Eliza Tyler has been living with type-1 insulin dependent diabetes since the young age of nine. Over the course of her lifetime, she has witnessed great progress with treatments, medications, technology and advances in diabetes research. The insulin pump, glucometer and even islet-cell transplants have helped many diabetics live a better quality and longer life. Unfortunately, even with these advancements, Eliza continues to face medical complications and difficulties in managing and controlling her own symptoms. Nerve pain, vision problems, fatigue, gastroparesis and the inability to maintain stable blood sugars are only a few of her daily obstacles. Eliza was diagnosed as a “brittle diabetic”, the most severe and difficult form of diabetes to treat. At one time, her condition became so uncontrollable that her doctors told her to “put your affairs in order”. Severe complications, with fluctuating blood sugar levels became so dangerous that Eliza was left with little hope.

As if her diabetes wasn’t enough, life became more challenging for Eliza when in 2011 she was hit head-on after a motor vehicle accident. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, and faced complications like headaches, vision damage, memory and cognitive deficits, stamina and fatigue problems, and muscle pain. Since her accident, Eliza is no longer able to hold down a job and is having trouble makes ends meet. Eliza underwent two more stem cell transplants to not only treat her diabetes, but to help with her memory and cognitive problems from the accident. She again noticed dramatic improvements in not only her diabetes, but her overall health and her symptoms started to slowly disappear — Eliza and her team of medical professionals are certain the stem cell treatments are the reason for her improving.

Time has passed, and Eliza now requires another treatment, as she noticed her symptoms are slowly returning. This will provide her immune system with a “boost” and her body will begin to heal itself. Stem cell therapy will improve Eliza’s quality of life, however these treatments are very expensive and cost upwards of $15,000. Travel and lodging, caregiver fees, post-treatment medications, and living expenses will add up to more than Eliza can handle on her own. This is where Eliza is asking for your financial support!

To help offset such expenses, a fundraising campaign in Eliza’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southwest Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant and illness-related expenses only. Eliza has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the yellow Donate Now button. For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399

Thank you ahead of time for your generosity and support to help Eliza with the cost of her stem cell therapy. Any donation, no matter how big or how small, is one step closer to a better and happier life for Eliza.

Gratefully,

Eliza’s daughter, grandson and family