Dear Friends,
I am writing to you today on behalf of a good friend, John Guglielmetti. You may know his wife Wendy, his children Jesse (20) and Andrew (23) or have met him on the soccer field, at a baseball game or at scout meetings. Some of you are co-workers of John’s at Brown University where he is a manager in the Custodial Division of Facilities Management or grew up with him in Warwick.
Four years ago, John was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. He’s had numerous treatments, been hospitalized multiple times and has met with many doctors in the Northeast. All have proven to be unsuccessful and costly. John has been recently diagnosed with Hepatocelluar carcinoma (primary liver cancer). His doctors at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center have told us that his only option is a life-saving liver transplant.
Due to the seriousness of John’s medical condition, Wendy has become his primary caregiver. John and Wendy are now up against a challenge they cannot meet alone. Even with insurance there are many expenses that are not covered and must be paid out of pocket. Some of these are co-pays, deductibles and John will be on a lifetime of anti-rejection medications. This is where your help is needed.
A fund raising campaign in John’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a non-profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northeast Liver Transplant Fund, and are administered for John’s transplant-related expenses only. For those who are able and would like to contribute:For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.
Your support is crucial! A fundraising committee has been formed and we are planning several exciting and fun events. Any ideas or help you can give is welcome!
With sincere gratitude,
Lisa Meyer
(401)-474-3513
Lmeyer369@gmail.com
Updates (5)
April 1, 2014
We are happy to announce that John has received a new liver on March 14, 2014. Because of the generous donation of family and friends, John and Wendy were able to travel to Florida so that John could be listed on the transplant list in Florida where the wait was much less time.
John is doing very well and recovering nicely. If John continues to do well, John and Wendy will be able to travel back home to RI soon. Once in RI, John will still be monitored weekly and will be required to return to Mayo Clinic in Florida a few times within the next year for continued check ups.
John has a long road for recovery and he continues to strive for his new chance at life. Although his life has changed with many new restrictions, lifetime antirejection drugs, and medical care, he is appreciative for the gift of life. John would not have this chance if it weren't for the gift of a person who was an organ donor. John and his family are extremely grateful to his person and their family. John ask that we keep the donor and his family in our prayers.
John, Wendy, and family encourage everyone to become organ donors and would like to express their heartfelt thanks for your continued prayers and support.
December 31, 2013
12/30/13
Well John had an appointment today at Mayo Clinic to discuss the new tumor they found. The procedure that was performed a couple of days before Christmas didn't work so the transplant team decided that there's nothing they can do at this point. The team decided to just wait and see if the tumor grows and if it becomes larger than 3cm then they will have to take him off the list, try to treat it by another means (which it is too small to try now), and if they can make it smaller then he could get put back onto the transplant list. What does this mean? It means we are all hoping that he receives the transplant before the cancer tumor grows. The good news is that the first tumor is now dead and not a threat.
Another disappointing thing we found out about today was that John is officially on the list with 25 points, but they have stretched the transplant numbers and are now transplanting more toward the 28 point mark. This means it could be another 3 months before he would be at the top of the list to get the transplant. John is feeling good and he's been taking it easy and trying to relax while we wait.
Please keep us in your prayers and let's hope 2014 finds us all in good health.
Guestbook
September 11, 2013
Wishing you heath, happiness & peace
A friend
May 7, 2013
We're gonna make this happen!
Mark Chearino
