Jimmy’s Liver Transplant Journey

I am raising money for my Step-Dad for his Liver Transplant. For medical expenses, lodging, food and necessities. He is receiving a Liver Transplant on 4/27/2020 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He will have to stay in Pittsburgh (which is 4 hours away from home) for approximately 4-6 weeks depending on how things go. They will have to stay in a hotel for 2-3 weeks post discharge depending on how things are going after discharge from hospital.

Below is a little bit about Jimmy and his story....

Jimmy Staats a Charleston, WV native is finally getting a Liver from a Living Donor at UPMC on 4/27/2020. After 7 long years of batteling a rare Liver Disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholonigitis.

Primary sclerosing (skluh-ROHS-ing) cholangitis (koh-lan-JIE-tis) is a disease of the bile ducts. Bile ducts carry the digestive liquid bile from your liver to your small intestine. In primary sclerosing cholangitis, inflammation causes scars within the bile ducts. These scars make the ducts hard and narrow and gradually cause serious liver damage.

In most people with primary sclerosing cholangitis, the disease progresses slowly. It can eventually lead to liver failure, repeated infections, and tumors of the bile duct or liver. A liver transplant is the only known cure for advanced primary sclerosing cholangitis, but the disease may recur in the transplanted liver in a small number of patients.

Care for primary sclerosing cholangitis focuses on monitoring liver function, managing symptoms and, when possible, doing procedures that temporarily open blocked bile ducts.

The last 7 years of batteling PSC has had many ups and downs. Lots of blood work, tests, procedure and many hospitalizations due to this disease.

Jimmy has always been a hard working man. Worked at University of Charleston as a LockSmith/Maintenance. He had to unfortunately quit work because of this liver disease. He was always one that had to be doing something. Always tinkering on old cars, lawn mowers or tractors. He enjoys being outside always doing something. He enjoyed hunting as well. There’s seriously NOTHING he can’t do. He loves to build things and he’s a fixer of ALL things! There’s nothing Jimmy - PAPA can’t do!Since his illness - he has been unable to do a lot of what he loves because he always feels so bad and his health is always up and down.

Our hopes is that this liver will help him lead the life he loves to live. Spending time with family, tinkering in the garage and maybe back to hunting.

Please keep Jimmy and his wife Becky in your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for the Liver Transplant on 4/27/2020 and in the days/weeks/months to come post transplant.