Teresa Bruck

Hello, my name is Teresa Bruck. I’m 50 years old, a proud mom of three amazing adult children, and I was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa.

In 2018, just two weeks after what was supposed to be a life-improving surgery (gastric bypass), my life took an unexpected turn. I went to the ER with severe abdominal pain, thinking maybe it was a kidney stone or a complication from surgery. Instead, doctors discovered something rare and devastating, a massive blood clot blocking several major veins in my abdomen, including my portal vein, splenic vein, and part of my superior mesenteric vein.

There was no surgical fix. My body had already started creating tiny new veins to push blood around the blockage. I spent 8 days in the hospital on strong medication, not realizing at the time how much this clot would change the course of my future.

Over the next few years, my health declined. I began experiencing fatigue, pain, and swelling, along with concerning changes in my bloodwork. Scans and tests showed my liver was being damaged. I developed esophageal varices (enlarged veins at risk of bleeding) and had to undergo a specialized procedure called a TIPS to relieve the pressure on my liver.

Despite everything, my liver continued to worsen, and my doctors explained that I now have cirrhosis and will ultimately need a liver transplant to survive. After a long evaluation process at UNMC, I’ve officially been placed on the National Organ Transplant Registry.

The call could come tomorrow, or it could take a year. It’s a waiting game.

In the meantime, the financial toll is overwhelming. I currently have over $10,000 in medical bills and ongoing costs for appointments, scans, bloodwork, and medications. Some of my medicines are only covered temporarily, and after transplant, I’ll need lifelong anti-rejection drugs to keep my new liver working. The average cost of a liver transplant today is over $1 million, and while insurance covers some, it’s far from enough. I will also be unable to work for at least 8–12 weeks after surgery, adding to the financial stress.

To make things harder, because my portal vein no longer functions, I am not a candidate for a living donor transplant. I must wait for a full liver and vein from a deceased donor, which means longer on the registry.

This is the reality I never imagined back in 2018 when that blood clot changed everything. At the time, my doctors told me that the chances of developing a clot as massive as mine were less than 1%. Yet here I am, fighting every day, doing everything I can to stay healthy enough until that life-saving call comes.

I am sharing my story because I cannot do this alone. Your support, whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing my journey means the world to me and my family. Every bit helps me move one step closer to healing, one step closer to a future with my children.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for walking alongside me in this fight.

With gratitude,  Teresa

Family and friends of Teresa Bruck are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Transplant. Teresa has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Thank you for your support.