My name is Melanie, and for my entire adult life, I have been fighting a series of autoimmune disorders. At 22, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which eventually led to a rare liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. In 2018, I underwent a total colectomy in hopes of saving my liver, but unfortunately, my health continued to decline. By 2023, I was at the top of the UNOs list and received a life-saving liver transplant on February 15.

My transplant journey was far from easy. I faced multiple complications, including two additional surgeries that kept me in the hospital for 28 days. Afterward, I had to live in an AirBnB for months to stay close to my transplant hospital. The donor liver carried a virus called CMV, which I had never been exposed to, and six months after my transplant, I developed a severe infection that required eight weeks of intensive IV treatment. Not long after, I experienced my first episode of organ rejection. Despite these setbacks, I have tried to stay strong for my children and continue working as a software engineer, even from my hospital bed.

Recently, I was hospitalized again with another bout of rejection, spending Thanksgiving far from my family. The emotional and financial toll has been overwhelming. I am the sole provider for my children, and the mounting medical bills and loss of income have left me struggling to keep up with basic living expenses. I am reaching out for help so I can get back on track, provide for my family, and focus on healing. Any support you can offer would mean the world to us.