Support Mark Hoegh's Urgent Medical Journey

I am creating this GoFundMe for my amazing friends Mark & Shawna Hoegh. Not many of you are yet aware that Mark has become gravely ill and in desperate need of a liver transplant. This has happened very rapidly and in the midst of them moving across the country to Iowa. Mark and Shawna are the first to step up and help when needed, and I ask that we can now help return the favor to them. If you can't donate financially prayers are desperately needed.

The message below is from Shawna:

"An ER trip to the Hospital suddenly turned into a life & death situation for Mark Hoegh. Quite the shock to say the least as it seems unrealistic that someone who had been so healthy, made a sudden turn towards death in a matter of weeks.

Prayers are needed as this past month has been a whilrwind of emotions & heartache for Mark & I. Mark is currently in Stage 4 Liver Failure. He also has some kidney failure, bleeding internally, jaundice, vision changes, a cyst/tumor on his liver, cirrohosis of the liver, a hernia, emphysema, fluid retention on his belly, blood not pooling, loss of appetite, no energy or strength, significant weight loss, swollen ankles, left lung not expanding very well, and he is sleeping 99% of the time.

The Dr's told us that had I not insisted Mark go to the ER when we did, he literally would have died withing 3 weeks. Our last month of living in Oregon, we had several ER visits, ambulance trips, week long hospital stay, ICU, loads of bloodwork, MRI & CT Scans, tests and procedures, and G.I. Specialists.

Another shock was the Oregon Hospital did NOT accept Mark's insurance plan, and with trying to establish continuing care with moving to Iowa, the University of Iowa hospital also did NOT accept his insurance plan.

Mark has a long road ahead of him of establishing care with a Liver Transplant Specialist at University of Iowa Hospital where he will undergo a serious treatment plan, very similar to Chemo & Radiation to save his life. We will not know what his transplant needs consist of until he begins with a Liver Specialist Doctor.

Currently he is out of the University of Iowa hospital and will begin treatment at the local hospital with 4 hour IV treatments.

Our move from Oregon to Iowa was NOT without it's serious trials, and our first week in Iowa had several Dr & Hospital appts for Mark. I'm working on changing Mark's insurance to one that Iowa takes, but we have been left with hefty bills from the Oregon hospital and initial Dr appts in Iowa to start with.

Mark is starting several new Rx medications and one in particular is $1200.00 (after insurance) that stops the ammonia of his bowels from going through his bloodstream to his brain (said to make one crazy.)

Mark is currently "stable" for upcoming treatment, but for a second time, the Dr's have given Mark a timeline of less than 6 months.

We know that Mark is on God's timeline for his life and with many prayers, God & the Doctors can heal Mark.

We don't believe that God planned for us to start a new life in Iowa and call Mark home without enjoying his new home and his grandbabies....

So while any financial support is greatly appreciated for Mark's care, most of all, we value and cherish your prayers as we continue to navigate the road for Mark's Liver Transplant.

All our Love, Mark & Shawna Hoegh"