“I am eternally grateful for your consideration to donate to me.”

Dean

In Need of a Liver Donor

My name is Dean, and I am asking for your help to save my life.

I’m the son of a retired two-star general (now deceased) and a loving 91-year-old mother who still has plenty of life and spirit. I’m blessed with a wonderful wife who helps me stay healthy, eat right, and who truly is my best friend. Together, we have a son (and two grandsons) and three daughters. I love spending time fishing and working around the house, and I’m a bit of a homebody who enjoys the peace and quiet of our home.

A big part of my life is dedicated to helping others recover from alcoholism. I speak regularly at four different treatment facilities each month, doing my best to show people that recovery is possible and that there’s always hope.

Right now, I’m facing a serious health challenge. I’ve been living with cirrhosis of the liver and have been on the transplant list for the past five years. Because of the progression of my condition, I now need to find a living liver donor. I’ve been diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy, which means my liver can’t properly filter toxins from my blood, causing brain swelling. This leads to extreme fatigue, confusion, muscle loss, and problems with balance.

In addition, I have untreated Hepatitis C. My doctors can’t start treatment because my liver wouldn’t survive the process. I’ve had life-threatening esophageal varices rupture twice in the last three years, and my liver failure has also begun to affect my vision, especially at night, which makes driving difficult and unsafe.

I don’t have the energy I used to. My strength continues to fade, and doing my job is becoming more and more difficult. My confusion is getting worse, and I’ve had to stop driving at night for safety. My doctor says my best hope now is to find a living liver donor. Deceased donor livers usually go to patients in more critical stages, and living donation is now my most viable path forward.

I am looking for a living donor. I am asking this of both friends and strangers because I have no immediate family that can donate. Living donor transplants generally have better outcomes and can be arranged at a time convenient for both parties. I am compatible with any Type O blood type.

The most difficult part of waiting for a transplant is not knowing what the future holds. I look forward to the day I can return to a normal life, rejoin the workforce, and have the freedom to travel again. I’m also deeply hopeful for the chance to give back, to help others in need, and be a living example of hope for those who may be struggling or feeling lost. The first step is to contact my transplant center using the information in the box above. The entire process is strictly confidential and medical costs are covered by my insurance.

Please review existing Living Donor Benefits/Rights to determine which apply to you.

Thank you for considering saving my life.  

With deep gratitude,

Dean