Phil Herlich

Fork Cancer!

At the start of 2018, Phil was a totally average person. He had a job, a mortgage, a wife and two beautiful children. He was in good health and enjoyed playing soccer a few times a week. Unfortunately everything changed when a visit to his primary care physician started a roller-coaster ride of doctor visits that concluded at the Mayo Clinic with a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the liver bile ducts. Phil is now awaiting what he hopes will be a lifesaving liver transplant.

Unfortunately, Phil’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price. The average liver transplant costs approximately $735,000. And that’s only the beginning. Phil’s doctors feel his best chance will be a live liver donor. This is where a close friend or family member donates a portion of their liver to Phil. Even with health insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, he faces significant expenses related to the surgery for himself and the donor. The first year alone will require at a minimum, three separate trips to Mayo for Phil and at least two for the donor. This will mean substantial expenses related to travel and lodging on top of everything else. Unfortunately the costs do not end at the transplant. For the rest of his life, Phil will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

Phil always felt he was a good provider, regularly saved for “rainy days,” and didn’t spend frivolously. However the financial reality of his current situation is slowly becoming as daunting as the physical one.

Phil has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses for Phil Herlich. 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!

(the italicized fine print at the bottom of the donate page is just there to satisfy the lawyers. All donations made to Phil Herlich will go only to Phil Herlich)