Help Brian While He Waits for a Liver Transplant

Hi. My name is Chris. Lots of you know me— I'm your friend, or I teach your kids, or I taught them.... Fewer of you know I have a twin brother. And well, we've been going through it.

 

Actually, a month ago I wasn't totally sure I'd still had a twin. On 7/3/20 my brother, Brian, went into the ICU because of a coma caused by end-stage liver disease. Doctors thought it unlikely he would survive. He had been coughing up blood and had more horrible symptoms that I'd rather not describe to you here. I wish he'd never gone through them.

 

 

 

They didn't think he would make it. And he barely did. His numbers tanked. But.... he pulled through. He got out. And still in a lot of pain, was released home.

 

Brian did what he was supposed to do.  He started intensive outpatient rehab and quit drinking. He went to his appointments. We are so proud of him. But the stomach pain started back up, along with the bloody vomit, and he was back in the ICU.

 

He defied death, again. And he was released. But this time, the doctors were frank: without a liver transplant within this year, he's likely not going to make it.

 

(For the record... we're 35 years old, but here's a photo of us as kids.)

 

 

 

Friends who know me and those of you who don't.... I am not good at asking for help. But I have been doing everything to help my twin brother live. And he's been trying. But he can't work all that much this year as he tries to get healthy enough to be a candidate for a transplant. And I can't do it all. I do not want to talk about this, but in my immediate remaining family, our mom only collects a small social security pension and our older brother is on long-term disability. And nutritious foods for cirrhosis patients and reasonable shelter so he can keep seeing his excellent doctors at Weill Cornell ain't cheap!

 

Brian will make a fraction of his income this year, meaning he's expected to survive off of $680 a month. Between NYC rent, healthy food, and paying off his high health insurance deductible, I'm not to going to lie–I'm not sure how we will do it with my teacher's salary supporting everyone.

 

So here we are. I'm trying to raise $30,000 to offset his lost income, increased medical expenses and help keep him positive as he literally battles for his life. I know that there are so many world and familial problems right now. Would you consider supporting my brother in this fight for his life?

 

 

 

 

 

Please reach out to me with any questions. I am so, so grateful for your support.

 

Love,

Chris