Hi. I’m Dina and this is my brother-in-law Shawn Trainer. The past couple of years have been incredibly difficult for him and his family and they now need support more than ever.

In November 2024, Shawn was hospitalized and while he was there for over a week, a CT scan was performed which led to a diagnosis of Cirrhosis of the liver. Before this they had no idea he had any issues with his liver. They were referred to a specialist in Edmonton at that point.

In June 2025, Shawn became septic and was airlifted to a hospital in Red Deer. He was battling a kidney infection and pneumonia. Although he was eventually able to return home, he had to go on short term disability from July to October. He returned to work in a limited capacity but in December his condition began to decline again. It was then decided he would need to meet with a liver transplant team at the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton with testing scheduled for the 2nd week of March.

In January 2026, Shawn began experiencing severe fluid build up in his abdomen and lungs. Doctors drained 5.5L of fluid and was administered an albumin transfusion-a vital protein produced by the liver that helps regulate fluid balance and transports essential nutrients throughout his body. A couple of weeks later he needed more drainage.

On February 6th, while his family was in Edmonton attending the honour band performance for their daughter, Shawn’s condition suddenly worsened. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance in the middle of the night. He was admitted and there he spent several days. It was then confirmed he was in liver failure. The March testing was completed to determine transplant eligibility and he has since been put high on the transplant list. However, his status is currently on hold pending further testing. If he clears these next steps, the hold will be lifted and an active search for a donor will begin.

Throughout all of this, Shawn and his wife Mandy have been travelling frequently to Edmonton for appointments, resulting in multiple hotel stays and mounting expenses. When the transplant happens, Shawn will need to remain in Edmonton for approximately three months during recovery. At the same time they are doing everything they can to maintain a sense of normalcy for their three beautiful children. Recently they have also faced some unexpected vehicle repairs costing them several thousands of dollars.

This has been an incredibly overwhelming journey-physically, emotionally and financially. Any support you can offer to help ease their burden would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read Shawn’s story and keeping their family in your thoughts.