Donate to Help With Todd's Liver Transplant

THE DIAGNOSIS: NON-ALCOHOL CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER, Non-alcoholic liver disease, hepatic Encephalopathy, & Pancreatic Mass

TREATMENT: LIVER TRANSPLANT

IMMEDIATE NEED: $30,000

LONG TERM NEED: $180,000

From Gwen Chung & Rachel Chung Marble

Having known Todd Cosper and his family (Chrissy, Lydia, Jonah and Miriam) for over 17 years, Rachel & I are creating this page on their behalf. Todd has dedicated his life to serving others, and as an outflow of that desire, I know that he would never ask for help on his own behalf. Therefore, because of his stubborn humility, I am asking their friends and social media community to give generously during this time. His medical bills, travel expenses, loss of income and other needs are great and will only grow over the next 1-3 years.

As a cancer survivor, I and my family know the financial, emotional, and physical burden of a devastating disease. This is why Rachel & I are reaching out to you on behalf of Todd and his family. A typical Liver Transplant can cost up to $900,000 in Georgia. IF their insurance pays ALL of the 80% (most have a cap), that will leave them with $180,000 out of pocket. This doesn’t include their normal living expenses. Their financial needs will only grow over the next couple of years. Todd will be out of work at least 1 year post transplant. Currently, his income loss is about 2/3 of the family’s total income. Funds you contribute will be used to pay past, current, and future medical expenses as well as monthly household bills. Also, when Todd came home from the hospital last time, they discovered that their septic system needed major repairs as well as a tree that will require attention to save the roof from storms (a tree company surveyed the tree and they need an insured service to take it down due to its nearness to the roof). If you can’t give financially, but you have been gifted with the ability to do small home repairs, plumbing and/or tree service, please let the Cosper’s know or contact me or Rachel and we will put you in touch with them.

We and they know that God is the supplier of all our needs. His Word says to, “Ask and ye shall receive.” Therefore, Rachel & I ask first for your prayers for healing and a complete recovery; secondly for your financial support to help cover Todd’s ongoing medical expenses as well as everyday living expenses before and after his transplant. Please know that whatever amount God lays on your heart to give will be used prudently. Thank you in advance.

Blessings,

Gwen Chung and Rachel Chung Marble

Todd’s Story as Given to Me…

In February 2023, something unexplained began to happen physically in Todd’s life. Todd’s family thought it was depression. He had begun sleeping 16-20 hours a day and then working 4-8 hours 7 days a week just to keep up. It wasn’t just a normal sleep; it was out of his control! Looking back, his son Jonah said of that time frame, “I thought dad had just given up on life. I would watch him want to function but every moment it looked like he was going to fall over and couldn’t go on.”

Fast forward until the first week of April. Todd had been at the hospital supporting a friend and business partner as her stepfather underwent brain surgery. As he sat with the family in the waiting room, his left arm began to burn and turn numb. As soon as the surgery was over, Todd left the hospital in north Atlanta that Friday afternoon to drive home to northeast Georgia. His first thoughts were that this was from his previous diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis that he received in 2018, however, this went away about 45 minutes into the car ride which was uncommon with MS. About 15 minutes later this burning and painful sensation came back only much more intense and this time was from the tips of Todd’s left fingers to the top of his head. He immediately thought he was having a heart attack. When he got in the emergency department, they immediately started stroke protocol. After 4 days in the hospital. Todd was diagnosed as having a “probable” TIA or Transient Ischemic Attach, which we often refer to as a mini stroke. Two weeks later, he followed up with his neurologist who didn’t believe that the TIA diagnosis made sense either clinically or symptomatically. This was the first step in Todd’s mysterious diagnosis that included Liver Disease. During his follow-up visit, the neurologist ordered a lumbar puncture and an MRI of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine.

The next unexplained symptom that arose was Todd started developing rashes on his face and body. His neurologist suggested he see his dermatologist, who treated him for rosacea. Looking back, the excessive fatigue and these rashes were the cumulative symptoms that would lead doctors to later suspect liver disease. In June, he went to the hospital for 7 days. Bloodwork Improved. Per the admitting hospitalists instructions, Todd followed-up with his primary care physician for bloodwork to check his liver enzymes and other blood work. Between his discharge from the hospital and his appointment with his PCP, he started his regular medications again.

During the 7-day period between discharge and the bloodwork the only common denominator for his liver enzymes skyrocketing again was the medications. His PCP called him and advised that he go back to the emergency room as soon as possible as liver enzymes that should have been around 60 were over 2k. This was a dangerous escalation in the health concerns that Todd’s medical team had begun to suspect.

During this stay Todd was in the hospital 6 days and again, they took him off all his medication and his liver numbers began to drop. He was discharged but this time was to follow-up with a gastroenterologist for two endoscopy procedures that needed to be done asap.

The Week That Changed Todd and His Family’s Life

During the week of July 17, 2023 Todd started having unbearable pain. So much so that to turn over in the night, he would have to wake Chrissy multiple times to help him completely sit up just so he could lay in a different position for a few minutes. One of the more impactful moments which led Todd back to the hospital was a night in the middle of that week when Chrissy was helping him turn over and he was screaming out in pain was his recollection of her telling him, “Todd, we have to go to the hospital, I just have a sick feeling in my soul that you will die if we don’t.” Remember, what I said at the beginning of this? Todd was stubborn but also wanted to invest in others? His response to her that night showed this emphatically. He had committed to lead worship at FBC Lawrenceville, GA on Sunday, July 23, 2023, and wanted to keep the commitment he had made. He told Chrissy that he would push through until after church and then he would go to the hospital to be seen once again.

The morning of July 23rd, Todd and Chrissy woke up and began getting dressed for church. By this point he was so week that he had to wake up 2 hours early because everything took twice as long. As Todd looked in the mirror that morning, there were two huge changes: he had a rash all over his face and his eyes and skin were a deep and intense yellow. He thought to himself, this must be my liver….

Todd started leading band that day and the worship team rehearsal but with every step he got weaker and weaker. Finally, the pastor came and talked to him and told him, “Todd, I know you want to do this today but what I need, what you need and what your family needs is for you to leave now and immediately go to the hospital. Finally, Todd heeded that advice and was admitted back to the hospital on July 23rd.

The doctors believed that Todd had end stage liver failure and immediately started trying to get Todd accepted to the Emory University Hospital Liver Transplant team. It didn’t take but a day or two for them to accept him, however, it took 22 days in the hospital before he would get the call that Emory had a bed available for him on the transplant ICU floor. On the morning of August 14th, the transport was on the way and he would be admitted to the 11th floor ICU.

Blessings along the journey:

As Todd and his family are going through this journey, somedays, rightfully so, he has extreme sadness, fear of the unknown and feels overwhelming grief. That said, if you know Todd at all, you also know, he looks for the good in all situations, is quick witted, and loves to make people laugh (as made famous by his choir practice “story times”). I can guarantee you he is home right now either praying for someone else, thinking about how he can improve someone else’s life, planning for current and future needs of his family or journaling about this journey. Some of the blessings Todd has seen so far are the outpouring of love and support through social media; his church, both current and previous, helping his family’s needs be met; acceptance so quickly to Emory’s transplant program and being assigned one of the leading hospitalists in the country to lead his general medicine team and much more. There is joy in the journey.

The official diagnosis:

- Cirrhosis of the liver due to prescribed prescription drug injury and acetaminophen use

- Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease

- Hepatic encephalopathy (this is loss of brain function when a damaged liver doesn’t remove toxins from the blood)

- Added diagnosis on 10/29/23 – pancreatic mass – this mass is large enough that UNOS will require it be biopsied and fully studied prior to Todd receiving the liver transplant. At the moment, there is not an indication that this is cancer but that cannot be ruled out. If it is malignant Todd will be removed from the transplant list and treated for pancreatic cancer which has a very high mortality rate.

How can you help the Cosper’s:

- PRAY: there is no substitute for prayer. While scripture employs us to help others with their financial and physical needs there is no substitute for prayer.

- ENCOURAGE: Todd would love to hear from you. Feel free to send him a text (678-234-7471), write a letter or card to Todd or Chrissy Cosper, P.O. Box 274, Maysville, GA 30558. He also reads and acknowledges every social media comment. I make a point to bug him every day if possible; to see if he is ok, if they need anything, if he just needs a visit. You have no idea how much this helps unless you have been there!

- FOLLOW THE JOURNEY: Todd has started a blog (this will mirror his FB posts) at www.toddcosper.com

- SUPPORT HIS FAMILY: While Todd is the one who is constantly in front of us with his physical and emotional needs, this is a scary and lonely time for his wife Chrissy and their three children. As Rachel will tell you, they need our support in a different way than Todd. Knowing they are being cared for is just as important to Todd’s healing and mental wellness during this time; to know that his family has support that he would love to give but is often unable to right now. Chrissy’s number is [phone redacted].

If you have any questions or concerns please send me a message. I will do my best to get back to you quickly. Gwen