Hi, dear friends. I'm doing something you know I hate to do: I'm asking for help, and this one is a big ask. I'll do my best to keep it short, and if anyone wants more clarification, nothing is off the table, just message me and I'll be happy to explain. Here's what has been going on:

In late May of this year, I noticed that I was consistently short of breath during any exercise more strenuous than walking. I needed to take breaks on trails I've done a dozen times, and inclines and stairs were getting harder by the day. I also noticed my abdomen starting to swell, and the pressure was getting increasingly uncomfortable, so I finally went to ED.

What I found out was that my liver wasn't just not working well, I was already in total liver failure. I had advanced cirrhosis with lesions over every surface, it was flat as a pancake, and it was just sitting there with no chance of trying to heal itself. What followed (and continues) was every test you can think of, intermittent admittance for days at a time (so far I've spent over 70 days in a hospital bed since the first week of June). Weekly paracentesis (a procedure to drain the fluid from my abdomen that involves a 14-gauge, 8# needle in the place where your lower intestine is bobbing around like a giant anemone). So many blood draws, so many pills and infusions.

I wasn't getting better. The doctors started telling me I needed a transplant, or this was what the rest of my life would probably look like and I would die painfully and very young.

So here's where I need your help: the only transplant center nearby is in Denver, and my expenses are going to be through the roof since I won't be able to work at all except remotely for some of the time I'm there. I will have to cover travel to and from Denver multiple times. Once I'm approved for the surgery, I'll have to rent a short-term apartment for about three months: this includes waiting for the correct liver to arrive, recovery time, and observation. The center has properties they work with, since once I get the okay-go I can't be more than 15 minutes away - I have to be there and prepping for surgery that fast.

Other expenses will include:

*Please know that anything we don't need will be returned to donors, and receipts can be provided*

That's what I have right now. When I have more info, I will absolutely update and again, if you have questions, feel free to message me. Keep in mind that GFM takes a portion of what's donated through them, so if you'd like to circumvent that, PayPal, Zelle, CashApp https://cash.app/$shinyponiesandbeans), and snacks are all excellent choices!

I love and appreciate every one of you, and I cant tell you how grateful I am to have so many supporting me. I'm scared. I really am. Everything about this has been new and frightening and painful, but somebody out there decided I should get another chance, and I can't let it be wasted.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart (which fortunately does still work!),

Emily, Charles, and Eugene