Two Wonderful People Need Help Desperately

Steve and Tracy have been together 30+ years. They have 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. They love camping and fishing. They are avid motorcycle riders and old west re-enactors.

In 2010 their plant closed. So, it seemed like a good time to move and start the next chapter in their lives. They settled on Tombstone, Az. Steve became even more interested in the old west. He loved old Western movies, novels and stories. His kids always made fun of him. Saying " Dad, you were born in the wrong era, you should have been born back then." Steve began driving the stagecoach in Tombstone for a year. Then he went on to work for one of the old west show venues in town.

He loved it so much, he loved to perform for the visitors. Sharing the history of their new hometown. And a little comedy to go along with it. He began doing background acting, and a photo shoot here and there for the local photo club. He did a little acting also. With some famous actors/producers and some not so famous. He did some documentary work with the "Hero’s Channel, Fox and National

Geographics.

Their story is like this.

In 2002 Steve was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. He had apparently had it for a long time (undiagnosed). He went through Interferon treatments. At the end of the treatment, Steve and Tracy were told: "The treatment was a success, and he was undetectable". At the same time, they were told that Hep C had done some damage to his liver. Cirrhosis of the liver to be exact. The Dr's told them it was manageable. They learned as much as they could about the disease. Steve never drank again. Tracy made sure not a single drop of alcohol entered his body. They ate healthier. Lived better, and became more active. All the things they needed to do to take care of Steve and his liver.

Jumping forward....

In August of 2022, Steve was not feeling well. So, he went to the Dr. She noticed his abomined was a little distended. So, she sent him for an ultrasound. This is where their nightmare begins. Fluid had begun to build up in Steve’s abdominal cavity, and he would need a paracentesis performed to drain the fluid from his belly. The fluid would need to be sent for testing to see why it was there. Turned out it was due to the Cirrhosis of the liver, Steve never had any indication that it was flaring up. He was tested/examined to make sure he and his liver were still good.

Back in May of 2022, All of his labs showed he was still good. Turned out to be a false positive. His liver had already begun to fail. The Dr. sent Steve to Banner UMC Phoenix to meet with a team of liver specialists to try and get things back on track. It was too late. Steve had entered "End Stage Liver Failure. There were only two things that could be done to help him at this point. T.I.P.S and a Liver Transplant.** T.I.P.S. "Trans-jugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt" Is a procedure that involves inserting a stent (tube) to connect the portal veins to adjacent blood vessels that have lower pressure. This relieves the pressure of blood flowing through the diseased liver and can help stop bleeding and fluid buildup. Steve had to have esophageal banding done as the pressure in his esophagitis was causing blood vessels to swell. The Dr's feared the blood vessels could rupture, and Steve would bleed out. 5 bands were placed to protect the blood vessels in his throat.

On Feb 8th, 2023, Steve had the TIPS procedure done.

On Feb 9th Steve was released from the hospital to go home with a thumbs up, all went well. Two of their sons came to see their dad that Friday,

On Feb 12th, Tracy had to take Steve to the emergency room. He said he did not feel well, something was wrong. They went to the local Banner Hospital in Casa Grande. Within 4 hours Steve was in a FULL-BLOWN episode of "Hepatic Encephalopathy". They transported Steve to Banner UMC Phoenix for treatment. Hepatic Encephalopathy is a condition where you have altered mental status which is due to toxins from the intestines (ammonia). Ammonia is normally removed from the blood by the liver. When TIPS is performed, the TIPS allows toxin-containing blood like ammonia to bypass the liver. This will affect the brain in a way that will cause confusion or even comma. Steve spent the next few days in ICU. He was on several different medications to rid his body of the ammonia. The Dr's were able to get it under control and he stabilized.

On Feb. 19, Steve was released from the hospital to go home. Steve and Tracy at that time were told that this was a normal occurrence when T.I.P.S. is first done as the body tries to adjust. At home, Steve was trying to get better, but he told Tracy he just never felt right.

By Feb 22, Steve was taken back to the hospital via ambulance. He was once again suffering from Hepatic Encephalopathy. This time it was more severe. Within 4 hours of arriving at the hospital, he had slipped into a coma. Steve spent the next 7 days in ICU. Once he had woken up from the coma, they kept him in the hospital for a few more days. Tracy never left his side. Steve was released from the hospital (once again on) March 4th. Steve and Tracy managed to have 18 days at home. Steve seemed to be doing better. Getting around with the help of a walker. Steve was set up with physical therapy at home 3 days a week. Things were looking better each day.

March 22nd Steve was rushed back to the hospital in Casa Grande, via ambulance. Once again, he was in the throes of Hepatic Encephalopathy. He was stabilized in Casa Grande again. Then transported to Banner UMC in Phoenix, for treatment (again). There he was placed into ICU and eventually onto a feeding tube. He fell into a coma again. The liver team did extensive testing to see why he was suffering from Hepatic Encephalopathy so much and so often. During an MRI and ultrasound, they found that several of the blood vessels in or around Steve’s liver had begun to work harder to compensate for the T.I.P.S. Basically trying to return normal blood flow to his liver. Which in turn increased the amount of ammonia that was pumping thru his body. They "embolized" 2 blood vessels to slow/stop the amount of blood bypassing Steve’s liver. But they cannot stop all blood flow as that would completely kill the liver. Steve was finally released from the hospital on May 12 (8 weeks) to a skilled nursing facility.

Steve stayed in the nursing facility until he would be released with stipulations on May 28 (2 weeks), after a few things were corrected in the home, to ensure Steve’s safety. Since he had lost a great deal of muscle mass and weight, she had to have the bathroom corrected to be ADA-approved. Steve could not step into the tub/shower. A feeding machine had to be brought in and set up. Steve still needs help maintaining his weight. Physical and occupational therapy had to be set up. Plus, a home health nurse. Tracy takes Steve to all his Dr appt's, testing at the hospital or labs. Paracentesis. Steve has medical appts 3 to 4 times a week. Since this all started, Steve has been hospitalized 104 days out of 120 days.

The Hospital bills, Dr bills, Surgery bills, Physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health nurse and ambulance transportation bills have started to come in. Having to pay for their portion that the insurance doesn't cover. Plus, the cost of pre-transplant medication. Then there is the cost of medical equipment. Feeding Pump, feeding tubes and the formula to keep weight on Steve. It is rapidly eating away at their life savings. Tracy has used up all her paid time off (sick and vacation). She is now having to take unpaid time off.

Steve has been placed on the liver transplant list. Now it is a wait-and-hope thing. Hoping Steve does not get sick again. Waiting to see if insurance will cover the next bill. And that they can find a liver in time. Steve continues to fight. He works hard every day at all of his therapy appts. He

tries to help Tracy around the house as much as he can.