Asking for Amberlee: End Stage Liver Failure

My name is Deanna, and I am doing this campaign with love for my daughter who is, each day, fighting for her life. In addition to the details below, she and my granddaughter were evicted from their home for past due rent.

My loving and compassionate daughter is a single mom who, as a sole provider, has raised an amazing 12-year-old daughter that adores and loves her mama to pieces.♡♡ 

This is my 34-year-old daughter, Amberlee Hacking (and my granddaughter, Maia) who has been fighting for her life since she was diagnosed in October 2022 with end-stage liver failure. She was alone, and in the ICU, when the GI discussed her diagnosis and prognosis with her. She asked him to call her mom.♡♡

The GI called, introduced himself, and then he said, “I am very, very, very concerned for your daughter. She is critically ill, and I don’t expect her to live past Christmas, possibly the end of the year.” He said she needs a liver transplant, but she doesn’t have enough time. He explained what a MELD Score is; Amberlee had a high MELD Score of 36...” 

I wrote down what he told me and asked him a trillion questions. What I heard was: my daughter is dyingand she cannot be saved!!! I was shaken to my core and inconsolable for days. 

MELD Score = Model for End-Stage Liver Disease. The MELD score ranges from six to 40 and is a measure of how severe a patient's liver disease is based on results from several lab tests. (The higher the number, the sicker the patient is.) It also predicts their mortality rate. Amberlee’s MELD can fluctuate based on her current condition and the progression of her liver disease.

Amberlee has been in the ICU several times since her diagnosis. On an outpatient basis, she’s had blood transfusions as well as paracentesis procedures to remove fluid from her abdomen. Her symptoms include jaundice, anemia, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dehydration, pain, trouble sleeping, appetite fluctuation, confusion, and depression. Reduced brain function causes her confusion and trouble forming words. 

This disease has robbed her of most things she enjoys in life. She is unable to work, and has no income. She doesn't get child support, and doesn't qualify for SSDI at this time, and her bank account is -$700

The impact this has had on her daughter causes Amberlee the most anguish.

Last Monday, July 3rd, she was in the ICU. Her hemoglobin tested dangerously low, and she was in desperate need of a lifesaving transfusion; she was given 5 units of red blood cells to replace what her small, fragile body had lost! An ultrasound showed she required surgery to fix the cause of the internal bleeding. Surgery took 4.5 hours, and it went well. The hospital staff informed her that her Medicaid was canceled a few days prior.

UPDATE July 15: Amberlee was discharged from the hospital on July 8, and then readmitted on July 11th for an infection and a blood clot. On July 13th she needed a transfusion before the procedure to take care of the blood clot. Today, July 15th was given blood thinners to prevent more clots. Today her hemoglobin dropped to a 6 again and she needed another transfusion. We don't yet know how her doctors are going to keep this from being a continuous cycle, or if that is a possibility. She was told that she will continue to be inpatient at least to the middle of next week.

Yesterday I spoke with someone at the attorney's office that represents the company she owes past due rent to. They are aware that some of the funds from her GoFundMe will be used to pay towards her debt. (If only they would waive the hundreds $ in additional fees.) She and her daughter must be moved out by July 31st.

UPDATE July 17: Over the past few days, Amberlee has had visits from her adorable month old nephew Tommy and three genuine friends that she hasn't seen for a long time. They each showered her with love and thoughtful gifts♡♡ This has lifted her spirits and she is happy today. Makes her Mama happy, too. 

Update July 25: Community Action in SLC spoke with Amberlee and said they would help her with rent. It was such a blessing & a miracle...until a different woman called a few days later. She was rude and lacking a spec of compassion; and insisted Amberlee speak with her even knowing the doctor was with her in the room, then hung up on my daughter!! Unbelievable! Amberlee and I called on Friday to speak with that woman's supervisor. The man who answered our call told us that the woman was a supervisor AND she denied Amberlee’s application. He kindly assured us that her supervisor would call us Tuesday morning. Nope, she didn't call.

Amberlee had five transfusions during the last few weeks. Recent blood work shows that her calcium and potassium levels are too high. She was discharged from the hospital two nights ago with strict conditions from her GI. Today's bloodwork shows that her IRN has dropped.

Now that she is "home" she is doing what she can to face the overwhelming reality of what is going on in her life outside the hospital. She has only 5 days to pack and move, figure out how she is going to do that, and where she can store their things...to name just a few. I have the flu and am doing what I can from home. My son and daughter-in-law, Tyler and Tiffany, and their kids have driven to SLC from Provo each day for the last four days to help.

Amberlee's only option for a chance of survival is a liver transplant. Her medical team is impressed with how well she has taken care of herself and acknowledges her efforts and success in meeting what is required of her, which shows her ability to qualify for placement on the transplant waiting list. When she undergoes the transplant, she will need 24/7 care while recovering, perhaps sooner than that, and I want to be the one to care for her and Maia. She and I have discussed the probability of moving in with me in the near future.

Many individuals and families are struggling this year. So, it seems almost impossible to ask for monetary donations for my daughter. Anything and everything, even prayers, will be sincerely appreciated and never forgotten.

Monetary donations to this cause will be spent towards:

If you would like to donate directly via Venmo, you may @leelee1616 or Cash App $RocknRhodes3 

I plead with you to share Amberlee’s story and GoFundMe page with friends, family, and work associates, in person, by text, or on any social media platform you may have access to.

Thank you for taking the time to read Amberlee's story and for your prayers and support as she goes through this unbelievably difficult time currently, and in the weeks and months to come. I will update this campaign with her progress.

With sincere gratitude,

Deanna Rhodes (Ambee’s mom)

♡Each day, tell someone you love, that you love them.