During the week prior to Thanksgiving 2025, our lives changed abruptly.

A month earlier, my husband, Jason had fallen in our garage and believed he’d simply broken a rib. But days later, his condition worsened. He struggled to breathe, could barely stand, and his abdomen began to swell. We went to the VA hospital, where he was admitted for nearly two days while doctors ran extensive tests on his heart, lungs, gallbladder, and more. He underwent a paracentesis to drain fluid from his abdomen, and countless vials of blood were drawn as the medical team searched for answers.

After weeks of uncertainty and research with no clear diagnosis, we learned the cause: severe liver disease. He now needs a liver transplant.

Since then, it has been a relentless cycle of hospital visits, treatments, procedures, and evaluations to determine whether he can be listed as a transplant candidate. Two months after his initial accident, he has just completed his final round of testing this week. His medical team has been exceptional, and we are deeply grateful for their care. But the financial reality has been overwhelming.

Even with VA support, we are responsible for copays for each appointment, test, and hospital stay. Those costs have now reached over ten thousand dollars and continue to grow.

At the same time, I am currently the only one able to work. I’ve been piecing together part-time contract work through the holidays, following a long stretch of unemployment after being laid off from my previous role. My highest-paying contract ends in two weeks, reducing our income to about 45% of what it is today. Of course, right as our medical and living expenses are increasing.

If and when my husband is officially listed for transplant, we will need to travel to Madison, Wisconsin to meet the transplant team. This initial trip will require travel and lodging for our family. The VA will cover travel for my husband and me, but not for our child, and none of the food or additional living expenses.

When the transplant itself happens, the logistics become even more complex. After surgery, we are required to live in Madison for at least six weeks, longer if complications arise. During that time:

There is no option for us to leave our child behind. Being close together as a family is not only necessary, it will be a critical part of my husband’s recovery.

Once he is discharged, his care does not end. For at least the first year, he will require close monitoring, frequent appointments, and a carefully controlled home environment to prevent infection. He will be on immunosuppressant medications, and daily sanitation and care will become part of our routine.

We are asking for help to cover:

Asking for help does not come easily, but this is bigger than what we can manage alone.

Any support- whether through donating or sharing this page- will help relieve the financial strain so we can focus on what matters most: my husband’s health, our child’s stability, and keeping our family together through this fight.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you’re able to offer. It truly means more than we can express.