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Help Mariela Get Her Liver Transplant!

Mariela Chavez, a single mother of five, is in need of a liver transplant and needs the help of her community to make it happen. The transplant is lifesaving but very expensive.

Updates (1)

August 12, 2015

My name is Mariela Chavez. I am writing this letter base on my health conditions.

I am reaching out to the community with my ultimate request for a living liver donor.

My need is for a living liver transplant I will like to let you know about my current health

challenges and how you could help.

This is not an easy letter to write but I know that, without sending this, someone who might be

interested in helping won't have the opportunity.

In 2007 after having my fourth child I began to develop unusual symptoms, which included

itching all over my body, dark urine, fatigue, and sleepless nights. All unusual and very

discomfort feelings.

It was a month after giving birth that I decided to go see my primary care doctor. He put me

through all kinds of exams, testing’s and ultra sounds. I was getting annoyed because not even

my own Doctor was able to tell me what could be wrong and the agony of waiting for all kinds

of results to come back was just frustrated.

Finally my doctor received the results of all the above and even then said to me, that he was not a

hundred percent sure but he thought it could be Lupus or some kind of Auto Immune Disorder.

So, I was then sent to do more testing including a biopsy of the liver.

Well, the biopsy did it. I was diagnosed with "PBC" Primary Biliary Cirrhosis of the liver along

with Auto Immune Hepatitis.

I was scared and mad at the world, because I never thought this would ever happen to me. To

make my past 8 years short, I was put under different prescriptions to help me feel better. The

treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, preventing and treating the complications of the

disease, and preventing other conditions that may cause additional liver damage. It also helps

move bile out of the liver and into the small intestine. If it is used early enough, it can improve

the symptoms. However in the past three years my symptoms have worsened, I now have

developed Jaundice of the skin, yellow of the eyes. With more advanced liver damage, I have

now more complications related to Virrhosis such as:

 Fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites).

 Bleeding of enlarged veins in the esophagus, stomach, and rectum (variceal bleeding).

 Premature thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

To the point that only a transplant can cure my health.

A Liver transplant is considered when the liver no longer functions adequately (liver failure).

Liver failure can happen suddenly (acute liver failure) as a result of infection or complications

from certain medications, for example. Liver failure can also be the end result of a long-term

problem. The following conditions may result in chronic liver failure

 Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis.

 Primary biliary cirrhosis (a rare condition where the immune system inappropriately

attacks and destroys the bile ducts)

 Sclerosing cholangitis (scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts inside and outside of the

liver, causing the backup of bile in the liver.

I have from the very beginning told by the doctors that:

The exact cause of PBC is unknown. But it may be related to a problem with the immune system,

which is the body's natural defense system.

I need a new liver and I hope you will consider being tested to be a donor.

The reason why I am reaching out to you is because one of my family members that have

considered to be a donor are not able to, due to health issues involve.

There's benefit to receiving a living donor. Receiving a liver from a living donor, the liver last

twice as much of a deceased donor and I am able to tolerate the transplant now than if I wait

longer.

I know this is a big request but I like to continue to devote every day of my life making a

difference to the most precious gifts I have, my 5 children, family and friends.

If you can help, please do so. If you know of anyone might please forward this on!!

If you would like to learn more about liver transplant

, please call or visit the below information

Thank you so much!!!

Web. Hopkinsmedicine.org/livertransplant

phone : 410-614-2989

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