On Mother’s Day May 12th 2013, I woke up to go to work as a deputy sheriff in Escambia county(Pensacola) Florida. After getting out of the shower, I became nauseated and started vomiting blood. It wouldn’t stop and I became weak and couldn’t stand up on my own.
My wife took me to the hospital where I was wheeled to the OR and told I was bleeding internally and had to have emergency surgery. I had busted a varices (blood veins )in my esophagus and while vomiting blood, I tore my esophagus (Mallory Weiss tear). I was in ICU after the surgery for several days. I had 4 doctors visit me and tell me, I had liver disease and that is what caused the bleeding. I have a low platelet count, portal hypertension (high blood pressure) due to the liver, and a host of other issues caused by the liver including encephalopathy, which is confusion due to high ammonia levels in my blood. I had a biopsy done and I had stage 4 NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
The Doctors told me I had to have a transplant. They also told me that since I was a severe bleed risk, I could no longer work as a law enforcement officer and they medically retired me with 24 years service. I was referred to Ochsner’s Transplant center in New Orleans.They are in charge of my medical issues. I am on the transplant list as my MELD score is now a 18 as of 7-31-2018 and rising. My kidneys are being affected now and the transplant doctors are looking for a match.
When this journey of mine started I was 45 years old, and thought I was in perfect health. I went to my primary doctor for routine checkups and was not a drinker, nor ever used illegal drugs. The doctors still don’t know the cause of my issues, it may just be I had a bad liver all along. I am 50 now and in desperate need of a liver.
Medical bills for Doctor co-pays, medicine and hospitalizations are overwhelming. I have to have a caretaker when I have the surgery and housing, food, transportation. Housing and everyday expenses are not covered for my caretaker under my insurance for the 3 months I will need to be in Louisiana.
Any help to offset this would be greatly appreciated and if my story helps anyone else, that is wonderful.
Family and friends of Rudy Brown are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.
Rudy has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
