Lisa's Liver transplant fund

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis / Crohns disease as junior in high school in1982. After many years of steroid use to get the disease in remittance and try and live a "normal" life. I started having additional digestive issues and in 1995 I had my gallbladder removed. After that I continued to have more problems so more tests along with a liver biopsy was done, I was diagnosed with PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis. Only 3 % of long term Crohns patients develop this complication. PSC does not have a cure and it causes scaring and narrowing of the bile ducts and hardening of the liver. That is currently what I am facing now. Over the past 5 months I have been in and out of the hospital for iron infusions and blood transfusions. The last visit I was given enough blood to fill my body 3 times. After being hospitalized for several days and transported by ambulance to Henry Ford Clinic the doctors have run several tests to find out what was causing the need for so many blood transfusions. It was found that my portal vein running through my liver was so small, blood was backing up and finding its own route out of my system. The specialist put me on the liver transplant list, and recently had a T.I.P.S. procedure done. This entails a stent being placed in my Portal vein that runs through my liver to reduce pressure in my abdomen and allow my blood to circulate back to my heart. The doctors are unsure of the long term reliability of the stint.
Now I'm waiting on a liver donor to come available, this could be anytime or month/years from today.

I have insurance, as we all know not everything can be covered by the insurance company. I'm still trying to work when my body allows. I only have a limited amount of paid days off of work and I have maxed out my PTO for this year.
There will be many upcoming meetings, preliminary testing, and a lot of traveling back and forth including multiple over night stays in Detroit.
Once the transplant is completed, I will have to stay at the hospital recovery campus for two weeks. Then if all is well I can return home and be under 24hour care by a family member or friend for 3-6 months. I will also be on anti rejection drugs for the rest of my life.

I thank you for taking the time to learn about my situation.
I have a long road ahead of me. Your support, prayers and funds are greatly appreciated.