Karen's Liver Transplant

In May 2010, my sister Karen was diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), a chronic liver disease. When a person has PBC, the immune system attacks the liver causing slow, progressive damage to the bile ducts. When the bile ducts are damaged, bile and other substances cannot be eliminated and accumulate in the liver. The retained substances are harmful to the liver and worsen the inflammation which leads to further damage. This can over time result in scarring of the liver. PBC has created many conditions such as, Esophageal Varices, Jaundice, Ascites (retaining fluid in the stomach), retaining water and severe exhaustion.

Karen is a single mother living in Selkirk, Manitoba, who is now unable to work due to her disease.  She was expected to receive a liver transplant at the Toronto General Hospital within the next 1 – 6 months, Karen received her phone call Monday February 27th for her lliver transplant and now is currently in Toronto. Karen and a companion/caregiver must be prepared to remain in Toronto for a minimum of 2 weeks. 

Any donations received would go towards the costs involved with living in, and travelling to and from Toronto as well as Karen’s medications will cost upwards of $5,000 a month. Karen also requires assistance with general home expenses as she will be unable to work for approximately 6 months.

Any unused donation will go to the Liver Foundation of Canada (http://www.liver.ca/). For anyone interested in learning more about PBC.

If you cannot donate, please consider signing up to be an organ donor at http://www.cantransplant.ca/home/organ-and-tissue-donation-consent/. 1 donor can save up to 8 lives.

 

Thank you very much,

 

Cindy Campbell