Jim- Liver Recipient

I was getting a little worried. I was spending more time in the hospital than out. I had been on the transplant list for 3 years. Three years of not knowing if I was going to live or die. I made out my will and arranged my funeral with the help of my sister.

I finally reached out and put all my worries in God’s hands. I would not pray for a donor. I could not ask for someone to sacrifice their life for me. When I received the call that they had a liver, I viewed it as a divine gift.

It was a long ten hour surgery. My liver did not want to come out and the donor liver did not want to go in! After surgery I experienced intense pain. Although underneath the pain I felt healthier already. I spent two and a half weeks in the hospital. I then had to stay close to the hospital for a while. This was tough because my home was two hours away. Also, I had not been able to work in quite awhile.

Thankfully, I was told about the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks program called Patient Assistance Fund. They provided me the funds to stay at a hotel located two miles from UK Hospital. They saved me and my family from a greater financial burden on top of the worry that was already placed upon them. Today I am happy to say I’m feeling and doing great! I still have a long road of recovery to go yet. Thanks to the support of my family, friends and the Patient Assistance Fund, I know I will succeed!