Kevin’s Transplant Expenses

Hi, my name is Kayla Olmstead and I created this GoFundMe account for my dad, Kevin Hopson. He has struggled with illness since he was a child. He went undiagnosed/misdiagnosed for many years. Roughly, 16 years ago he was finally diagnosed with SMAS (Superior Mesentery Artery Syndrome) and at that time he had a duodenojejstomy surgery that was a failure. A week later he had an Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. He has still continued to struggle over the years with being unable to eat and with blockages.

This past year his health has significantly declined and he was referred to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He now suffers from pseudo obstructions and motility issues which are side effects and damage from the SMAS. This March his doctor removed several feet of his intestines, most of his colon, his gallbladder and did some repair work around the previous bypass. Dad has been in the Cleveland hospital off and on for weeks at a time resulting in a lot of travel back and forth for him and mom, expensive hotel stays, and missing work.

Coming out of his 8 hour surgery, we were told there was a 95% chance of him needing an intestine/small bowel transplant. He is now going through all the requirements needed to get on the transplant list. This is going to bring a lot more travel, hotel stays, time off work, and medical bills. Dad has never complained or had a “poor me” attitude, but we all need help sometimes and I am hoping to provide some relief for my parents at this time. Thank you!