Twenty years of Type 1 Diabetes has taken a tremendous toll on her body.

In recent years she has endured broken bones, Peripheral Artery Disease, angioplasty, unmanageable blood pressure, a blood clot in her neck, possible amputation, multiple hospitalizations, and more.

It seemed, to me,  on 2 occasions that she might not make it home.

Kidney failure meant that she had to endure hemodialysis 3 times per week to survive, which she has done for the past three years.

Life expectancy for dialysis patients is only 5-10 years.

A kidney and pancreas transplant is what she needed to have a chance at a decent life, but our local hospitals, and even the Mayo Clinic, said they couldn't help her.

We didn't give up, and found help at the University of Minnesota. 

On Thanksgiving Day 2020, she received that ultimate gift of life.

We are forever grateful to the donor and family.

The organs are functioning beautifully, but Elizabeth is experiencing some serious complications as the result of infection, which will surely extend our stay here.

We're 500+ miles from home, and have nearly exhausted our savings with the last-minute air fare, small apartment, food, and other necessities.

I don't want to ask for help, but this is what has been suggested.

We don't require much, but we'll have to be near the hospital, once she's discharged, for at least a month. 

In the meantime, I'll look for opportunities to earn some money here, but my main focus is on helping Elizabeth heal and resume a productive life. 

We look forward to planning our wedding, which got postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

If you can contribute something, thank you.

If not, I ask that you simply share this with friends and family.

Any funds beyond what we need will be used to help another family in our same position.