Danica Needs a New Liver!

Help Support Danica & her new Liver!

Hello, my name is Don and my sister in law Danica is on the Alberta Transplant list waiting for a new liver.

She is a wife to her husband Scott of 20 years and a mom to a son (18) & daughter (15). She is the oldest child of five siblings & has several nieces and a nephew.

Nine years ago Danica was diagnosed with two serious autoimmune liver conditions called autoimmune hepatitis & another autoimmune liver disease called Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC). By the time she had the diagnosis she was already at Stage 4 cirrhosis.

She was healthy, happy & leading a regular life. Over the last year her liver has reached the end of its life & she was placed on the transplant list for a liver last July (2024). When her health allows, she enjoys have coffee with friends, enjoy walking & being out & about. Danica also loves gatherings with friends and family.

For a person diagnosed with liver disease there is a long & difficult wait for a deceased donor. Danica has been off work since July 2023 as she was too sick & unreliable to continue. Now each & every day is a struggle & some days Danica is unable to perform basic tasks around the house or be with her kids at their activities/interests.

There is also a huge financial cost to being diagnosed with liver disease. Danica’s family currently already pays $800/mth for their health insurance plan but she has already maxed out her prescription plan for the year…and it’s only June. Danica’s monthly meds now cost an additional $1800/mth. This is very difficult for essentially what has become a one income family.

In Alberta, the liver transplant waiting list prioritizes patients based on medical urgency, assessed using a scoring system called the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). Unfortunately Danica’s MELD score is not very high, & due to her liver failure being caused by autoimmune disorders it may never get high. Until her MELD increases or she starts to show signs of serious illness, she could be on the transplant list for years.

Liver transplants in Alberta only take place in Edmonton. It is a major surgery that will require Danica to be in Edmonton hospital for 2-3 weeks. Once she is discharged she will need to stay for 1-2 additional months Danica will require 24/7 care in Edmonton for another month or two while they watch for rejection, adjust any medications and do physio & occupational therapy. This will need to be in hotels etc.

This is all becoming too much financially for Danica & her family. If you can help in any way we, her extended family, would appreciate it greatly.

Thank you!

Please help by donating what you can. Every little bit helps. Thank you.