chores, she needs to rest between needles and save her energy for healing and caring for her family.

Despite all this Jodi keeps going. Being the best Mommy she can be.  She is inspiring and strong and brave and hilarious!  She is a beautiful woman with a heart of gold and a kind spirit.

We are hoping you can help as it doesn’t matter the amount, every dollar will count!  You can donate on here, through email transfer to([email redacted]) or via cheque (Mary Lou O'Neil, P.O. Box 771, Digby, NS B0V 1A0)Our hope is to lighten the monetary stress for Jodi, and for these boys to get their Mommy back to better health.  

We ask that you please do not share on your Facebook wall, only share in a private message or email.  Also if you could please keep your well wishes posted on this site as Jodi won't have the energy to reply to private messages.  Thanks so much :)

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.