Erica GOT a Liver! Medical Expenses Payment

To everyone who knows me personally, they all know that I'm a hard working, driven, grit my teeth through the hard stuff; individual who rarely (if ever) will ask for help. So honestly this is a huge thing for me to be reaching out to friends, family, and others that I don't even know; to be asking for help, let alone financial help. 

I am now on a position on the liver transplant list that I am having lots of complication side effects that are now making it impossible for me to continue working. But unfortunately the bills don't stop. We are working on filing for disability, but honestly I should have stopped working months ago, especially after having to go into the ER to get my chest drained of fluid for the second time in a month. Because, if I'm being really honest, working while trying to manage all this is going to kill me before I can get a transplant. And I'd really like to be here a long, long, long time. 

So there's your TLDR (too long didn't read) version of why I'm asking for help. I need to stop working to focus on my health but I have no way to pay my bills if I don't ask for help. This money will also be used for after my transplant, whenever I receive it, to help pay for other unexpected costs as well. 

For those of you who want to know more of my story, because you don't know who I am or you haven't been here for the whole story or just haven't heard my story, here it is. Ill try to keep it kinda short, but, I have been dealt hang with this for over half my life. I'm 26 now and was first diagnosed with this at 10 years old. 

To be honest, in the beginning you wouldn't have known I was sick at all besides the fact I was on heavy doses of steroids till sophomore year of high school.  Yes, I had a chipmunk face for years during middle and high school. At age 12 I was a Make-A-Wish kid and it didn't really occur to me the significance of what being a "Wish Kid" meant. 

I pitter patter through the years with no real noticeable problems or complications, up until now. I've never felt different, just more tired tired on a daily basis than most people. My lab work numbers have always  been what sets me apart from most people who have progressive liver failure. And my specialist is ALWSYS amazed at what I've constantly been able to do and how "normal" of a life I've been able to have despite everything. He's told me, "People with your " ' normal' " lab numbers are NOT out studying abroad, skydiving, snowboarding and working the type of taxing job you do." This is all even still having 2 very close calls with dying/getting a transplant in the last 5 years. 

The first time was January 2016 without any type of real noticeable warning I went septic. The only thing I had to go off was a raging fever and a gut feeling that I needed to go to OHSU's ER. That time I was up at OHSU for almost 4 weeks. This episode is what triggers me to be put on the stand by list as a precaution because we have no idea if it will happen again. So for the next 3 years I pitter patter through with nothing but my "normal" high lab numbers. 

My next episode is in October 2019. I had gotten up from a nap not feeling good. I had a low fever and this horrible knot in the center of my chest. Thats all I had to go off of. Again, another gut feeling that I needed to be up at OHSU. Once again I was going septic. And this time was way worse than the last time. So much so that I was at the top, #1, next up for a transplant. Then, almost as swiftly as it started, it ended and my numbers again fell into my "normal" zone. 

In June 2020 I went on diuretics permanently and thats made for days where basic tasks like stairs or putting shoes on dramatically over difficult. I'm much more tired than I've ever been and on my days off its not uncommon for me to sleep up to 16 hours straight. As of the last month I've had to get fluid drained from my chest twice within a month of each other exactly and both times right around 2L of fluid has been drained. 

With all these increased complications, it is now impossible for me to hold down a job. Because 1) I could get a call there's a liver for me and I literally have to drop everything and get up to OHSU ASAP.  2) Finding time and energy to go get weekly labs done. 3) Getting an adequate amount of sleep just to get up again to drive an hour to work, work my 12 hour shift, then drive an hour back home. I then have to decide what life necessity im skipping, showering, some extra hours of sleep, or eating. 

So there you have it. My story, my journey thus far. I know that it's no where near over, but, I need help. I want to be around to enjoy more of this life we are given. Me, more than most, know that we are never promised tomorrow and I don't take that lightly. I want to enjoy every second that I can.

I have plenty to go on if I wanted to be a m