Help Steve Survive His Liver Transplant

Allow us to introduce our friend Steve’s story to you:

Steve is a 61 year old Christian family man who adores his beautiful wife Lorna, his three children from a previous marriage and his new granddaughter.

Over a year and a half ago, their life was suddenly, and without warning, tragically turned upside down. You see, Steve was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Never a drinker, this was a horrendous shock and worst of all, a fatal diagnosis without a liver transplant.

Since the diagnosis, Steve has endured heartbreak after heartbreak, several costly hospital stays and even had the unthinkable happen during one of his initial hospital visits - he “flatlined.” Whether it was due to the incredible medical team’s efforts or divine intervention, Steve was miraculously brought back to life. This experience left Steve and the family shaken to the core, and yet it also drove Steve to fight even harder for what he needed - a new chance at life with a liver transplant.

After going through a rigorous months-long intake process for the UCSF Liver Transplant Program, he was finally accepted and put on their list, only to find out that as critical as his condition was, his chances of getting a liver transplant in California were virtually “Zero.”

Steve got a small break when talking to a fellow liver transplant recipient who told him about the Mayo Clinic Liver Transplant Program in Phoenix, Arizona.

After doing a deep dive researching their program and tremendous soul searching, Steve made the courageous decision to make a temporary, but necessary move to Phoenix. This meant that he would be using up most of his remaining life savings and leaving his family and new granddaughter, not knowing if he would ever have the chance to see, or hold, this precious baby again.

Facing yet another rigorous intake process in Phoenix, Steve powered through the sweltering Phoenix summer, living on what is left of his depleted life savings having not been able to work these past three years. While there, he received several calls that a liver had become available and to get to the hospital immediately only to find out each time that he was preparing himself mentally for the grueling surgery, that the livers were not viable. It is difficult to fathom this happening once, but having it occur several times was devastating. This, compounded by mounting medical and living expenses, wreaked havoc on Steve, his wife and family.

Steve's journey does not end here. Steve received another call this past Saturday and this liver was deemed good to go! Though he was prepped for surgery to begin at 9:30 p.m. on 9/10/23, the arduous hours of surgery meant that it was not finalized until the early morning hours of 9/11/23 - a poignant date indeed.

Steve just needs a fighting chance. He will need to remain in Phoenix for several more months and needs monetary help to pay for basic needs while he recuperates. He faces mounting medical expenses not covered by insurance, needs food, rent and basic necessities that have to be met in order to do this.

Steve is a very humble man, but he needs help so we are doing the ask for him.

Every gift counts and every gift matters. No matter how large or how small, the collective impact of giving what you can will have a tremendous impact on Steve’s outcome.

Won’t you help us help Steve today?