Hi Everyone, my name is Becca, and I’m asking for your help as I prepare for the most intense medical journey of my life: a multi-organ transplant. I’m new to fundraising and have always been very independent, so this is challenging for me to ask for help. That said, I know my community has my back.
To make a long story short, I’ve been battling severe digestive tract paralysis for years. My main digestive diagnosis is Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO), which has completely shut down my ability to digest food. I’ve endured treatments including multiple feeding tubes, an ileostomy, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the past year and a half, which delivers nutrients directly into my bloodstream. TPN is keeping me alive, but it’s come at a cost. I’ve had around 15 life-threatening blood infections (sepsis), 2 of which have gone to my spine and caused osteomyelitis (bone infection). I also recently have had blood clots in my neck that spread to my chest and arm. I have had countless hospitalizations and long stretches of isolation just to stay stable.
Right now, I’m in the evaluation process for a life-saving transplant that will include my stomach, small intestine, and part of my large bowel. Once evaluation is complete, my case will go before a transplant committee. If approved, I’ll officially be listed and begin the wait for the right organs. I’m working closely with my medical team and doing everything I can to be ready.
While I wait, I require complex medical care to keep my body functioning. Managing a central line, IV medications, tube feeds, ileostomy, TPN, appointments, and emergency complications alongside how sick I am day to day is a large job, and it means I simply cannot work right now. The need for rest, infection prevention, and stability is critical to staying eligible for transplant and surviving long enough to receive one.
Unlike many patients, I’m facing this fresh out of college and financially independent. I aged out of foster care and have built my life with lots of help from friends, but overall much more independently than most my age. I recently graduated with a degree in Youth & Community Development, determined to use my story to advocate for foster youth. I am financially on my own, however, and that is where I need help.
Although I’m fortunate to live near my transplant center and won’t need to relocate, the financial burdens are still significant. I need help covering rent, essential bills, and out-of-pocket medical expenses while I wait for transplant and recover. This isn’t just about getting through surgery, it’s about surviving the months before and after with dignity, safety, and hope.
This journey is overwhelming, but I haven’t given up and I don’t plan to. I’ve fought so hard to stay alive, and I’m determined to see this through. If you can donate, please know that every dollar makes a real difference in helping me survive, recover, and rebuild my life. If you can’t give, praying for me and sharing this story is another powerful way to help. Every bit of support, in any fashion, brings me one step closer to healing and to the future I have worked so hard to reach.
Thank you for reading.
With deep gratitude,
Becca
My Amazon Wishlist:
