Jon's Transplant and Recovery
Donation protected
In October of last year, my uncle Jon was diagnosed very suddenly with liver failure. We all discovered this while he was being admitted to the ER for complications of a work related spinal injury. The injury had causing internal bleeding down his left arm, chest, and back. Worst of all, the blood was not clotting. The physicians weren’t sure how or why his liver was failing, as he was engaged in routine lab work just a few months prior.
The hospital kept him in the ICU for 2 weeks till doctors told my aunt Brandia that they could do nothing for him, and that she needed to call loved ones to say goodbye, because death was imminent.
Our whole family was devastated.
Brandia fought tooth and nail for risky treatments, experimental treatments and everything else possible. Jon eventually left the hospital but was still told that he was not a candidate for a liver transplant, as he was too sick to make it through transplant qualifying process. Jon was sent home essentially to die.
Despite what he was told, many months passed. Jon and Brandia really worked hard to meet the requirements for a liver transplant, and luckily, the transplant board eventually reviewed and approved Jon to be a priority case through UCSF, which has one of the best liver care units in the nation. Because whole livers require the death of the donor, he had to wait for the next available liver to be flown in.
While this was all bittersweet news, the financial toll taken on his family was, and continues to be understandably overwhelming.
Jon just told me that "During that 6 months time, my disability ran out, and was making only $1100 a month with a $3000 mortgage. We also had to pay my employer for my medical care. We depleted our savings, and with luck and lots of prayers, I was fast tracked through the process.”
At this point, he was hospitalized most of the time, spending only a day or two a week at home before needing hospital care again. This went on for a month!
The call finally came from UCSF of a possible donor on Sunday June 10th. He went to UCSF and received his new liver at 3am on Monday June 11th.
Although Jon and Brandia tell me they are extremely blessed and relieved, and the cost of the transplant itself was covered by the hospital, they are simply unable to pay their living expenses from so much time out of work. Since May of 2017 Jon was put on disability for the spinal injury, and Brandia was forced to medically retire for a work injury as well.
I also gathered that this change cut their income by about half. They made adjustments, but are both stressed. Jon is working toward a medical retirement, but there has been issue after issue, and they don’t know how long it will be until they receive anything from their employers. Because Jon is a police officer, his long term disability is very low, and is processed through his agency's retirement system. So until he is well enough to deal with those issues, he receives only the $580 every other week.
Jon and Brandia and two boys at home. One of my cousins is old enough to work, and often buys groceries to help out. My younger cousin is 15 and looking for a summer job to help out as well.
The hospital kept him in the ICU for 2 weeks till doctors told my aunt Brandia that they could do nothing for him, and that she needed to call loved ones to say goodbye, because death was imminent.
Our whole family was devastated.
Brandia fought tooth and nail for risky treatments, experimental treatments and everything else possible. Jon eventually left the hospital but was still told that he was not a candidate for a liver transplant, as he was too sick to make it through transplant qualifying process. Jon was sent home essentially to die.
Despite what he was told, many months passed. Jon and Brandia really worked hard to meet the requirements for a liver transplant, and luckily, the transplant board eventually reviewed and approved Jon to be a priority case through UCSF, which has one of the best liver care units in the nation. Because whole livers require the death of the donor, he had to wait for the next available liver to be flown in.
While this was all bittersweet news, the financial toll taken on his family was, and continues to be understandably overwhelming.
Jon just told me that "During that 6 months time, my disability ran out, and was making only $1100 a month with a $3000 mortgage. We also had to pay my employer for my medical care. We depleted our savings, and with luck and lots of prayers, I was fast tracked through the process.”
At this point, he was hospitalized most of the time, spending only a day or two a week at home before needing hospital care again. This went on for a month!
The call finally came from UCSF of a possible donor on Sunday June 10th. He went to UCSF and received his new liver at 3am on Monday June 11th.
Although Jon and Brandia tell me they are extremely blessed and relieved, and the cost of the transplant itself was covered by the hospital, they are simply unable to pay their living expenses from so much time out of work. Since May of 2017 Jon was put on disability for the spinal injury, and Brandia was forced to medically retire for a work injury as well.
I also gathered that this change cut their income by about half. They made adjustments, but are both stressed. Jon is working toward a medical retirement, but there has been issue after issue, and they don’t know how long it will be until they receive anything from their employers. Because Jon is a police officer, his long term disability is very low, and is processed through his agency's retirement system. So until he is well enough to deal with those issues, he receives only the $580 every other week.
Jon and Brandia and two boys at home. One of my cousins is old enough to work, and often buys groceries to help out. My younger cousin is 15 and looking for a summer job to help out as well.
Jon will have to take certain medications for the rest of his life that are expensive. He wants to re-enter the work force asap, but his neck still requires a surgery on his C4-C7 vertebrae, but can’t have the surgery until his liver is stable. This can take a minimum of 6 months. The spinal injury has caused numbness, shooting nerve pain and inability to use his left hand at all. He is starting physical therapy soon, but right now can’t make a fist, or even hold a pencil or utensil.
Jon has been a fantastic provider throughout his life, and has made it his career to help people. It would be a disservice of me as a family member and friend to not do all I can to help him. Your support would be humbly appreciated by Brandia and my cousins while Jon recovers from both a liver transplant, his spinal surgery, goes through physical therapy, and all the financial hardships these ailments have caused him and his family.
Lastly. From the time of first being admitted to the ER, to this point today, my uncle Jon has not once lost heart. He has maintained his positive attitude, witty sense of humor, been strong for his family, and has had a smile on his face even when times were the absolute worst. I truly believe that his mindset contributed massively to his survival.
Thank you for reading, and for your support. Any amount given will help tremendously.
Lastly. From the time of first being admitted to the ER, to this point today, my uncle Jon has not once lost heart. He has maintained his positive attitude, witty sense of humor, been strong for his family, and has had a smile on his face even when times were the absolute worst. I truly believe that his mindset contributed massively to his survival.
Thank you for reading, and for your support. Any amount given will help tremendously.
Organizer and beneficiary
Thomas Magleby
Organizer
Walnut Creek, CA
Jon Woffinden
Beneficiary