Help The Liver Boys Transplant Fund
Donation protected
I'd like to introduce you to two incredible men in my life. My brother Robby is my best friend and has had his share of struggles in the past 10 years. When he was 16, he was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease of the liver called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). His ability to triumph through life with this disease is an inspiration to many people. His passion is mountain biking, and not just regular biking. He rides the extreme mountain trails of Colorado, doing more miles in one day than most physically fit people do in a month. This devotion to biking allows him to overcome the reality and symptoms of his disease. Due to Robby’s drive and his current state of health, his doctors at the University of Colorado Medical Center (UCMC) feel he is a great candidate for a live donor transplant.
With that said, I’d like to introduce you to the other amazing man in my life. My boyfriend Nick, a great friend of Robby, has selflessly offered to be the live liver donor for my brother. He has endured a battery of tests and a surgery just to see if he is a viable donor. Through all of this, he has stayed positive and is elated that he has been given the opportunity to save someone’s life. There are few souls that walk this earth that have the ability to love and care so limitlessly and I love him so much for that. On November 7th, these two men will undergo the live liver donor transplant surgery at the University of Colorado Medical Center. During the surgery, about 40-60 percent of Nicks' liver is removed and implanted into Robby, after removing his dysfunctioning and damaged liver. For those of you that might not know, the liver begins to regenerate itself almost immediately. Within eight weeks, both the donor and the recipient's livers will be almost completely regenerated and in two years will have fully regenerated. We are all thrilled that this is happening but scared to death as well. This transplant will hopefully break my brother free from this disease that has held him captive for far too long. It is amazing what modern medicine can do nowadays, however, the cost of the transplant is not cheap even with insurance.
PSC has often been referred to as the Million Dollar Disease, for it could cost patients with this awful disease over a million dollars throughout the course of a lifetime. Nick and Robby will incur many unexpected expenses throughout this time and in the future. The total cost of a living donor liver transplant is roughly $980,000. Although insurance has approved this procedure, it can be assumed/expected that insurance will deny a portion of the procedures associated with the transplant. In addition, both men will be out of work for two months and possibly longer without pay. Although they will be recovering the bills will still keep coming. Also, Nick’s immediate family is being flown down for this surgery. According to the finance coordinator for the University of Colorado Transplant Center, it will cost Robby roughly $15,000 a year to maintain his liver transplant. This does not include any unexpected expenses related to the disease or the original cost of the transplant itself. For the rest of his life, Robby will remain on expensive autoimmune suppressants and anti-rejection medications. In addition, he will also need to have CT scans and MRI’s as well as doctor visits with the hepatology department at UCMC.
As you can see we have a long road ahead of us with many expenses, and it is my intent to start this fund so that expenses are not a worry for our families at this time. If it is something that you might be interested in, we would greatly appreciate any help with the expenses that will be incurred related to this transplant. If you are unable to do so we ask that you keep these two in your thoughts and prayers and send them good vibes as we take on this major life event. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. We are all blessed and we thank you all for helping make a difference.
For more information on PSC please visit:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/psc/
For more information on live liver transplants please visit:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/departments/surgery/divisions/transplant/Types-of-Surgery/Pages/Liver-Transplantation.aspx
With that said, I’d like to introduce you to the other amazing man in my life. My boyfriend Nick, a great friend of Robby, has selflessly offered to be the live liver donor for my brother. He has endured a battery of tests and a surgery just to see if he is a viable donor. Through all of this, he has stayed positive and is elated that he has been given the opportunity to save someone’s life. There are few souls that walk this earth that have the ability to love and care so limitlessly and I love him so much for that. On November 7th, these two men will undergo the live liver donor transplant surgery at the University of Colorado Medical Center. During the surgery, about 40-60 percent of Nicks' liver is removed and implanted into Robby, after removing his dysfunctioning and damaged liver. For those of you that might not know, the liver begins to regenerate itself almost immediately. Within eight weeks, both the donor and the recipient's livers will be almost completely regenerated and in two years will have fully regenerated. We are all thrilled that this is happening but scared to death as well. This transplant will hopefully break my brother free from this disease that has held him captive for far too long. It is amazing what modern medicine can do nowadays, however, the cost of the transplant is not cheap even with insurance.
PSC has often been referred to as the Million Dollar Disease, for it could cost patients with this awful disease over a million dollars throughout the course of a lifetime. Nick and Robby will incur many unexpected expenses throughout this time and in the future. The total cost of a living donor liver transplant is roughly $980,000. Although insurance has approved this procedure, it can be assumed/expected that insurance will deny a portion of the procedures associated with the transplant. In addition, both men will be out of work for two months and possibly longer without pay. Although they will be recovering the bills will still keep coming. Also, Nick’s immediate family is being flown down for this surgery. According to the finance coordinator for the University of Colorado Transplant Center, it will cost Robby roughly $15,000 a year to maintain his liver transplant. This does not include any unexpected expenses related to the disease or the original cost of the transplant itself. For the rest of his life, Robby will remain on expensive autoimmune suppressants and anti-rejection medications. In addition, he will also need to have CT scans and MRI’s as well as doctor visits with the hepatology department at UCMC.
As you can see we have a long road ahead of us with many expenses, and it is my intent to start this fund so that expenses are not a worry for our families at this time. If it is something that you might be interested in, we would greatly appreciate any help with the expenses that will be incurred related to this transplant. If you are unable to do so we ask that you keep these two in your thoughts and prayers and send them good vibes as we take on this major life event. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. We are all blessed and we thank you all for helping make a difference.
For more information on PSC please visit:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/psc/
For more information on live liver transplants please visit:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/departments/surgery/divisions/transplant/Types-of-Surgery/Pages/Liver-Transplantation.aspx
Organizer and beneficiary
Julie Goane
Organizer
Longmont, CO
Thomas Goane
Beneficiary
