October 8, 2021 is a day we will never forget. That's the day Alan got his diagnosis of advanced liver disease. That's the day we heard for the first time that Alan is going to need a liver transplant. Before we could even digest that sentence we were told that he needed to have a procedure done and that it was urgent. That if he didn't and there was a rupture that there is a less than 1% chance of survival!

We were completely unaware of how much our entire world was changing. Advanced liver disease has so many side effects and stages. It is such a complex disease. This was the beginning of the freight train heading directly at us.

November 2nd. The day of the first procedure. Normally it is a few hours and outpatient. But due to Alans situation it was inpatient and took almost 7 hours. Discharged and went home after a day. Within 2 days Alan was admitted back into the hospital due to complications as well as black out falls that resulted in a brain bleed, this was another 5 days of him being inpatient. Alan was home for less than 2 weeks before a new side effect was upon us. He was admitted back into the hospital for a couple of more days having yet another procedure to drain fluid from his abdominal cavity, another one of those side effects from the decompensated liver. He was home with me for Thanksgiving. But then on November 26th I had to take him back to the ER for yet another paracentisis (draining the fluid from his abdomen). He hasn't been home since. He had another surgery on December 2nd to put shunts in his liver and was in the ICU for 2 weeks before they transitioned him to another unit where he was for 6 days. December 22nd. Alan was moved to a longterm acute care hospital where they felt it was best to have him in the ICU there. This is when things really started spiral out of control. Encephalopathy (fog of the brain). A word I wish I never heard. A word I wish I didn't have to understand. A side effect or stage. December 31st. Encephalopic coma. Alan went into an Encephalopic coma and had to be put onto a respirator. He was on that respirator for 10 days. He spent another 9 days in the ICU before he was FINALLY transitioned to another unit where he stayed until the next step. February 4th. Alan was transferred to an acute rehabilitation hospital where he is doing remarkable! Physically and mentally improving everyday! He still has a long road ahead of him to even be able to walk without some sort of "assistance".

And this is just step 1. May 26th. This is our goal date! May 26th is the day Alan will meet his time requirement to be able to move forward with getting on a liver transplant list!

With all of this I have spent every single day with Alan being his advocate and caregiver. I have been juggling work as best as I can while being Alans only consistent daily. Now with Alan being an hour and a half away from home, I had to take a leave from my business and stay in the hotel across the street from Alans hospital. With minimal income from Alans disability and me having to put my business on hold things are getting really tough. Never mind the expense of being up here with Alan, the medical bills are starting to pour in. And we also have to get our own medical equipment for him to go home with!

Alan and I are both very proud people that have a very hard time asking for help. But here we are, asking. Please. And Thank you!