She Got A Liver
Donation protected
Friends, Sharla Gioia got a Liver.
No words to describe the journey this beauty and her boys have been through...
First we want to give all the Glory to God and then Thank the amazing family who donated their loved ones liver. We are all still so overjoyed by how AMAZING the Lord is. Why, I don't know. He never forgets us and our needs.
Sharla has been sick for 5 years. Going to the Dr for years, being told it was broncitis or whatever they guessed. Finally 4 years ago being told she was a end stage Liver disease. In the last 4 years, she has been admitted to the hospital many times. We were all under the impression that she was on the Transplant list since December 2016. Two weeks ago on a trip to the hospital due to being so ill, they asked her why she wasn't on the list. Sharla said, "I thought I was". The Dr left the room and came back and said she was. They told her she would get a letter in three days. At the end of last week, she was also told she was #2 on the Transplant list. From not being on the list to being #2 was overwhelmingly emotional. She cried and cried... So completely exhausted from being sick for so so so long. Sharla was so sick that she returned Monday to the hospital as was admitted again. Wednesday before she was to be discharged, she got the news she was #1 on the list for her blood type. Colorado's Donor list is regional, so that is a total of a 6 State Region. After they called for transport twice so she could be discharged, the hospital phone rang. Sharla answered, and was offered a Liver. Praising the Lord that she didn't leave the hospital, the ball was rolling. So much infomation to be shared about the Risk of taking a liver and the choosing if you are willing to take it. The news was overwhelming. It was a low Risk Liver and a young donor. At the point she accepted the liver, the testing started on the Donor liver and she started doing tests. We were told that the LIVER would arrive about Midnight on Thursday morning. The Transplant for her would take place after all the testing. So things got so real. Sharla her mom and I stayed up all night talking. It kept her from thinking about what she was going to endure. So thrilled that after all these years she would no be sick anymore. The Donors Liver didn't arrive until 9am. It was a go. She went into her transplant about 10:00am. It didn't start until about 11:00am. We prayed and waited. The amazing Transplant Team did an amazing job and called to let us know that there was bloodflow to the LIVER before it was completely connected. What a huge Praise. The Dr. came and talked to use at 2:30 and said she had a very very sick liver on the inside. A Transplant that typically takes 6+ hours was complete took them 3:35min.... God is so good and that Team... We love them...University of Colorado Hospital is wonderful. Sharla looks amazing today as you can see from picture above. Her precious mom "Joyce" hasn't left her side. They said that her hospital stay will be 10-14 days from Surgery, and roughly 8 weeks of constant support and 12 weeks before she is feeling close to being able to normal. This morning at 1am she told her mom..."I hurt really bad, but I don't feel sick anymore. What a huge gift and answered prayer.
So that brings us to the need for financial assistance and more than that your Prayers and Talents.
Since the diagnosis, she has become a single mom of three amazing boys. Jack 12, Tyson 9 and Blake 7. They live in a home that has not been maintained since she became 5 years ago. (The childrens father, traveled a lot for his job.)
To allow them to return home while she heals, we have to get the home in order.
We are asking for some financial assistance to get the home in a clean, safe and functional condition. Also, if you are a handy person, can lay flooring, do any sprinkler work, painting, plumbing, pest contol, cleaning, organizing or any other ability, we could use your help. Also if you have access to people who can help us find deals on flooring, window coverings, etc.
I can't begin to image what it would be like to be sick for so long. Being a single parent for the last year and so on, things get too hard. Sharla doesn't like to ask for help, but knows that I am for her. She said it was ok, because she wants her children to be able to be home and for life to start NEW, when she is released. Knowing this is the only way, her heart is overwhelmed.
Thank you in advance for your prayers, shares and help.
You are so appreciated and we pray that you are blessed and choose to be a DONOR...
All for them,
Sharla, Jack, Tyson and Blake Gioia
Blessings,
Lisa Voss
No words to describe the journey this beauty and her boys have been through...
First we want to give all the Glory to God and then Thank the amazing family who donated their loved ones liver. We are all still so overjoyed by how AMAZING the Lord is. Why, I don't know. He never forgets us and our needs.
Sharla has been sick for 5 years. Going to the Dr for years, being told it was broncitis or whatever they guessed. Finally 4 years ago being told she was a end stage Liver disease. In the last 4 years, she has been admitted to the hospital many times. We were all under the impression that she was on the Transplant list since December 2016. Two weeks ago on a trip to the hospital due to being so ill, they asked her why she wasn't on the list. Sharla said, "I thought I was". The Dr left the room and came back and said she was. They told her she would get a letter in three days. At the end of last week, she was also told she was #2 on the Transplant list. From not being on the list to being #2 was overwhelmingly emotional. She cried and cried... So completely exhausted from being sick for so so so long. Sharla was so sick that she returned Monday to the hospital as was admitted again. Wednesday before she was to be discharged, she got the news she was #1 on the list for her blood type. Colorado's Donor list is regional, so that is a total of a 6 State Region. After they called for transport twice so she could be discharged, the hospital phone rang. Sharla answered, and was offered a Liver. Praising the Lord that she didn't leave the hospital, the ball was rolling. So much infomation to be shared about the Risk of taking a liver and the choosing if you are willing to take it. The news was overwhelming. It was a low Risk Liver and a young donor. At the point she accepted the liver, the testing started on the Donor liver and she started doing tests. We were told that the LIVER would arrive about Midnight on Thursday morning. The Transplant for her would take place after all the testing. So things got so real. Sharla her mom and I stayed up all night talking. It kept her from thinking about what she was going to endure. So thrilled that after all these years she would no be sick anymore. The Donors Liver didn't arrive until 9am. It was a go. She went into her transplant about 10:00am. It didn't start until about 11:00am. We prayed and waited. The amazing Transplant Team did an amazing job and called to let us know that there was bloodflow to the LIVER before it was completely connected. What a huge Praise. The Dr. came and talked to use at 2:30 and said she had a very very sick liver on the inside. A Transplant that typically takes 6+ hours was complete took them 3:35min.... God is so good and that Team... We love them...University of Colorado Hospital is wonderful. Sharla looks amazing today as you can see from picture above. Her precious mom "Joyce" hasn't left her side. They said that her hospital stay will be 10-14 days from Surgery, and roughly 8 weeks of constant support and 12 weeks before she is feeling close to being able to normal. This morning at 1am she told her mom..."I hurt really bad, but I don't feel sick anymore. What a huge gift and answered prayer.
So that brings us to the need for financial assistance and more than that your Prayers and Talents.
Since the diagnosis, she has become a single mom of three amazing boys. Jack 12, Tyson 9 and Blake 7. They live in a home that has not been maintained since she became 5 years ago. (The childrens father, traveled a lot for his job.)
To allow them to return home while she heals, we have to get the home in order.
We are asking for some financial assistance to get the home in a clean, safe and functional condition. Also, if you are a handy person, can lay flooring, do any sprinkler work, painting, plumbing, pest contol, cleaning, organizing or any other ability, we could use your help. Also if you have access to people who can help us find deals on flooring, window coverings, etc.
I can't begin to image what it would be like to be sick for so long. Being a single parent for the last year and so on, things get too hard. Sharla doesn't like to ask for help, but knows that I am for her. She said it was ok, because she wants her children to be able to be home and for life to start NEW, when she is released. Knowing this is the only way, her heart is overwhelmed.
Thank you in advance for your prayers, shares and help.
You are so appreciated and we pray that you are blessed and choose to be a DONOR...
All for them,
Sharla, Jack, Tyson and Blake Gioia
Blessings,
Lisa Voss
Organizer
Lisa Voss
Organizer
Brighton, CO
