Liver transplant

Hi my name is Diane Myers Mace and I need a liver transplant . I live in Amma WV with my husband, Bob of 42 years and our son and grandson.

I found out in December 2020 from Dr. White, in Charleston WV. He really wanted me to go to a transplant center but due to the holidays and COVID-19 being so rampant he didn’t want to send me to one for my NASH, so I saw my new gi doctor which is Dr Stapleton who is in the same group in Charleston in May of 2021. In the mean time my family doctor Dr John Lewis sent me to the hospital twice once in November and again in the spring of 2021 due to my hemoglobin being 5.3 and also my ammonia level being higher than it should be. With an evaluated ammonia it causes one to to have hepatic encephalopathy which is like having a stroke. The first time in the hospital was a 4 day stay and I had to have blood transfusions and iron infusions, second time was a 11 day stay with transfusions and iron infusions.

In May of this year I chose to to UVA in Charlottesville VA. I was down there and met with everyone that would be involved with the transplant.

When we go to VA we have to leave the day before the appointments and so we have WV turnpike fees to and from. Hotel accommodations for at least the day of and then the day after depending on when I finish last appointment. We also have food costs from first day leaving and until we get home.

I have to go to VA every 2-3months right now and when I have my transplant Bob will have to stay down there near the hospital at a hotel costs, food and fuel costs. Once I am released I will have to stay there also so that I can see the doctor and have blood tests as needed. I will have some expenses for medicine cost that insurance will not cover.

Our grandson came to me this week and said “G, I wish you would get your transplant because I worry about you” and then he said” if I was a match and was old enough I would give you a piece of my liver”.

No one in my family has matched to have a live donor transplant, I did hear from one of my coworkers and she said let’s go but she was older than the 60 year old cutoff.

The criteria is you must have o+ which I am or o- which is a universal donor, age 18-60, in good health and be willing to give me piece of their liver, I have never smoked, drank alcohol, did drugs of any type so, so the only thing I can think of was I had my gallbladder removed 41 years.

So I am not begging for people to make a donation, but if someone feels the need to make one please do so and know that we sincerely want to thank you and if someone feels like they want to be a living donor know that me and the rest of the family thanks you, and to keep it anonymous is okay with us. Call University of Virginia in Charlottesville and tell them you want to be checked for a possible donor and give them my name, Cynthia Mace.

I am sorry that my post is long but I wanted everyone to know I created this GoFundMe page due to costs, also I ask you for your prayers and good thoughts, during this difficult time.

Cynthia Diane Myers Mace