Help the Wagner-Swartz Family Through This Medical Crisis

Andrew and Nicole were blessed to meet each other over 5 years ago and married in March 2023, blending their families. They each have two beautiful daughters and live in the Orlando area.

In the late 1990’s, Andrew was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis which causes severe damage to the bile ducts in the liver. This damage often leads to (non-alcohol related) cirrhosis and liver failure. He was blessed 14 years ago when he received his first liver transplant at Tampa General Hospital that saved his life.

Andrew had been stabilized and healthy for years, but his autoimmune disease slowly returned and now is damaging his current liver. Since April, Andrew has quickly declined and is now facing end stage liver disease.

Unfortunately, Andrew could not get accepted into transplant programs in Florida due to a localized stage 1 cancer he developed from long term use of immunosuppressive drugs required for all transplant patients. Localized cancers are not uncommon for people living with a transplanted organ, but the timing is unfortunate. Although he had a successful surgery and has been cancer free for 2 years, many programs were not willing to take a chance on him. As they began their search, they were rejected by several Florida hospitals because they required a 3 years cancer free diagnosis to get into their program.

Knowing the reality and severity of their situation, Nicole frantically began researching and sending medical records to transplant centers throughout the country. After medical directors reviewed his records, they got the same answer…… not a candidate… have to wait 3-5 years. With Andrew's current liver condition, waiting at least another year was not an option for survival.

After being left with no option Nicole tenaciously pursued a program at Northwestern University Hospital that has successively performed liver transplants on patients with the same cancer Andrew had. She reached out several times to the patient coordinator and made a plea for help. Emails, reports, texts, & phone calls ensued. After careful (re)consideration and an extensive evaluation process, the surgical team has approved him to receive a transplant.

He has been placed on the list and is awaiting a call for a liver match.

Pre and Post surgery Andrew and Nicole will be residing in Chicago, Illinois. The minimum recovery time that Andrew will need in Chicago post-liver transplant will be 3 months.

Thankfully Andrew has good health insurance to cover most of the medical costs but living in Chicago for this extended period of time on medical leave, with neither of them being able to work is financially overwhelming.

It is truly a miracle that Northwestern has granted Andrew, Nicole, and their family this opportunity although it is quite stressful on many fronts. Will you partner with Andrew and Nicole to make this season of their lives a bit less daunting and scary?

Please consider contributing to this fund that will financially support Nicole and Andrew throughout the next few months. Also, please partner in praying for the Wagner-Swartz Family as they are praying for a timely and successful surgery for Andrew. They are also praying for the liver donor and their family, as we know it takes a loss of life in order to save Andrew's life in this situation.