Hi everyone,

I'm Charlotte Smith. Cody is one of my very good friends and has been battling for a while. He's attempted to travel this path alone, but I know he needs our help. He's been in EMS for as many years as I have. I'm asking all mine and Cody's friends and family, as well as the emergency services brothers and sisters to help.

In 1996, Cody was diagnosed with Non-alcohol related Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). He was told that it was common and just to live his life, so he did. In 2021 during his first colonoscopy and EGD, the doctor found 2 esophageal varices and banded them. He followed up with frequent lab draws to monitor his liver functions. A few months later, he was eating lunch and began vomiting blood. He was urgently sent to the OR where 3 more varices were banded. Over the next two years, he was followed closely by his GI team. More EGD’s, MRI’s, and lab draws. In 2023, he was told that his liver functions were changing. A normal MELD score is 6, he was at 12 which put him on the transplant list, but not high enough to be considered for a donation without it being a live donor. To be considered, his score would need to be greater than 19. His diagnosis changed from NAFLD to NASH (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). His liver was scarred, and he developed cirrhosis and ascites. He contacted his brother, and it turned out to be his sister-in-law that became his live donor. September 9, 2024, she donated 60% of her liver. Unfortunately, it was not enough to sustain him. His NASH had progressed to MASH (Metabolic Dysfunctional Steatohepatitis). He became jaundiced and dropped to 139 pounds, MELD score shot up to 40 and he found himself at the top of the transplant list. Fortunately, 9 days later he matched with a deceased donor. As a liver recipient, he is automatically placed on the kidney transplant list for the first year. This means he needs to have frequent lab draws, immunosuppressant medications, and trips to Denver to see his transplant team. His insurance covers most of his medical expenses and medications, but the travel from northern Idaho to Denver and back gets expensive. He has his one-year post-transplant appointment in late September. He is not back to work full time as of yet, so he needs a little help with his medical and travel expenses.