Gary Brink

I’m Gary. I could use your help.

To all my friends throughout the years, family, and their friends. I have been struggling with liver disease for some years and in July 2020 it came to a critical point. On July 1, I experienced a blood clot that began the process of acute liver failure and have been in the hospital since then. In the urgency of the immediate need for a new liver in order to survive, I was transferred via Care Flight to the University of Utah transplant center for evaluation. I was selected on a Monday to be a recipient of a liver transplant and on August 7, the same week, received the new liver! The transplant team is quite pleased with the results and expects a complete recovery!

As family and friends, we are asking you to join us in the journey in fundraising for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to help with expenses I will be facing throughout my two months of hospitalization and year-long recovery process. The out-of-pocket costs are quite large including the surgery and hospital costs. I am currently on leave from my position as a mental health counselor for the Nevada State Correctional Institute working with inmates, so I receive no monthly income until I can return to work. In addition, I will be required to pay my health insurance premiums in order to receive ongoing medical benefits.

I have always been positive and believe that God has a plan of redemption and restoration throughout this incredibly difficult life experience. I refuse to have my life limited by my current circumstances and choose to believe God has a new story awaiting me upon recovery. I remain in Utah in nearby housing and make nearly daily trips to the transplant clinic in the recovery process (including a recent repeat hospitalization). I will be required to stay here for perhaps an additional 6-8 weeks for medical care. I am incredibly grateful to God for the new liver, but I need help as it has left me with medical expenses I cannot possibly pay myself.

Any donation to Help Hope Live will ease the overwhelming financial burden of the transplant and allow me to focus on recovery and the new story God has waiting for me. My prayer is that God will use this experience to allow me to have an increased impact with others, especially the inmates I counsel, in bringing hope and redemption.

Family and friends of Gary Brink are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Gary has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility 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!