Merle & Me: Help Support a Liver Transplant

Hello, world! My name is Kari, a writer/journalist currently living in Atlanta, GA. Please allow me to introduce you to Merle -- my rapidly failing liver.

 

"Why Merle," you may ask? Because he's haggard. Yeah, I know that naming a body part is a little odd -- but it looks like Merle and I are going to be spending a lot of time dealing with each other this year. Plus, I like to imagine him to be a worn-out, road-weary, hard-living troubadour, much like his namesake, Merle Haggard. It beats thinking of my liver looking like a lump of moldy old Swiss cheese.

 

I was diagnosed with Stage IV Cirrhosis of the Liver in 2021. To say it was a shock and an utter kick in the crotch would be an understatement. I did my best to live with it ever since, but apparently having a bum liver means that you get an ever-increasing host of additional medical problems as your body attempts to function normally. It's resulted in several hospital stays, a growing amount of medical bills, and the overall increasing frustration at spending most of my time sick or in pain.

 

In early 2022, I became a liver transplant candidate through the awesome Liver Transplant Team at Emory University Hospital. Getting on the list has required a myriad of tests and the biggest commitment to my overall health that I have ever undertaken. The team at Emory is amazing and has been nothing but supportive throughout this journey.

#restingwriterface #thejournalist

Needless to say, this journey is going to be expensive and a struggle financially. That's where you come in.

 

Got some pocket change you can throw in? Maybe you want to try running a marathon to raise funds to help out? Perhaps you've just won the lotto and you've got a couple of grand burning a hole in your pocket. Anything is appreciated.

 

So, Kari... How are you going to use this money?

 

Glad you asked. At first, this fund will be used to help out with my ever-growing medical bills. While I do have insurance, it doesn't cover the half of it. That's going to be a struggle. Additionally, I will be put on a cocktail of hugely expensive anti-rejection drugs for the rest of my life. While that's going to be tough, it's going to be even harder during my transplant recovery when I won't really be earning any money.

 

I don't want this money to just help me. Being the altruistic, bleeding heart liberal that I am, I'm hopeful that whatever I raise won't just be to help me out, but that we'll raise enough to help others in my situation. To that end, I have decided to establish the Merle & Me Foundation in order to continue to raise funds to support the Georgia Transplant Foundation and the Emory Transplant Center . I want this miracle of life to be available for those who need it -- not just those who can afford it.

 

This is going to be a tough road -- but with your love and support I know I can not only make it through, but live on to help others. Please give what you can. It's all appreciated.