Matt Anderson - Life Saver

Pictured is my ridiculously smart, genuinely kind, perfectly considerate, wonderful brother, Matt Anderson. 

Chances are if you know one of the Anderson kids, you know most, if not all 6 of us.

Chances are also, if you know my brother, Matt, you've referred to him as a life saver when he showed up at your doorstep to help you move, fix your plumbing, tow your car, finish your DIY project that went haywire, set up lights and audio for your wedding or saved the show budget with another genius Matt idea. 

While he rarely asks for help, Matt is always the first one to volunteer to help others.

He will soon be known as a life saver once again, but in the truest form of the word.

In January of 2018 our brother, Michael Anderson, was diagnosed with liver cancer.  Fortunately for Michael, he was already under the care of the  Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for another illness. They were watching him and caught it early.
The course of action, along with chemo and radiation which began immediately, was to begin the search for a living organ donor for Michael so he could have a new liver.  The liver is an organ that can regenerate, so taking a portion from a live donor reduces the risk of not finding a match in time, and both the transplanted liver and the donated liver will regenerate.

We received news two weeks ago that my brother, Matt Anderson, was a match.  In August, both Matt and Michael will head up to Minnesota for the surgical procedure in which doctors will simultaneously remove all of Michael's liver, and 39% of Matt's liver to transfer it to Michael in a neighboring operating room.

Matt is giving the ultimate gift.  It shouldn't also wreck him financially to do what he's doing.  However, at this point, Matt has no vacation (he used the remainder of it for the testing phase), no remaining sick leave and most importantly, no short term disability insurance to cover his time off work to make the donation.  Michael's insurance is covering Matt's travel and medical expenses 100%. But it doesn't cover the loss of income he is taking on to do this for Michael.

The doctors are confident he'll be able to return to work sooner than the standard 12 weeks, but even if he is, he'll not be able to do the things he usually does himself; mow his yard, carry laundry, maintain his cars etc due to the strict lifting limit.  So while we would love for everyone that can help to offer physical help, we're keeping in mind that pet boarding for follow up visits, lawn mowing   and car maintenance, for example, are the kind of real, actual expenses he will incur during his lifting restriction that need to be taken into consideration.

My goal is to make sure that the only thing this life saving gift costs Matt is a little bit of liver.  If you are able to help in any way, either by mowing his yard, taking him out to dinner, or making a donation, it would be greatly appreciated.

***note***
Federal Law prohibits profiting from an organ donation.  My go fund me goal amount was chosen with great regard for real and actual expenses after taking into consideration already committed donations so that we would not go over his need.  If by chance what is donated is more than what was ultimately needed as a direct result of, and only from, expenses incurred from being the donor, the remainder will be donated to Michael for his own expenses as they relate to his 6 months off work while recovering.  If by chance Michael does not need what small amount may be left, the funds will be donated to the Mayo Clinic to aid other families at their discretion.