Help Greg Defeat Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Hello, our names are John Meilahn and Shary Meilahn and we are facing a parents worst nightmare.

After not feeling well for a few months, at the age of 35 our oldest son Greg Meilahn was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency. This is a rare genetic disorder that is passed on in families and can affect the lungs, liver and/or skin. In Greg's case his liver is affected. He is in liver failure and will need a transplant within a year. When your family carries the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency you have a 50% chance of developing the deficiency. In Greg's case it turns out both parents are carriers, which causes his case to be much worse. The odds of one parent carrying the deficiency are 1 in 3500. To have the severe case of AAT Deficiency, both parents need to be carriers. It turns out John and I are both carriers of this rare disease. The hospital visits have been hard on us and his younger brother Casey Meilahn, as visitation rules have been so strict due to COVID protocols.

Greg is waiting to hear in the next couple of weeks when he will be put on the transplant waiting list. In the meantime, he is experiencing many other issues caused by the liver failure which has lead to him being in and out of the hospital often. Most recently he has dealt with a severely compromised immune system, infections, stomach lesions, and exhaustion. Since his liver is no longer functioning properly, many of these issues can be life threatening. He recently spent 10 days hospitalized from an infection in his body cavity which had to have mega doses of antibiotic's, blood transfusions, platelets and plasma transfusions to avoid going into sepsis. Greg is very sick young man.

Greg was born in Oconto, Wisconsin and moved to Oconto Falls in the third grade. Greg is a graduate of Oconto Falls high school and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, in which he earned a degree in history. Greg worked at a company called Super Steel in Milwaukee, but after taking FMLA leave to take care of his dad (whom had the same liver disease), he found out upon return that his job had been eliminated. He then worked for Shopko and found a great fit there. When Shopko closed its doors, he went to work for Meijer's store. With his immune system compromised, he is not sure how much longer he will be able to work.

Now just 36 years old, Greg is a young man in the prime of his life with so much to offer society and looks forward to someday to be able to live life to its fullest. He loves spending time with family, has always loved animals, and adored his childhood Corgi.

We are hoping for a second chance on life with a liver transplant.

The money will be greatly needed and appreciated. It will be used to pay his medical bills, prescriptions not covered by insurance, and most importantly his eventual liver transplant. His illness is affecting his ability to work and he's been in and out of the hospital. So some of the money will be used just for day to day living expenses. All donations big or small are much appreciated.

Thank you so much.