Hello, my name is Leah Brandon, and I’m reaching out for help for my brother, Ian Brandon, in his fight against a rare and life-threatening condition—non-alcoholic liver disease caused by the advanced HCV I-9 variant. This aggressive and rare form of Hepatitis C can remain dormant for years before rapidly progressing. Unfortunately, he is now at stage 3 fibrosis, which has advanced to cirrhosis, just one stage away from requiring a liver transplant or facing an unthinkable outcome.

The journey to this diagnosis has been long and costly. After initially seeking care in October 2024 for unrelated heart marker concerns, his tests revealed alarmingly high liver function levels.

He underwent extensive blood work, imaging, and consultations with three hematology teams before finally receiving a precise diagnosis: advanced HCV infection causing severe, non-alcoholic liver damage. Despite regular medical care, this rare variant went undetected for years.

The prescribed treatment is urgent and necessary but comes at an astronomical cost. A 12-week medication cycle—his only option—costs $998 per pill, totaling over $50,000. Even with a generic alternative, the monthly cost remains $7,000, and he’ll need to take unpaid leave from work during treatment. Additionally, he has already incurred $9,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for testing and consultations due to being underinsured.

This is a race against time as his liver function levels continue to decline rapidly. I am asking for your support to cover the cost of this life-saving treatment and the financial burden of unpaid medical leave. Every donation brings him one step closer to recovery and ensures he can focus on healing without the overwhelming stress of economic barriers.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story and for any help you can provide. Sharing this page with others would mean the world to me if you cannot donate.

With gratitude,

Leah Brandon