Support Stacey's Fight Against Cirrhosis

My sister and I are wanting to share what our family is currently experiencing.

In March of 2024, our stepmom, Stacey, was diagnosed with cirrhosis. This all began after a procedure she underwent in October of 2023, from which she never fully recovered. Since June of 2024, she has been under the care of Mayo Clinic, UC Health, Advent Health, HCA Health, and Banner hospitals, but has yet to be placed on the transplant list due to a requirement to complete an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Unfortunately, her condition worsened before she could finish this program.

The past months have been incredibly difficult for our family. Due to job losses, frequent hospital stays, and required medical procedures, our parents have lost almost everything. They haven’t been unable to maintain a stable home and have been staying in camp grounds and with friends while seeking medical treatment in different states.

As you can imagine, their lives are more than challenging, as our dad visits Stacey daily for hours. In addition, finding steady work that understands our families needs has been nearly impossible with Stacey’s frequent hospitalizations. As of January 14th, Stacey was placed in an assisted living facility where hospice would help her maintain a quality of life she was not receiving through her near weekly hospital visits. This disease has diminished her quality of life along with putting a huge tole on our dad and our sweet stepmom, and now, a huge financial burden.

As stated before, Stacey’s road to recovery is long and difficult. In order to be considered for a transplant, she must first complete the Intensive Outpatient Program, which involves therapy 3-4 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, for up to 12 weeks. However, her condition makes this incredibly challenging. She struggles with severe mental fog, extreme fatigue, and daily hallucinations due to Hepatic Encephalopathy—a buildup of ammonia in the brain. Her vitals are unstable—her blood pressure drops frequently, her platelets are dangerously low, and her oxygen levels dip into the 70s. This is the reality they are living in day-to-day.

Speaking from the heart, we’d like to say that to reach this level in life, those who know our family, know this isn’t like us to ask for financial help from others, and it took a lot of convincing from other family and friends for us to reach out to all of you. To have to make a request like this, we feel ashamed, sad, lost, and terrified as we are fighting to save our stepmom. Our beautiful stepmother is unfortunately the one who needs help now. We have seen her give all she has for everyone around her. So you may understand but it’s hard to now be in this position asking for anything. She’s given her children and stepchildren, a life glorious life and we want so badly to return the favor.

Please know we are not begging, and we don’t judge. If you can spare even a small amount, whether it’s from the bottom of your couch cushions, a change jar, or your heart, we would be forever grateful. Your support would mean the world to Stacey and to our family. The funds raised here will go towards deductibles and medical expenses that have accrued through her journey to recovery and stability.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for any support you can provide. Your kindness means more than words can express.