John Gehringer's Transplant Fund
Donation protected
My husband John tells a story. It’s part of our love story that began 28 years ago. He recalls a time when he joined me at a company Christmas party. I was a young travel agent at the time, and he was a struggling illustrator, a transplant from the cold climate of Erie, Pennsylvania, to the southern heat of South Carolina. He speaks of entering the reception room and seeing me across the way, talking to a small group of coworkers. I look over and smile, a smile he swears took his breath away along with a black-laced dress that I had picked out for this special occasion. Friends told me about the hush that ensued, as all eyes riveted on us as we walked toward each other. I couldn’t tell you much because I was enjoying the sparkle in John’s eyes, as I noticed the effect that I was having on his heart.
Today, those twinkling eyes still capture my heart, but they are seldom seen. So much has changed in such a short period of time. You see, John’s body is ravaged by four years of life-threatening illnesses. His skin is tinged yellow and is scarred by surgeons’ scalpels that have beat back the odds, allowing our five children to still grow and seek his guidance. His muscle tone has been so emaciated that twice he has had to learn to walk again with the aid of patient physical therapists. He battles with bouts of depression, wondering why he’s giving witness to the story of Job. So much has changed in the last four years. Yet, every once in a while, I see that spark in his eyes that a pain-ridden body cannot douse. It keeps me fighting for John.
This past March John and I temporarily moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to await a full multi-visceral transplant. In essence, John’s liver, pancreas, stomach, duodenum, biliary system, and small intestinal tract must be replaced with a single donor’s organs. This type of operation is extremely rare. Out of over 630,000 transplants in the last 28 years within the United States, only 0.13% are of John’s complexity. This statistic is daunting and very few medical centers worldwide are certified to handle the magnitude of this 17 hour operation. We feel very fortunate, however, that the Cleveland Clinic has accepted John’s case. We ask for your continued prayers. They truly sustain us.
Our family, also, sends out an appeal for your financial help. Over the last four years, our resources have been depleted to keep the family afloat. Frankly, had it not been for the occasional gifts provided by family and friends, we would not have lasted this long. Now I must request an unpaid leave of absence from my teaching position in order to stay with John in Cleveland. The transplant is still pending, although we have had a few “false alarms.” In two of those close calls, donor organs were accepted, John was prepped for surgery, and the surgeons decided to halt the proceedings after a closer analysis of the procured organs. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that we, seemingly, can’t get off. We have every faith, though, in the skills of these world-renowned surgeons, so we remind ourselves that patience is a virtue.
We are taking a leap of faith in you, too. Please come to our aid. Please donate so that we may meet the financial obligations for John’s past and ongoing medical expenses, our loss of income, the daily anti-rejection medicine to come, and our family’s typical needs. Know that we will be good stewards of your kind offerings. Please also spread the word through Facebook and email. Sharing the link to this page is the best way.
Consider, too, becoming an organ donor. For years, I had thought about the idea, but it was always fleeting. Now that we are on the receiving side, my eyes have been opened to the vast need of organ donations. So many people are in need…so many people like my husband John. Visit www.organdonor.gov to find out more.
Thank you for listening to my appeal. May God keep you and yours in His loving embrace.
Maria Gehringer
For more information:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/430743-overview#showall
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/ccf/media/Files/Transplant/2013-intestinal-annual.pdf
Today, those twinkling eyes still capture my heart, but they are seldom seen. So much has changed in such a short period of time. You see, John’s body is ravaged by four years of life-threatening illnesses. His skin is tinged yellow and is scarred by surgeons’ scalpels that have beat back the odds, allowing our five children to still grow and seek his guidance. His muscle tone has been so emaciated that twice he has had to learn to walk again with the aid of patient physical therapists. He battles with bouts of depression, wondering why he’s giving witness to the story of Job. So much has changed in the last four years. Yet, every once in a while, I see that spark in his eyes that a pain-ridden body cannot douse. It keeps me fighting for John.
This past March John and I temporarily moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to await a full multi-visceral transplant. In essence, John’s liver, pancreas, stomach, duodenum, biliary system, and small intestinal tract must be replaced with a single donor’s organs. This type of operation is extremely rare. Out of over 630,000 transplants in the last 28 years within the United States, only 0.13% are of John’s complexity. This statistic is daunting and very few medical centers worldwide are certified to handle the magnitude of this 17 hour operation. We feel very fortunate, however, that the Cleveland Clinic has accepted John’s case. We ask for your continued prayers. They truly sustain us.
Our family, also, sends out an appeal for your financial help. Over the last four years, our resources have been depleted to keep the family afloat. Frankly, had it not been for the occasional gifts provided by family and friends, we would not have lasted this long. Now I must request an unpaid leave of absence from my teaching position in order to stay with John in Cleveland. The transplant is still pending, although we have had a few “false alarms.” In two of those close calls, donor organs were accepted, John was prepped for surgery, and the surgeons decided to halt the proceedings after a closer analysis of the procured organs. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that we, seemingly, can’t get off. We have every faith, though, in the skills of these world-renowned surgeons, so we remind ourselves that patience is a virtue.
We are taking a leap of faith in you, too. Please come to our aid. Please donate so that we may meet the financial obligations for John’s past and ongoing medical expenses, our loss of income, the daily anti-rejection medicine to come, and our family’s typical needs. Know that we will be good stewards of your kind offerings. Please also spread the word through Facebook and email. Sharing the link to this page is the best way.
Consider, too, becoming an organ donor. For years, I had thought about the idea, but it was always fleeting. Now that we are on the receiving side, my eyes have been opened to the vast need of organ donations. So many people are in need…so many people like my husband John. Visit www.organdonor.gov to find out more.
Thank you for listening to my appeal. May God keep you and yours in His loving embrace.
Maria Gehringer
For more information:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/430743-overview#showall
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/ccf/media/Files/Transplant/2013-intestinal-annual.pdf
Organizer
John Gehringer
Organizer
Columbia, SC