Woman Hangs on to Life While Waiting for Liver Transplant

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Woman Hangs on to Life While Waiting for Liver Transplant

Last upated January 18, 2005

A life or death moment 17 years ago now has fighting for her life once again. In 1988 suffered through a miscarriage and as a result needed a blood transfusion.In what seemed to be a simple procedure, the blood she received was contaminated with Hepatitis C and now she has the disease."The doctors in Colorado did not make a big deal about it at the time," she said. "They told me it would not do anything to me."That has not been the case for . When she was in Texas later that year, she began having flu-like symptoms.Her husband took her to the doctor where she received two pints of blood and was told the true extent of her illness."The doctor in Texas told me he didn't know how I got in such bad shape without being a severe alcoholic," said. "I drank a little here and there, but I have never been a heavy drinker. I just did not have a taste for it." has end-stage liver disease because of Hepatitis C and is in need of a liver transplant in order to live., a former construction worker, has been without a job since 2001 and the illness has taken its toll."I have always worked outside," she said. "We have been all over the place doing whatever and now I can't even go out in the yard to feed the dogs without fearing I will pass out."Being out of work for four years, has relied on Medicaid and other government assistance to help her and her three children."Medicaid only pays for 10 prescriptions a month," said. "I take 24 different prescriptions. I have to rely on samples from my doctor and juggle the rest to get all the medication I need."Not only does have to juggle her medications, she has to do the same with her other bills."Everything is always on the verge of being shut off or taken away," said. "We just have to make due with what we have."Most of the time the 32-year-old mother of three stays in the bed in the living room of her house either watching television or surfing on the Internet, which is where she found hope."I was in a Hepatitis C support group online and connected with a woman named Ellen," she said. "She new of my situation and offered to help."Her Internet friend put in contact with Dr. Darling, a dentist in California who also suffers from Hepatitis C."I have had three liver transplants and I am very familiar with how it works," Darling said. "We use a MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) computer scale from 6-40 to determine how sick a liver patient is."The higher the MELD score, the greater the risk a person has of dying from liver disease. 's scored a 32 recently.She needs a liver transplant, but it is not as simple as that."Insurance will only pay for half of it," she said. "But, before I can even get on the waiting list, I have to prove I can pay for half the surgery and a year's worth of anti-rejection drugs."Liver transplants start at $375,000 and that has not been the only cost for .Patients with end-stage liver disease cannot have infections anywhere when they go in for surgery and because of her medicine, developed periodontal disease."I have not had teeth in 18 months," she said. "There is a list of food I am supposed to eat to make me feel better, but I can't chew any of it."Darling has stepped in to help with her dental problems."I began trying to contact dentists in her area," he said. "I found Dr. Hardy, and he agreed to help."Thanks to the help of Hardy and a dental group in Atlanta, will receive dentures."It really gives you a different perspective on life," Hardy said. "I usually do not see patients as sick as she is. It makes me and my dental team feel great to be able to help someone."Hardy and Global Dental agreed to do the work free of charge and now Darling hopes to help raise funds for the transplant."We have decided to generate publicity, so we can find people willing to pay for the surgery," Darling said.While waits for her a transplant her condition worsens."One of my doctor's told me that my disease has progressed more rapidly than any case he had ever seen," she said.Because her liver has all but shut down, has started having seizures and her kidneys are beginning to fail.The disease has also taken its toll on 's children."My girls ( and ) do not sleep in their rooms," she said. "They sleep on the couches in the living room with me."'s son, Casey, also struggles with his mother's illness."I think it's my fault she's sick," he said.To learn more of 's illness or make a donation, go to www.geocities.com/save_julie/.

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Coosa County Woman Needs A Liver Transplant From the WFSA website; excerpted from a 3 minute televised segment with and her kids, February 4, 2005.

This small house in the rural area of Ray is home to 32 year old and her 3 children. is bedridden most of the time. Prisoner to a multitude of illnesses. The most serious? non-alcoholic cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver. She needs a transplant. Right now she has but one wish.

She says, "Just to say please help so I can see my babies grow up and get to where I can take care of them."

lost her own mother when she was 6. She doesn't want her own children to endure that. But there are some obstacles. Right now a transplant cost $375-thousand dollars. And she must provide part of that up front. And she must show that she can pay for the drugs that will cost from 2 to 3 thousand dollars per month. is also fearful for her children now. At 11, 9 and 6 years of age, she worries that they are being forced to grow up too fast.

says, "The microwave has buttons on it... Popcorn, beverage, pizza and they all know how to fix those."

's lifeline is the internet and the telephone. Friends have set up a web page for her and a bank account to try to raise the money. But time is working against her. Doctors say she won't last two years without the surgery.

An account has been established for 's transplant at any branch of Southtrust Bank. has her own website at www.geocities.com/save_julie/.

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