David Lillard's Transplant Surgery Costs

Thank you for being here to follow my dad's story. For those of you who know him, David Lillard enjoys being with people; eating a meal, chatting up the neighbors, and being generous to strangers. I have always known him as a father who worked hard to give. It brought him such satisfaction. Working in the kitchen and grilling the best steaks I've ever had in my life were his joys. Some of you here have eaten at his table and know what I'm saying. (However, I do not seem to have inherited that trait, so this will not continue in the family line. I do apologize.)

Unfortunately, the past few years of David's life have been a different story, complicated by ongoing medical issues. Beginning with an epilepsy diagnosis in 2021, his livelihood began to deteriorate, leaving him unable to work. Various medications for pain and psoriatic arthritis quickly exacerbated the fatty liver disease he was diagnosed with decades ago, developing into full-blown cirrhosis. My mother, who retired from the school system in 2020, has since sacrificially cared for my dad through his illnesses. Taking detailed notes at doctor's visits and keeping his medication sorted, on top of managing all of the household tasks and payment of bills, are just a few instances of her dedication in caring for his health and life.

In the past year, David has done the hard work of modifying his diet, pushing through chronic pain which includes an inoperable hernia, and jumping through all the hoops to be put on the transplant list at Duke's renowned facility. After a mere 48 hours on the list, he was notified of an available match and underwent surgery on March 1, 2024 to receive a liver. The recovery will be long and slow, but we cannot express enough gratitude for the team at Duke for giving David not only his life back but his livelihood as well. I long to see him fervently cook again or take another walk to the gardens with my kids.

While Medicare will provide a good deal to lower the medical costs, a surgery of this magnitude and marvel has a price tag that is equally substantial. In addition, they will also need short-term housing to remain within a certain radius of the hospital for the first 30 days after surgery. We appreciate you being here just to understand and communicate your well wishes. However, if you are able and willing, any gift would ease both mental and financial strain for my parents as they focus on his recovery. I never imagined that I would be here, sharing so much about my dad and his struggles, asking anyone to help however they are able. He's always been there for me, ready for whatever I needed, and right now I wish I could do the same. I hope this post can reach wide enough to provide for him in kind.