Pam Norman

Pam has stage 4 cirrhosis and severe irreversible liver damage from the active Hepatitis C and is on the active liver transplant list at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. As a result of her poor health, Pam has not been able to return to work since last fall. Due to the severity of her symptoms and medical complications, Pam has experienced bleeding in the esophagus and stomach, along with retention of fluid in the abdomen, caused by portal hypertension. Over the last year, Pam’s health has declined so much, that she needs a lifesaving liver transplant.

After the birth of her second child in 1983, Pam had a tubal ligation and during this procedure she had to have an emergency blood transfusion. Unfortunately at that time, hospitals did not screen donated blood and Pam contracted Hepatitis C. Pam did not find out that she had Hep C until giving blood in the 90’s when the screening of blood process was in place. Pam was completely shocked when she received a letter from the blood bank telling her that she had Hepatitis C.

Pam is the mother of two grown children, April and Chris and a proud grandmother to six! She raised her children on her own, and worked hard being a single mom and providing for her children. Pam sacrificed many things for her kids and always put her needs aside. As her daughter April says “She is my mother, father and best friend, always putting others first. Her heart and determination are something that I can only hope to have one day myself. I have watched my mom struggle, running a household while trying to balance raising two children on her own. My mom is strong willed and never gives up.”

Over the years she would be tested to see if it was still inactive but with personal circumstances occurring, no health insurance after a divorce and working just to make ends meet to pay bills, she again put her health screening on the back burner. Pam went on working long hours in the health care industry as a med tech/CNA in an assisted living facility which did not provide adequate health insurance for their employees.

Unfortunately some of the health issues over the last several years were all symptoms related to the Hep C being active. Going to the ER several times and telling them she was a Hep C carrier without insurance all they did was fix what was wrong and never went the extra step to see how active it truly was.

Last year, 2014, was an exceptional stressful year, as Pam’s step-dad Leon was in the hospital for 2 months and passed away in July, as she, her Mom and sister sat daily watching over him. During this time, the stress and tension built up and again she had some serious symptoms that were present from the active Hep C. Pam just did not think about the symptoms as so much else was going on. Pam’s Mom got sick shortly thereafter in August and was placed in the hospital. Realizing that her Mom was now not able to be alone, Pam and her sister worked out a plan that would allow Pam to take the Family Leave Act for 3 months enabling her to care and be with her Mom. Her mother, Peggy, over the course of 3 months had to be hospitalized 3 times. During each time is when Pam started looking up symptoms on the internet and started realizing that there were a lot of symptoms going on in her body that indicated she was in active chronic Hep C, including possible severe liver damage.

Transplants are lifesaving, but the costs to fund this procedure are monumental and Pam needs your help. Large co-pays and deductibles, health insurance premiums, travel, lodging and meal fees, and medical appointments are to name only a few. Pam will also be required to take costly post-transplant medications that she will need for the rest of her life.

The mental and emotional strain she is going through, as well as the financial burden has been great, since she has not been able to work. Her sister and brother- in- law have been supportive along the way helping her with the cost of medical insurance and bills has created strain and stress on all of them. The out of-pocket medical bills will continue to add up and are more than they can now handle on their own

Pam and her 82 year old mother still live together, taking care of and supporting each other during this very difficult time. As we all walk through this, we know in our heart God has to be the center of our focus and we have to place our faith and trust in him which is the only way she and her family can get through all of this. Pam and her family walk with faith and take each day as a gift, cherishing them and each other.

Thank you for your generosity, prayers and support during this difficult time for Pam.

Gratefully,
Pam’s loving family and friends

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Pam’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southeast Liver Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.