Kathryn Crapo

Kathryn and her family appreciate all you can donate towards her liver transplant and subsequent care.

Kathryn is a loving mother of seven children, wife to Michael, and a dedicated and integral part of her extended family, church and community.

Kathryn and Michael have seven children. Aaron, 22; Ammon, 20; Annie, 18; Emily, 17; Erica, 16; Ethan, 13; and James, 11. The two older boys do not live at home; Annie is attending college through USU-Uintah Basin and working at a local elementary, she will be getting married in May; the other four children are attending local schools.

Kathryn has been employed at the Uintah Basin Standard for the last four years as a receptionist and was just recently promoted to Office Administrator. Michael has been in the oilfield for the last 17 years, mostly hauling water locally. His current work is hauling crude from the basin to the refinery in Salt Lake City.

Kathryn was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1999, since that time she has managed this disease with medication that has kept her in remission. In 2017 she was diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis, an autoimmune disease that causes progressive destruction of the bile ducts. There is no cure for PBC, but medications can help delay the condition’s progression. In 2021 after a nasty gallbladder attack where she had a lap coli, she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease that damages the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. With PSC, bile ducts become inflamed, and the inflammation leads to scarring and narrowing of the affected ducts. Eventually, blockages may occur. As the scarring blocks more and more ducts, bile becomes trapped in the liver. This damages the liver and can result in fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure. Patients may eventually require a liver transplant.

Kathryn has had multiple Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography’s since the lap coli in April. During the ERCP’s the doctor has been able to dilate the bile ducts, however during the ERCP in December the doctor observed that the risk associated with continued ERCP’s dilation did not outweigh the benefits. The bile duct stricture, an abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct, has now increased the risk of bile duct cancer.

After the latest ERCP in December, her GI doctor pushed her case to the transplant team urging them to move her case up and do a full transplant evaluation.

Evaluation testing began in January. After all tests were complete her coordinator was able to present her case to the transplant team. Their decision was that she is not sick enough yet to be placed on the list. At this time her MELD score is 7, the coordinator has permission to place her on the list when it hits 12. They have also ordered another ERCP with brushings and FISH analysis for mid-March.

When it comes time for the transplant, she will be staying in the hospital in Murray, 144 miles from home, anywhere from 7-10 days. Following discharge from the hospital, she and her husband, her primary caregiver 24/7 for the next 6-8 weeks will need to stay within 1 hours travel of the hospital for follow-up appointments, medication monitoring and lab work.

Every little bit helps. Thank you to those who are able to help at this time of need.

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

Kathryn 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!