I have set up a GoFundMe to find a living donor and raise money for expenses relevant to supporting a donor in my treatment.

My GoFundMe →

If you are interested in donating, please begin the living donor health questionnaire to get the process started. 

A Difficult Ask

I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart as I have recently received some difficult news; I have been diagnosed with liver cancer, again. As this is a recurrence of cancer, I am in urgent need a living liver donor to continue my fight and win against this terrible disease.

I have been advised by my doctors that a liver transplant is my best chance at survival and I am reaching out to my community and beyond with hope in my heart. I know I can beat this with the right support and I have an incredible network of family and friends who are already supporting me through this challenging time.

I need a liver to have another shot at living a more normal life. I need your help and I ask that you please consider being assessed as a potential liver donor, if you match the criteria listed below. It is a huge ask but would be a true honor and a privilege in this difficult time for me.

If you don’t match and cannot donate, please kindly circulate this page amongst your own networks. It would very much help me continue the search in finding a donor. 

I hope to leave more good in this world than I take and for that, I would like more time. I am determined to beat this and would be forever grateful for your help and support. Together we can create a brighter, healthier world and I wish to be a part of that. Thank you so much for reading.

If you want to become my living donor confidential health screening for liver donations to begin the process.

Who can be a donor?

To qualify as my living liver donor, you must:

• Have a blood type O+ or O-, A+, or A-
  (A types will require additional screening to determine subtype of A2) 
• Be physically fit and have no significant medical problems such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease
• Have a body mass index (BMI) <= 32 by the time of surgery (there is some flexibility on the BMI)
• Be between 18 and 60 years of age; however, slightly younger or slightly older candidates may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Is it safe to be a donor?

Protecting the donor’s safety, health and well-being are the primary goals of the evaluation process. As with any major surgery, there are some risks associated with living liver donation. While serious complications are rare, as with any surgery, they are possible.

You can expect to donate a portion of the liver (not the entire organ) and your liver will grow back to full volume within 3-4 months. 

What to expect in this process

• The evaluation period takes about 2-3 months (as long as no additional testing is needed), and includes education about the evaluation process, the surgery and recovery, and the risks involved with donation; extensive lab work, a CT and MRI of the liver, chest x-ray, ECHO and EKG, and consultations with the social worker, hepatologist, surgeon and anesthesiologist.
• Donation surgery will be in NYC (or possibly DC).
• Out of state donors are welcome. 1 trip to nyc is required (1-2 days) to finish evaluation.
  
• All pre and post transplant costs are covered; 
a gofundme exists to cover anything not covered by my insurance. This includes costs of evaluation, sugery, travel, accomodations.  
• Recovery time is 5-7 days in the hospital, 4-6 weeks at home. Expect to take 3-4 weeks off of work. Lost wages are covered through FMLA or GoFundMe.
  
• The liver will grow back to 90% within 8 weeks and fully within a year. 

How can I be a donor?

All prospective donors complete a series of medical examinations and interviews with our staff to determine whether they are appropriate candidates for living donation. 

Get started with the process by signing up with the health screening for liver donations

Additional resources 

For more information about becoming a living donor, visit NYU Langone Transplant Institute.

Informational video about the transplant process 

Additional detailed information about living donor liver transplant