Adopted from Haiti as a baby, William Doelman was raised with 22 siblings by Hank and Mary Doelman on the family dairy farm in Rochester, Washington. As soon as Will could reach the pedals, he was driving tractor for harvest and later hauling cows and feed for the family farm. Will was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, also known as Walter Payton’s Disease, at the age of 19. Despite his condition, Will continued to work as a short and long haul trucker. It has been ten years since his initial diagnosis and Will is in end stage liver failure and needs a transplant to survive.
Once a very active person, Will is often confined to his bed and has not been able to work in the last year. By God’s beautiful design Will’s brother by adoption, Nick, is his organ donor match and will donate a portion of his liver to Will. The Doelman family has already suffered the loss of our sister Elizabeth in 2008 at the age of 23 to liver disease, so we feel truly blessed with a chance to save Will’s life and we are asking for your help to meet the challenge.
Updates (1)
March 8, 2017
This winter has brought some challenges for Will but with the support of his family he is persevering.
In early January Will was rushed to the hospital after losing consciousness from blood loss. He had been bleeding internally for quite some time due to hardening of his liver causing high blood pressure and bleeding varices. Another symptom of end stage liver disease. He spent a week in the hospital in Seattle where a wonderful medical staff were able to get his blood counts to more normal levels. Unfortunately, this is a medical condition he will now have to live with until the transplant.
Just about a week ago Will moved to Rochester Minnesota to be able to continue his care at the Mayo Clinic. Now that he lives so close to the transplant team he no longer has the physical stress of travel after procedures and tests that take a huge toll on his body.
Although we all miss having Will just a short drive away we know that this is a huge step forward in his journey to a transplant and new life with a healthy body!
Guestbook
March 14, 2017
You've got this! Please try not to feel lonely. Know there are many standing with you. When you feel weak we all hold you up with pray. God has a plan for you, a future. I can't wait for you to be able to look back on this difficult time as you are moving forward.
C.T.
February 23, 2017
Been thinking about you, and hope all is going good. Don't give up. Take good care of yourself, you are a awesome person, and deserve to live along healthy life. You are worth it!!!! Such a strong young man, be proud of yourself!!!!!
C.T.
January 21, 2017
You are amazing! Through it all you continue to do the best you can in all areas of your life. I can't wait for you to get your new liver. You have soooo much to offer in this life. I can't begin to imagine what this will be like for you. I get excited just thinking about your future and what it holds for you! Stay strong and know you are in many thoughts and prayers as you journey through this. Don;t ever feel alone. I know it must be lonely at times. But you have people praying for you all the way to Missouri that I'm aware of. A hugh church back there has you on their prayer chain. You have been shared everywhere...
C.T.
