My name is Crystal, eldest to the smart; wonderful; well known and loved Teresa. Otherwise known to many as "Momma T" or Aunt T.

I am here to do something we never thought we; Dad, Mom and us siblings would ever need to do, ask for help.

If you know our parents, they never ask for help. They are always there for everyone. Beginning with Dad's military career, theirs was the house to come to for a meal or just to hang your hat when you missed your own family. You became their family. If you need money, you got it. A ride somewhere, tell them where you need to go and they will be there. Food to feed your family, no problem. Power bill paid, done. Clothes or a purse, come shop Mom's closet. If you went on a girl's trip or any vacation with them, they always paid for something without you asking. "I got it", they would say. "My treat". Family, friends, whoever needed help they were there anyway they can help they will. That is my parents in a nutshell.

Now, they need you.

Mom's health has declined so rapidly and unexpectedly over the past 18 months. She has been in and out of so many Doctor's offices, specialists, cities and towns. Procedures and tests done too many to list, hospital stays, weight drastically lost, suddenly she has sugar problems, etc. On one of these tests, it was finally determined that she has NAFLD (non-alcohol fatty liver disease). Last January (2024) began the fluid build up on her right lung that has had to be drained multiple times in the hospital with liters removed each time. A tube finally was placed in her lung so we could drain it daily at home. During the course of all of this we found that Mom now has NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis), her liver progressing. Barely eating, very ill and weak all of the time, barely able to get out of the bed, pushing through as much as she can with the brave strong face that she has. The tube draining at home stops working though and it had to be removed. After a few weeks another office visit with Pulmonary, it was found that she had pneumonia and hospitalized @ Lexington Medical Center for 9 days, then they did a direct admit to MUSC Charleston for treatment and an evaluation with the transplant team to see if she was a candidate.

Another surgical procedure was completed on April 10th @MUSC known as TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt. It's a procedure that creates a channel, or shunt, between the portal vein (which carries blood from the digestive system to the liver) and the hepatic vein (which carries blood away from the liver). It helped on day one with her finally being discharged from there after a 9 day stay as well, however, she is currently back to struggling already. She has home health with her a few days a week for now as well.

We as a family received the news from the transplant team that she DID get selected for the transplant list!

We had a few people graciously offer a live transplant, and you have touched our hearts so much for this amazing offer. Unfortunately, MUSC only will do cadaver liver transplants at this time, so we wait.

During this time we need to collect funds to cover Mom and Dad for the costs of what will come so that we are ready. We do not know when that phone call will come and we only have hours to respond. Tomorrow, next week, month, or several months? We do not know.

We do know that funding WILL be needed. Mom HAS to stay in Charleston with her caregiver, Dad and myself, for a minimum of 4 weeks upwards of 3 months! Costs of a rental home, food, travel, etc. will mount up over this time since regular bills at home still will be paid during this time also on their fixed income.

After she goes home she will have several overnight trips also for more labs up until a year after the transplant.

Please help us to help Mom. She does give consent for this.....reluctantly (her pride kicked in, but she knows she needs it).

Much love for any help you can give, even if it is only to share.

Thank you kindly,

Crystal, Ronnie & Priscilla

on behalf of Ron & Teresa