Please help Salim while waiting for his liver transplant.

Hello, My name is Julie, and I am reaching out to share our story and seek your support for my husband, Salim.

Just over a year ago, we were preparing to embark on a new chapter in our lives, moving from Toronto to Newfoundland. However, our plans took an unexpected turn when Salim was diagnosed with stage four non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which requires a life-saving liver transplant at Toronto General Hospital.

This past year has been incredibly challenging for Salim. He has faced numerous emergency events that led to hospital admissions, along with countless appointments and tests. One of the hardest moments for me was witnessing him battle a severe sepsis infection in March of last year—I truly thought I was losing him and felt helpless. Additionally, Salim suffered from hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which has symptoms like dementia, and ascites, causing his abdomen to swell so dramatically that he looked like he was in the final stages of pregnancy. Thankfully, both conditions are now medically managed and under control.

Each day brings new challenges for him. Salim spends most of his time sleeping because of his liver failure and faces significant mobility issues due to weakness and muscle atrophy. Additionally, he is grappling with vision problems caused by cataracts, which he is unable to have surgery for due to his low red blood cell and platelet counts. This situation has understandably taken a toll.

Due to his illness, Salim has been on long-term sick leave from his full-time job, which means he only receives 60% of his pay, amounting to $3,000 each month. With our rent set at $2,000 per month, $600 for medications, travel expenses to hospital appointments along with household bills and food , our financial situation has become quite challenging. In addition, Salim found out last week that he requires $2275 worth of dental work. Half of this is covered by his health insurance, but we are certainly not in the financial position to continue with his treatment. The thirteen different medications Salim needs to manage his complex medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes has to take priority. For instance, just one of his medications, Rifaximin, which treats his hepatic encephalopathy (HE), costs us $100 per month, while the total for his other medications amounts to around $500.

Since becoming Salim's primary caregiver, I've had to pause my education and limit my work commitments. I constantly worry about his safety when I'm not around, given his frailty and weakness. It's crucial to monitor his meals and fluid intake, as well as manage his medication—tasks that many of us take for granted but that he can no longer handle independently.

Initially, we had hoped to find a living liver donor, which seemed like a promising step forward since it would allow for a quicker transplant. However, after testing several potential candidates from our wonderful friends and family, we have yet to find a suitable match. Consequently, Salim is currently awaiting a deceased donor.

I humbly ask for your help in raising funds to support us during this difficult time while we await his transplant. Your generosity could provide Salim with much-needed peace of mind and alleviate the stress of financial burdens.

Thank you for taking the time to hear our story. Your support means everything to us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Julie and Salim