Support Michelle Montez (Price) in Her Fight for Life

In 2020, Michelle’s world was turned upside down as she faced multiple health crises, with her liver beginning to fail. Despite numerous doctor visits, medications, and unimaginable struggles, she chose to fight for her life—getting sober, marrying the love of her life, Vince, embracing the joy of becoming a grandmother, and reconnecting with the people who meant the most to her: family, friends and her Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association that she calls family as well. Over the last three years, she has been to numerous workups at the MAYO in Rochester, MN. for liver transplantation. She just wasn’t sick enough to get on the active transplant list. Her MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score was not high enough.

Last summer, Michelle’s condition worsened; her failing liver led to a Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) attack, a dangerous complication where toxins in her blood began to affect her brain. She was hospitalized and incubated for ten days. When she came to, she said she was visited by her Mom and Sister, who had passed. She knew they were with her to keep pushing her through her fight to live.

Michelle’s situation grew more dire in July of 2024. She had an abdominal hernia that was the size of a softball and had started to leak. Emergency hernia surgery was performed at Regions Hospital, which led to severe complications. The incision from the removal of the hernia would not stop leaking the ascites fluid from her abdomen. This led to the decline of kidney function. The MAYO clinic was contacted, and she was transported there after the surgery. This led to the MAYO giving her a higher MELD score to put her on the active transplant list. Although she was getting more ill and the hernia would not stop leaking, and now needed a kidney as well, Michelle has maintained a positive attitude through faith and support, and just when hope seemed lost, a matching liver and kidney became available. On August 15th, after a 10-hour surgery, Michelle’s body accepted the new organs, a testament to her will to live.

Now, Michelle and Vince need our help. The medical bills, travel expenses, and ongoing treatments are overwhelming. We are launching this fundraiser to support Michelle’s recovery and ease the financial burden on her and Vince.

Every donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference. Please consider contributing or even just praying and sharing Michelle’s story. Let’s unite to help her regain her health and happiness while honoring the donor and their family. Your kindness and generosity mean the world.

Thank you, and God Bless,

Michelle's Family

"I WONT deny my past, excuse it or justify it. I CANT deny my past...for if I do, I deny myself a future. I may want to change things in the past...but the truth is, the past is what's changed me!" Michelle Montez