My name is Heather, and I’m facing advanced liver failure due to cirrhosis. Over the past several months, my health has declined significantly, and I am currently unable to work while undergoing ongoing medical treatment and frequent hospital procedures.

I am sober and will be reaching six months of sobriety on April 6, a milestone I’m deeply proud of and fully committed to as I work toward being eligible for a liver transplant. While I wait, I require repeated paracentesis procedures to remove large amounts of fluid from my abdomen just to stay stable, along with frequent hospital care and specialist visits.

As my illness has progressed, the financial strain has become overwhelming. My paid leave from work will likely end soon and even with insurance, medical costs continue to accumulate for hospitalizations, medications, specialist care, and the expenses that will come with transplant evaluation, surgery, and recovery.

I have applied for Social Security Disability and am beginning the process for federal disability retirement, but both programs take months to review and provide no immediate income. Until those decisions are made, we are doing our best to bridge this gap.

Asking for help is not easy, but I’ve reached a point where I can’t manage this alone. Any contribution would help ease the burden on my family and allow me to focus on staying as healthy as possible during this critical time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your kindness, and for your support during this incredibly difficult season.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page or keeping us in your thoughts means just as much.