Donate to Matt's Life-Saving Liver Transplant

This is a difficult thing to write about and ask as we are very private people...

As some of you may know, and others are just finding out, I am in desperate need of a liver transplant. This all began after a routine colonoscopy went very wrong and left me 48 hours later in a coma when Robbie found me unconscious.

After spending five days in a coma and several more in ICU, I was released from the hospital. This is when I learned that my liver had taken the brunt of the trauma. I suffered significant edema, causing me to put on close to 75 pounds of water weight. I have spent the last year working with doctors to balance different meds to get me closer to my original weight and to avoid periods of time of increased edema. With that being said, it has been a constant uphill battle.

Working was difficult this past year. I did not return to work last fall until late October. During this time, people noticed that I was struggling with memory and other cognitive functions associated with liver failure. There have been times that this has been minimal and others that are significantly more profound. I wish I could say that this symptom had gone away, but it has not and is one of the more frustrating pieces of this puzzle.

I have been very blessed to have had the chance to work with great physicians here in Spokane as they try to bring me to a full recovery. This past February, my care team decided that I needed to be assessed in Seattle. The hope was that I would not be in need of a transplant, but that did not prove to be the case.

This past June, I was referred to the University of Washington for a liver transplant. Needless to say, I was filled with questions, stresses and fear. After meeting with my new care team from the UW, those questions became appointments, which began us planning for a transplant and that is what has gotten us to this point.

We were told that I was not only a candidate for a cadaver liver but also one from a living donor. I could not begin to wrap my head around the idea of asking family members and friends to get tested to see if they were a match and willing to go through such an extensive surgery. To my amazement, a family member (I will leave their name out as it is their story) stepped forward and had informed me they had gone through the process of getting tested and was a match.

I could not feel more blessed. My life is not one that I take for granted. I am married to the most amazing and supportive man, Robbie for the past 16 years. We have walked side by side through laughs, weddings, grand children being born and now we will take on this health challenge hand in hand.

There is so much life that I have yet to live. Being so close to our grandkids, Stella, Nova, Cecelia and Mason is a driving force. I cannot fail to mention the kids and their spouses that offer support and encouragement, Braedan and Rena, Korie and Ambro and Kaelee. That is not to forget extended family and friends that offer loving and motivational support.

The reason I am asking for help is that after the transplant, we will have to live in Seattle for three months. Having to arrange our own lodging with a full kitchen for healthy eating and close to UW for daily appointments for the three months that follow.

We recognize how lucky we are to have terrific medical benefits and leave options, but our bills at home don't stop and the price of Seattle living is high. Any bit of help is very much appreciated. This has become an all-hands-on deck for our family to attend to things back here.

It means so much that you would take time to even read this and keep Robbie, the kids and myself in your prayers, along with my amazing donor who is giving me the gift of life. Please feel free to share this with others and don't hesitate to message me with words of encouragement and questions.

Thank you for being in our life and being willing to help take some of the stress away that comes with the transplant.

Sincerely,

Matt and Robbie