Help Amanda on Her Miracle Liver Transplant Journey Recovery

Update:

After being listed on the transplant list in November, I unfortunately fell very, very ill. I was admitted to VCU where I was intubated for five days and was so weak that they decided to take me off the list and gave me three months to live.

On day five of being intubated, everyone was praying for a miracle. We needed a Christmas miracle. In the afternoon of that day, my numbers drastically changed. I woke up and began responding, and I was put back on the list. My tubes were removed and about 15 minutes later we got a call that I’d been put back on the list at the top and they had a liver to offer me.

On December 20, 2024, a Christmas miracle happened and I had my transplant surgery. I was gifted a new liver and a second chance. To say I’m eternally grateful is an understatement. In a matter of eight hours, I went from potentially planning my own funeral to being gifted with a second chance at life. My body has accepted it and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia have stopped attacking it.

Though that is great news, it has now begun to attack my kidneys. We are fighting back with vigorous rounds of dialysis 3x a week, which is tough, but I make the best of it!

We have decided to make a GoFundMe because, though I was gifted this miracle, and now it is attacking my kidneys, it is going to take a lot of time to get back to where I was pre-surgery. I am fortunate to have an amazing medical support system, but the financial burden of medical bills is becoming overwhelming. I am reaching out to you, my community, for help. Your support will not only ease my financial worries but also allow me to focus on my recovery and regain my independence.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in my life. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting me on this journey. Your kindness means the world to me, and I am grateful for each and every one of you.

I would not be here today if it wasn’t for everybody’s good vibes, prayers, and love that have been sent and spread. I appreciate each and every one of you.

At the beginning of October, I was admitted to the Salem hospital due to having so much fluid in my lungs it was causing my O2 levels to drop to the mid-60s. Once admitted, they began to run tests and realized that was not the only thing that was going on in my body and to my organs. There was significant damage to many of them, especially to my liver.

They ran test after test and everything was coming back as inconclusive, meaning part of what was happening fell into that diagnosis but not everything. At this point, my white blood cells were aggressively attacking my red blood cells, causing me to have to get plasma and countless blood transfusions (one of which was on Halloween, so that was completely appropriate).

This went on for weeks until we found the culprit. I was diagnosed with a rare combination of autoimmune diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

With a definitive diagnosis after weeks of tests, my team and I sat down and discussed what is next. The disease has been slowly over time attacking my liver. Based on the damage, we came to the decision that what is best for my health and life is to begin the process of getting a liver transplant.

As of Thursday, November 14th, I have been listed on the transplant list with very high odds of finding a donor. The next few weeks, months, years are going to be tough and I will need every ounce of prayer, good vibes, positivity, and light sent my way.

I am thankful for this second chance I’ve been given and appreciate every single moment a little bit more than I used to.

I love you all and will keep you updated!