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MY STORY – James Bryan Hester
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my story. The short version of my story is I must have a liver transplant to survive.
The much longer story is about my many years of heavy drinking and how I finally realized I needed help. During a vacation to Florida in October of 2020, my wife noticed the whites of my eyes were not white but tinted yellow. We did our research (thanks, Google) and we knew something was very, very wrong.
Within two days of returning home from vacation, I voluntarily signed myself into a month-long inpatient program in northeastern Pennsylvania. I was committed and knew I could never take another drink or risk losing my life. A little over two weeks into the program, I became extremely ill, was taken to a local emergency room and admitted for 8 days. I had liver damage, kidney malfunction, and a host of other medical problems. Despite not completing the rehab program, I knew I was done drinking.
No more alcohol for me. Ever.
Once I was healthy enough to travel and released from the hospital, my wife drove me from PA to my alma mater, Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, TN. I was admitted to the Medical Center and underwent extensive and intense evaluation for the liver transplant program. I cannot tell you how many doctors, surgeons, nurses, social workers, and counselors I saw in just the first two days. Everyone was extremely attentive, professional and I am lucky to have been accepted for evaluation.
WHAT’S NEXT
If I am approved for a liver transplant, please know that I will not squander my second chance on my life. I will take full advantage of my time left on this earth to make a positive impact around me – for my family, my friends, and my community.
I do not know today exactly how that will look, but I am willing and open to all options. It might mean volunteering, finding a new career, or sharing my story and teaching others about the hidden dangers of prolonged alcohol abuse. I hope it is a combination of all three.
If approved for the program, I will get a call and have only a matter of hours to get to Vanderbilt for the surgery. We have no idea when this might happen.
THE COST
Any money raised with this effort will be put toward the significant costs of a liver transplant including everything from preoperative treatment, the actual surgery, costly ongoing prescriptions to prevent liver rejection, and lodging costs for my family and me to stay in Nashville near the hospital for up to 6 months after the procedure. Estimated cost after insurance varies from $100,000 to over $500,000, depending on the source. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN and we are in network at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
All funds over and above what we will need will be donated to the American Liver Foundation .
HOW YOU CAN HELP
It is not easy for me to ask others for help, much less for financial assistance. Please do not feel obligated to contribute, especially if you do not have the financial means to do so. That being said, any donation no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.
You can also apply to be a living donor , which is becoming more common. Read more about being a live liver donor here. If you decide you would like to be considered as a possible live donor, please include my full name on the application – James Bryan Hester.
Please share my story with your family and friends on social media or by email. We appreciate everyone helping to spread the word.
Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and positive energy.
Love to all,
Bryan
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my story. The short version of my story is I must have a liver transplant to survive.
The much longer story is about my many years of heavy drinking and how I finally realized I needed help. During a vacation to Florida in October of 2020, my wife noticed the whites of my eyes were not white but tinted yellow. We did our research (thanks, Google) and we knew something was very, very wrong.
Within two days of returning home from vacation, I voluntarily signed myself into a month-long inpatient program in northeastern Pennsylvania. I was committed and knew I could never take another drink or risk losing my life. A little over two weeks into the program, I became extremely ill, was taken to a local emergency room and admitted for 8 days. I had liver damage, kidney malfunction, and a host of other medical problems. Despite not completing the rehab program, I knew I was done drinking.
No more alcohol for me. Ever.
Once I was healthy enough to travel and released from the hospital, my wife drove me from PA to my alma mater, Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, TN. I was admitted to the Medical Center and underwent extensive and intense evaluation for the liver transplant program. I cannot tell you how many doctors, surgeons, nurses, social workers, and counselors I saw in just the first two days. Everyone was extremely attentive, professional and I am lucky to have been accepted for evaluation.
WHAT’S NEXT
If I am approved for a liver transplant, please know that I will not squander my second chance on my life. I will take full advantage of my time left on this earth to make a positive impact around me – for my family, my friends, and my community.
I do not know today exactly how that will look, but I am willing and open to all options. It might mean volunteering, finding a new career, or sharing my story and teaching others about the hidden dangers of prolonged alcohol abuse. I hope it is a combination of all three.
If approved for the program, I will get a call and have only a matter of hours to get to Vanderbilt for the surgery. We have no idea when this might happen.
THE COST
Any money raised with this effort will be put toward the significant costs of a liver transplant including everything from preoperative treatment, the actual surgery, costly ongoing prescriptions to prevent liver rejection, and lodging costs for my family and me to stay in Nashville near the hospital for up to 6 months after the procedure. Estimated cost after insurance varies from $100,000 to over $500,000, depending on the source. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN and we are in network at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
All funds over and above what we will need will be donated to the American Liver Foundation .
HOW YOU CAN HELP
It is not easy for me to ask others for help, much less for financial assistance. Please do not feel obligated to contribute, especially if you do not have the financial means to do so. That being said, any donation no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.
You can also apply to be a living donor , which is becoming more common. Read more about being a live liver donor here. If you decide you would like to be considered as a possible live donor, please include my full name on the application – James Bryan Hester.
Please share my story with your family and friends on social media or by email. We appreciate everyone helping to spread the word.
Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and positive energy.
Love to all,
Bryan