Maggie's life changing operation

Hey everyone, my name is Hailey, I am doing this fundraiser to help Maggie and her family with the enormous upcoming medical bills and costs. I have been best friends with Maggie since we were 8 years old. I have been beside her and her family on this medical journey from the very beginning. Maggie is facing a life changing operation where she will be hospitalized in Edmonton for 3-6 months. Her mom is her main caregiver/support system and will be unable to work due to needing the time and flexibility to care for both her daughters. Maggie and her family could use all the help they can get.

It all started 3 years ago. Maggie got sick with necrotizing pancreatitis. She has been in and out of hospital numerous times, and has had multiple surgeries and lives a very challenging life. Maggie now needs to get a multi visceral transplant in order to live a medically stable and (hopefully) healthy long life. In this surgery, she will have her liver, small bowel, stomach, pancreas, and portal vein removed and replaced with new organs from a deceased person. While this surgery is complicated, it is very exciting she can get this done. There have only been about 20 other people in Canada before, to have this operation. The recovery time will be extensive. She will need to remain in Edmonton for up to 6 months to ensure everything works and there are no complications. After that Maggie will continue to recover for at least another 6 months at home. There are no other options for Maggie at this point and with a 65% success rate, they will need all the prayers and support we can give them.

While Maggie’s mom has been taking care of Maggie, she is also taking care of her other daughter Olivia (Livi or little sis, I as I like to call her). She has been dealing with her own set of medical issues related to a benign tumor and anemia (which requires iron and blood transfusions). My second family continues to deal with hospitals for specialized appointments, pain management, and generally the everyday challenges for both girls.

Anyone who knows Maggie will say that she is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She is a loyal friend and has been there for me since the day we met back in 3rd grade. She is a wonderful cat mom to Simba as well as an amazing sister and daughter. I would do anything for her and this family, they all deserve the world. While it breaks my heart that I can not reduce her pain associated with this, we can help with the anxiety associated with the resulting financial hardship. While there has been some support through AISH, there are continued denials for medical claims, and not near enough to cover all the extra expenses that occur. Aside from all the medical costs, they also have to worry about travel, gas, food, bills etc. The transplant team has suggested the costs incurred could be as high as $50,000. They simply do not have this, nor can get it on their own. Maggie’s mom is working hard at reaching out to organizations suggested by the transplant team to contact and Maggie's sister has even started her own little toonie for a transplant box to help out in any way she can.

We all like to think that if this sort of thing were to happen to us, our friends and family would be there for us. Thank you for any contribution you can give, and know that myself and the family deeply appreciate it. As Maggie goes through the process there will be updates along the way. If you would like to reach out to the family privately, I can provide you with their contact information.

In August, Maggie will be headed to Edmonton for a couple more final tests. Once those are done, all that is left is to wait for the call from the transplant team, that there is a donor for Maggie.

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read this and support the family!

xoxo - Hailey