Luke and Amara Semeniuk

"Alone we can do so little,

together we can do so much"

Helen Keller

Please consider helping Luke and Amara as they face a life changing medical surgery.

Thank you and God bless you.

T. Johnson (Auntie)

Details below as written by Amara Semeniuk.

"After a 16 year long battle with an incurable, autoimmune liver disease, Luke has officially been waitlisted for a liver transplant".

Luke's Story:

Luke was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) in 2008, and has battled the setbacks and side effects of his liver disease for most of his life. Despite the illness, Luke always put his best foot forward, and never let the diagnosis get in the way of his day to day living!

Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a rare, chronic liver disease that causes the immune system to attack the liver's healthy cells. As the immune system attacks the liver, irreversible scarring and inflammation begins to deteriorate the liver. This leads to the overall slow decline of your bodily functions, along with your most important organs, and results in complete liver failure.

Since the disease is an incurable, degenerative condition, the only solution for persons suffering with AIH, is to manage the disease with preventative surgeries, treatments, and medications. Eventually, as the liver function declines into a state of decompensation (end stage liver disease/liver failure), the only other treatment is a liver transplant. Liver transplants are only offered when all other treatment options have been exhausted, and your liver is damaged beyond repair! This is where Luke's liver is at.

In the past 4 years, Luke has battled severe side effects from the disease, as the decompensation of his liver rapidly progressed.

Thankfully, with the support of many incredible specialists and healthcare professionals, Luke is officially on his journey towards receiving a liver transplant, and with it, new hope! Luke and family are so grateful to all of the healthcare professionals that have supported Luke throughout this process, and are thankful to finally see a "silver lining" on the horizon.

With this hope, Luke is also faced with the potential risks and obstacles that such a serious operation poses.

Since a liver transplant is a lifelong commitment of medical appointments, treatments, and therapy, Luke and myself, Amara, will need to step away from employment for several months.

Recovery post transplant is extremely complex and involves many variables and potential setbacks.

But, we are believing for the best outcome for Luke and a smooth recovery!

Why are we raising funds:

As of January 27th, Luke will be an active patient on the transplant waitlist.

His transplant surgeons have heavily advised Luke to be ready for surgery at “any and all times”. Call out for surgery can be at any time of day or night! Once a donor match becomes available, he will have 24 hours to check into the hospital. In just one phone call, and a day's notice, Luke will undergo the transplant, and so begins the extensive recovery. Recovery requires 8 weeks in hospital and 3 months as an outpatient (assuming there are no complications during surgery and early recovery).

From surgery, to discharge, to full recovery, the transplant coordinators advised to prepare for a minimum “6 to 12 months of intensive recovery”.

While Luke and myself, are able to collect some disability benefits through the government, these benefits only cover a small fraction of life’s expenses and expenses relating to extended hospital stays.

With your generosity, we hope to raise enough money to build a “transplant savings fund”, to cover our living expenses while Luke and I are away from work (for an undetermined amount of time).

Our goal:

While this is the beginning of a huge medical undertaking, Luke and I are carefully navigating each chapter of this journey, and are so grateful for the love and support from those around us.

We appreciate any and all support given. To have a "transplant ready savings fund" would give Luke & I such peace of mind throughout the transplant surgery and recovery time period.

Financial relief would then allow us to focus on staying strong as we face this significant, life changing, medical journey.

Thank you all.