It’s never easy asking for financial help but I want to live

It’s never easy to ask for financial help, but the thing is --- I want to live. And in order to do so I need a liver transplant so that’s why I am here today.

In case this is too long here is the table of contents:

-Personal Introduction

-Ways to donate

-My story & financial circumstances which lead to this request

-My medical journey that has lead me here

-Steps going forward – what’s next on the agenda

Hi. My name is Nicole Martens and I am 45 years old. First let me say I hate this. I hate asking for help and spewing my personal health and financial information across the internet and social media platform. Before this journey I was a very independent and private person. Choosing to handle things on my own and dealing with what happens as it comes. Now it feels like I’m reporting every step of my life to everyone (EVERYONE!) and I can’t seem to do a whole task my myself. Tasks such as laundry, grocery shopping, attending a family meal (okay, not a task but still), even making it through a day of work – all of these seem overwhelming at times. I’ve been told to go ahead and start this Go Fund Me and be willing to ask for help. That putting my situation out there takes courage and strength. I’m not sure about that, but I am sure about one thing. ------- I want to live. I want to make it through this health situation and continue my path here on earth. In order to do that, I need a liver transplant which not only will be a physical and mental battle but a financial one as well. So what is it I’m asking for? Financial help in covering the costs of a liver transplant that would include, but not limited to, KU Medical hospital fees, transportation to and from, lodging when needed, medical and post-op supplies, medications, etc. No money given will be used for anything other than related items to this procedure or other medical expenses that arise.

If you are able to and choose to donate there are a few ways you can do so.

I thank you in advance for any amount you are able to contribute and am incredibly grateful for the support. All funds are greatly appreciated and will be used to save my life in some way. I am fighting this battle and this step of the fight is leaving my comfort zone and asking for help. It’s amazing how costs add up. I am thrilled to be seen by the staff at KU Medical Center but along with that is the cost of transportation and lodging since I live over an hour away from the medical center.

I have a great family and work support team. I have an amazing boyfriend of 20+ years who is taking care of me at home in more ways than I can start to write out. I literally would not be here right now without him. I have parents who are supporting me, feeding me, fighting the doctors to get medical attention, and giving me an ear to unload on when the struggle is hard. I have great siblings along with nieces and nephews who are my guard dogs watching out for me and warning me when they think I am pushing too hard. Most of all ---- they are all praying for me as are several others.

My support team at work is a miracle. Not only in understanding for my absences, my moments of weakness, watching out for warning signs, helping when embarrassing moments arise, and believe it or not……………gifting me sick time/vacation time to ensure I will still have a full paycheck throughout my absence for the surgery and recovery!! How amazing is that! I honestly would not be able to keep my job, my financial status and my insurance without these amazing people. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have these co-workers and boss, I take that back – I do know. God was planning for this when I moved into this position. He knew this health situation was coming and he put me in the position I needed to be able to fight this the best way I could.

If you are unable to contribute financially trust me I understand. Boy do I ever understand. If you are able to keep myself, my family and my medical team in your prayers that is truly the more important need; with that, the money will come somehow.

So what boat am I in? The leaky one.

The perfect storm hit May of 2023 and I have been struggling to get to calm shores since then.

The part that is bringing me here today and now is that my liver is failing and I am needing a transplant. I have three liver diseases that I am struggling with. PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis diagnosed 2020), PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (diagnosed 2024) and Cirrhosis (diagnosed 2024). Great combination for someone who never drinks huh. Top that off with Ulcerative Colitis in my colon (diagnosed 2023) which has been uncontrolled since May of 2023 and my Type 1 Diabetes that I’ve had since 2000 and life this past year and a half has been rough to say the least. To say I’ve had embarrassing is an understatement. To say I’ve had to cross private boundaries with people is an understatement.

Still working on getting my Ulcerative Colitis better controlled. This is what has caused me a lot of issues over the last year. The weight loss, the malnutrition, the fatigue, the embarrassing moments that cause me to bring a change of clothes every where I go and what has kept me at home and away from events.

I am currently as of today not on the transplant list, but I am in communication with the pre-transplant nurse and starting the steps in order to get there.

I will provide medical and goal reaching updates as we get closer to the surgery date but that is unknown as the process is just starting and then there is waiting for the donor liver to be available. Please be patient with me and the process. I have faith in the process and the wait. I have to. I can’t let the thoughts that it could take years to find a match seep into my consciousness. I understand and accept the reality of the situation but choose not to dwell on the negative side of that.

Qualifications / Steps to achieve liver transplant list:

1.) MELD score greater than 15 is required. Preferably high 20’s to low 30’s. A MELD score is a number that shows how urgently a person with liver disease needs a liver transplant within the next three months. It ranges from 6 (less sick) to 40 (gravely sick). This number is based on laboratory tests that measure liver function. * Copied from google. – My current number as of 9/10/24 is 20.

2.) A support person available 24/7 for two weeks once dismissed from hospital. – Got that covered!

3.) Insurance approval

4.) Adequate financial support (meet with financial counselor)

5.) Physically strong enough to survive the surgery (meet with transplant surgeon)

6.) Appropriate support system & lifestyle (meet with social worker)

7.) Review of current medication list to check for conflicts (meet with pharmacist)

8.) Updated imaging

9.) Meet with:

10.) Then meeting with transplant selection committee to be approved.

Then once on the transplant list, waiting for a donor liver.

In closing:

If you’ve made it this far with me, thank you for taking the time to read this. If you’ve said a prayer for me along the way, thank you for your support and thoughtfulness.

One day at a time – one step at a time – one moment at a time.