Rita Tavernetti and a living donor

My name is Heidi Tavernetti. I am raising awareness and seeking financial support to help offset the expenses to be incurred by both, my sister-in-law, Rita Tavernetti, and a future living liver donor.

Rita's Primary Biliary Cholangitis "PBC", a chronic liver disease, has progressed and caused her liver to be cirrhotic. Although she has been under the care of a Hepatologist at Stanford Medical Hospital for many years and they have prescribed medication to slow the progression of the disease, she was put on the liver transplant list a year ago with approximately 12,000 others. At a recent visit to Stanford, Rita was told she needed a transplant as soon as possible since the disease has progressed and had started to affect other organs. Rita has had to stop working due to health issues and now needs a living donor.

After the transplant, Rita and a family member will stay in an apartment in the Stanford vicinity for several months or more until the doctors are certain her body has accepted the liver transplant and begins to thrive again. The living donor will also be unable to work and will need some time to recover. We hope to be able to provide some financial help during this time.

If you are in a position to help with a financial contribution, WONDERFUL!.

Family, friends and The Young Farmers are hosting a Fundraiser & Living Donor Awareness Event on Thursday, March 23rd starting at 5:00 P.M. The event will take place at the Orradre Building (SV Fairgrounds). The event will entail a steak dinner with sides by the Young Farmers and a no-host bar by the Knights of Columbus. There will also be a silent auction, live auction and live entertainment. The event will be $60 per person and tickets may be purchased at the Pine Canyon Store, Hestia Coffee, Borzini Accounting, L.A. Hearne and Pacific Valley Bank.

For more information or questions about the living donor requirements, the American Liver Foundation is a good resource.

www.americanliverfoundation.org

Thank you!