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Parent’s give the gift of life when they bring us into this world. It’s the first thing we ever receive and it’s easy to take for granted. Of course we all love our parents and try to return the love and support that they have given us throughout our lives, from infancy through adult hood; though we never get to return that gift of life. The world just doesn’t work that way. We lose the people that we love at some point; sometimes young,
sometimes old, but always too soon.
So when my Dad became very ill; first from the hepatitis C, then hepatic cirrhosis, which eventually progressed into end stage liver failure, I knew it was my time and opportunity to return the gift of life to my father through a living donor liver transplant. But it wasn’t that simple. My dad was ill and precluded from being able to receive a partial liver from a living donor. He languished on the standard transplant list for a year and a half without any opportunities for a new liver, all the while growing sicker and sicker.
Fortunately the blockages that had been the issue regarding the living donor possibility had broken up enough to where he was now a candidate for this life saving transplant option. My blood type was a match and I immediately began to undergo a battery of testing which lasted nearly two months. The end of the donor work up was approaching and I was told to plan for surgery within two months. I could not have been more relieved and thankful that I was going to be able to save my dad’s life. But like I said, things are never that simple. Further evaluation from the medical team uncovered a complication that disqualified me as a viable candidate. The light at the end of the tunnel had gone dark. My dad was again going to be just another name on a list of really sick people hoping to win the liver lottery.
Until I told my childhood friend Eli what was going on with regards to the whole situation. Without hesitation he offered to be my father’s donor. Without delay he contacted the transplant team at UPENN and was on his way through the donor evaluation process. His bravery and magnanimity are equaled only by my father’s, and I am truly blessed to have them both in my life. They are truly my heroes and we will always owe a debt of gratitude to Elisha for his selflessness and to the team at UPENN for being able to perform this complex surgery and actually give the gift of life to my father. At this time, the surgical teams are coordinating a tentative surgery date, which may possibly be the end of July, but we will keep everyone posted when we have the exact date.
We are asking for your generous donations to put towards any of the out of pocket costs affiliated with this very expensive surgery as well as the costs of the post-surgical recovery and medications for both Eli and my father. We thank you all in advance for taking the time to read about our situation and of course are very grateful for any donations and appreciative of all your prayers.
With Love,
The DelRe & Ingram Families.
sometimes old, but always too soon.
So when my Dad became very ill; first from the hepatitis C, then hepatic cirrhosis, which eventually progressed into end stage liver failure, I knew it was my time and opportunity to return the gift of life to my father through a living donor liver transplant. But it wasn’t that simple. My dad was ill and precluded from being able to receive a partial liver from a living donor. He languished on the standard transplant list for a year and a half without any opportunities for a new liver, all the while growing sicker and sicker.
Fortunately the blockages that had been the issue regarding the living donor possibility had broken up enough to where he was now a candidate for this life saving transplant option. My blood type was a match and I immediately began to undergo a battery of testing which lasted nearly two months. The end of the donor work up was approaching and I was told to plan for surgery within two months. I could not have been more relieved and thankful that I was going to be able to save my dad’s life. But like I said, things are never that simple. Further evaluation from the medical team uncovered a complication that disqualified me as a viable candidate. The light at the end of the tunnel had gone dark. My dad was again going to be just another name on a list of really sick people hoping to win the liver lottery.
Until I told my childhood friend Eli what was going on with regards to the whole situation. Without hesitation he offered to be my father’s donor. Without delay he contacted the transplant team at UPENN and was on his way through the donor evaluation process. His bravery and magnanimity are equaled only by my father’s, and I am truly blessed to have them both in my life. They are truly my heroes and we will always owe a debt of gratitude to Elisha for his selflessness and to the team at UPENN for being able to perform this complex surgery and actually give the gift of life to my father. At this time, the surgical teams are coordinating a tentative surgery date, which may possibly be the end of July, but we will keep everyone posted when we have the exact date.
We are asking for your generous donations to put towards any of the out of pocket costs affiliated with this very expensive surgery as well as the costs of the post-surgical recovery and medications for both Eli and my father. We thank you all in advance for taking the time to read about our situation and of course are very grateful for any donations and appreciative of all your prayers.
With Love,
The DelRe & Ingram Families.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Delre
Beneficiary