Sandra Strong

Hello, My name is Justin Miklich and the purpose of this campaign is to help with medical expenses and prayer for my wife, Sandra. We have been married for almost 20 years and have 2 teenagers ( a senior and a sophomore) who attend PCHS. 

     In June, my wife was hospitalized for a week with para influenza which actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was discovered through a CT scan for her lungs that she had an enlarged pancreas and cirrhosis of the liver. 

     Since then she has been seeing a specialist and through more detailed blood work, an upper endoscopy and a liver biopsy, she was diagnosed as a carrier of Hereditary Hemochromatosis. She was born with this and it is also called Iron Overload Disorder.  Excess iron can poison organs, which can lead to conditions such as cancer, irregular heartbeat, and cirrhosis of the liver.

     Sandra is at stage 4 liver cirrhosis damage and was told that the damage is irreversible and she will need a liver transplant. She is currently working with the doctor to try to decrease the high iron levels through phlebotomy once a week. In hemochromatosis, therapeutic phlebotomy is a procedure that removes blood from a person's body with the specific goal of reducing iron overload. She will continue to be monitored and if her liver turns to cancer before they can get her iron levels decreased, she will go to the top of transplant list.

     We are unsure of medical expenses surrounding all these procedures, hospitals, and transplant both in the present and in the future and find it very overwhelming.  My co-workers, family, and friends have been such a blessing to us during this difficult and confusing time. So many people have approached me to help without even being asked and we are so appreciative and thankful for all of you.

         If you are able to donate, we are extremely thankful and appreciative and would also be very blessed if you keep Sandra and my family in your prayers. We will keep our faith in God and his plan for us.

Thank you,

Justin Miklich and family