A Broken Heart In Need of Support

This is my amazing nephew, Scott Davis. He lives in Leduc, AB. He is kind and compassionate.

He loved his father fiercely, unconditionally, and with his whole heart. Scott has been on an emotional roller coaster ride that came to a heart-breaking end on Tuesday, July 25th. His father, Robert Bruce Davis became ill and was hospitalized in Regina. SK on June 9th. He was told that either his kidneys were shutting his liver down, or his liver was shutting his kidneys down. Scott took leave from his job immediately, to be by his father’s side. After many medical procedures in Regina, Bruce (Rob) was deemed to have non-alcoholic induced cirrhosis of the liver. His kidneys were failing as a result of this. After waiting weeks with no answers or progress, Scott advocated and was finally able to have Bruce (Rob) flown by air ambulance to the University Hospital in Edmonton, AB to possibly be considered as a liver transplant recipient. Scott was filled with hope. The University of Alberta ensured us that Bruce (Rob) had the best of the best, world-renowned doctors, surgeons and researchers. The day after arriving in Edmonton, Bruce (Rob) suffered an internal bleed and was sedated, intubated, and put on life support. If there was not a liver in time, he would be taken off of life support. The Liver Specialist advised us that tests would have to be done to determine if he was to be considered a candidate for a transplant. We were told that if he was eligible, it might take some time to find a donor and that our window of opportunity was short. They made it very clear that if he did not receive a liver, he would die. Of course, we were all praying for a miracle, that he would last, make it onto the list, and receive a liver that would save his life. Family gathered. Scott was at his dad’s bedside every single day, only taking short breaks due to visitor restrictions, giving the rest of us a chance to sit with Bruce (Rob). Scott was tireless and fearless in his advocacy for his dad’s treatment, comfort, medications and dignity. Scott met with ICU doctors, nurses, social workers and the transplant coordinators. He was up at 6:00 every morning to be with his dad, often collapsing into bed around midnight. On Sunday, July 23rd it was confirmed that Bruce (Rob) was a candidate for a new liver and had ‘made the list’. We were ecstatic. On Monday, July 24th we were advised that there was a strong possibility that he would receive a liver as soon as that evening. This is unheard of. Scott was exuberant at the thought of his dad receiving a new liver, returning to health, and eventually moving to Leduc to live with him. The liver specialist, the ICU doctors/residents, the liver transplant team, and some of the ICU nurses shared our excitement. They told us how happy they were for all of us. There would be a liver tonight. We knew there was always risk with a surgery, but with all this positivity, joy and excitement, those lines were blurred. As they prepped Bruce (Rob) for surgery Monday, he was coherent and understood that he was getting a new liver. At 8:00 PM on Monday, July 24th he was wheeled past us on his way to the OR with Scott saying, ‘you did it, dad, you did it!’ and us promising to see him on the other side. At 4 hours into the surgery we felt hopeful that the liver was a match, this was not a dry run, and we would go to see him in the morning to start the healing process. Tragically, just before midnight Scott received a call that the surgery was not a success. They told him that they had opened his father to find that his pancreas and gall bladder had deteriorated to the point that they could not successfully connect the new liver and make it function. This was a scenario that had not even occurred to the doctors and certainly not us. We didn’t and don’t understand how this was missed. Neither do the doctors. They said it was ‘bad luck’. Bruce (Rob) was sewn back up and returned to the ICU, sedated and intubated. Scott was broken, knowing he would not hear his father’s voice again and that he would be saying goodbye to his father tomorrow after being so close to the finish line. He realized that all of his future dreams and plans would not materialize. The cautious excitement that we felt, now came to a screeching halt, and we faced saying goodbye. By 8:00 PM that day, Tuesday, July 25th, Bruce (Rob) was gone. I am organizing this fundraiser requesting help for Scott as he faces the costs of travel, lost wages for time spent at his father’s bedside in the ICU in both Edmonton and Regina; the many added costs that should not, but do, come with the death of a loved one, funeral expenses, estate debt and gathering of his nuclear family to grieve. Scott also paid remaining rent at his dad’s home and will be returning back to pack and move his belongings. This all comes with a cost and more time away from work. Scott is a young man who works hard, has a family to support, and is in need of some help at this time. He has never asked for help throughout this entire process. We are beyond grateful for any support that you may offer. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.