Help Save Natalie’s Life with a Liver Transplant

Hi Everyone,

I’m Natalie - a chef, a wife, and a mom to two incredible kids, ages 5 and 7. We also have a dog named Taco who rounds out our little family. Four years ago, we moved to Iowa so I could take a new job. My husband Nate left his job as a firefighter and started working as a Critical Care Paramedic at a local hospital to support the move.

Not long after we settled in, my overall health started to decline in ways no one could fully explain.

In April, I finally got an answer to what was wrong. A biopsy confirmed I have end-stage liver disease (ESLD) likely caused by a toxic reaction to an over-the-counter migraine supplement recommended to me by my Neurologist. Because supplements aren’t FDA-regulated, the doctors believe the one I took possibly included unlisted or excessive ingredients that caused irreversible liver damage.

What Happens Next

I’m officially listed for a liver transplant with the UNMC Omaha transplant team. I already had one call in July as a backup for a donor liver. It went to a person who needed it more urgently, but it was an encouraging sign that a match could come again soon.

When the call comes, I’ll have just 4 hours to get to the hospital in Omaha, which is about 2 hours from our house. The transplant surgery itself can take upto 12 hours or more, followed by 5 to 14 days in the ICU and inpatient recovery. After that, Nate and I will need to temporarily relocate to Omaha for 4–6 weeks so I can attend daily check-ups, physical therapy, and carefully monitored post-op care.

Nate will be my full-time caregiver during this time. We’ll need to live in a clean and low-risk environment, and I’ll be on lifelong immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications, many of which come with steep out-of-pocket costs. Meanwhile, our kids will stay with a family member while we recover in Omaha.

What We’re Facing Financially

Since April:

I was hospitalized 5 times due to infections and complications.

I lost my job due to the illness, which means we’ve lost the majority of our income.

Nate has taken on everything - our home, our kids, our finances, and now he’ll need to take time away from work to take care of me in Omaha.

We’re doing everything we can to stay afloat, but the transplant process has pushed us far beyond what we can manage alone.

What Your Donation Will Help Cover

We've put together a realistic, needs-based estimate of what this transplant will cost us:

Temporary housing in Omaha for 6–8 weeks while I recover: $4,000–$6,000

Anti-rejection meds and post-op prescriptions: $3,000–$5,000

Uncovered medical bills, labs, and surgery copays: $6,000–$11,000

Hospital stay (ICU + inpatient recovery): $5,000–$8,000

Travel, gas, meals, and daily hospital visits: $1,500–$2,000

Childcare and household support while we’re away: $3,000+

Our mortgage and household bills for 2 months: $8,000

(Includes mortgage, utilities, insurance, already acquired medical debt and minimum debt payments)

Emergency buffer for complications, or extended recovery: $4,000+

That’s why we’re setting our goal at $60,000. We wanted to give you all a real, transparent number, not guesswork.

How You Can Help

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If not, sharing our story or keeping us in your thoughts is just as meaningful. Every single act of support brings us one step closer to a second chance at life—and to keeping our family together through it.

We’re holding on and extremely grateful for the love and support that’s already gotten us this far.

With deep gratitude,

Natalie & Nate