It pains us that we got here. Justin’s health has not got better in his recovery from surgery in December. The recovery was supposed to be 3 weeks before he returned to work. That’s now reached nearly 3 months.

He’s encountered 1 obstacle or complication after another. The pain that was supposed to have subsided has decided to reside with him therefore blocking his ability to return to work, let alone daily tasks.

His story: Justin was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver in the summer of 2018 (non-alcoholic). He has a wonderful liver Dr that is the best in our network.

It was found that the cirrhosis began due to portal vein thrombosis (portal vein in liver) due to a blood clot in that vein. We still don’t know what has caused the blood clots. There are more tests being done to rule out or pinpoint.

After so many tests, procedures, medications his liver team came up with a hopeful solution to slow the progression of the cirrhosis to stave off the inevitable liver transplant. That solution was a splenic embolization. His spleen was actually 75% enlarged anyway. This process was to cut off vein access to reduce the size of varices in his stomach and esophagus that were enlarged and dangerous to him. That is the only positive thing to come out of that surgery, smaller varices.

However this has put his liver under higher pressure and caused severe ascites, which is fluid buildup in the abdomen coming from the liver.

He has had 1 paracentesis to drain some fluid but it keeps building back up. He may need multiple over the coming weeks.

As of right now, his kidney and bilirubin numbers are stable, so he is not on the transplant list.

But this is a long road and we seem to not know the destination. After my job laid me off last year, I have no full time income. Taking care of Justin is full time. Most days he is resting but he is in constant pain, and needs assistance in some daily tasks. He cannot drive and his Dr could ask him to come down to L.A. at any time, so I accompany/drive him wherever he needs to go. I am his caregiver. We are reaching the end of his full income and have bills to pay, travel expenses to L.A., meds to pick up, vehicles to maintain so that I can get him safely to drs appts or the hospital, visiting him in the hospital, and his children to provide for, etc. He works for the state and is working with them to be able to get on some disability until he can return to work, however, to keep his current insurance he will have to pay for it 100%.

It’s a lot, and we didn’t foresee what was supposed to be a short recovery end up leaving him in so much pain.

If you can give, we appreciate it more than you know. If you can’t, please share. Justin needs one less stress while we navigate this bumpy road. I need my best friend to smile again.