Marie is 55 years old, married, with 2 grown-up children. She has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis caused by fatty liver disease. She has also been diagnosed with acute kidney disease and a bicuspid heart valve. She needs a liver and kidney transplant. Before that can happen, she needs to have surgery to repair her heart. We live in Fargo and have been driving down to the Mayo Clinic for her care. I am Scott, her husband and caregiver.

We have both used up our PTO from work with our multiple visits to Mayo. Her heart surgery to replace her valve will be a 2-day stay in the hospital, assuming all goes well. Liver and kidney transplants are expected to be a week in the hospital, then a four to six-week stay in Rochester for follow-up care. I will also have to be with her as her caregiver.

We don’t want to ask for help but even with our best plans we’re going to need it.