Help Will Wisniewski Battle Cancer and PSC

Will Wisniewski has cancer and is in need of a liver transplant. We want to help.

Will and Emily, his partner for 10 years, were married at the end of April. While on their honeymoon, Will began to feel unusually tired and itchy, but believed it to be a combination of allergies and travel fatigue. They returned home, packed up their life in Chicago, and bought a house in Michigan, where Emily would be starting an exciting new job. The day after closing on the new house in Michigan, and on the day before his birthday, Will and Emily both noticed that Will's eyes and skin had turned yellow. They went to the emergency room. In less than a month, their lives were turned completely upside down.

Will was very jaundiced and after weeks of doctor’s appointments, traveling between Michigan and Chicago for tests & procedures, while trying to settle into their new life in another state, Will was diagnosed with PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.) PSC is a rare, progressive liver disease that damages the bile ducts inside and outside the liver, leading to eventual liver failure. The only “cure” for PSC is a liver transplant.

While further investigating the damage to the bile duct and liver, a cancerous tumor was discovered.

During some additional tests to plan the course of action for treatment, Will was again admitted to the hospital due to his extreme jaundice.

Will’s doctors have determined that the only course of action is for Will to undergo radiation and chemotherapy (to shrink the tumor and prevent any spread or chance of return of the cancer post-transplant) and then to complete a liver transplant.

On this road to a liver transplant and a healthy Will, there will be many costs that we’re trying to help with!

Thankfully, Will is covered by Emily’s insurance through work, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be hospital bills.

Additionally, Emily will be working in Michigan and Will will be receiving radiation treatment in Chicago. He’ll be commuting from the suburbs to the city five days a week for radiation. Emily will be traveling to Chicago as often as possible to be with Will. That’s a lot of gas.

After the radiation and chemo are complete, we are hoping to have a live donor lined up for the liver transplant. This person may be from out-of-state, with travel expenses and possible hotel accommodations needed. This person will likely need to take time off of work for the procedure and recovery. We want to help with that too.

Thank you for your time and your love & support, and thank you for any financial assistance you are able to give.

To request more information about volunteering to be a live liver donor or to be added to our list of people interested in being tested for compatibility to be a donor, please e-mail Miles Wisniewski.