William Todd Nichols

Well it is an early Sunday morning in March and I have finally decided to swallow my pride and follow the advice of my friends, family, team of doctors and the so many other people who have traveled this journey with me with my best interest at heart.

Although many of those reading this will know, or at least be familiar with who I am, please bear with me while I share a little about myself and why I am currently on this increasingly critical fund raising journey. 

Other than way too many orthopedic injuries, I had remained fairly healthy throughout my life until several years ago.  In December 2019, after experiencing some health related  symptoms that were new to me, I was diagnosed with what the doctors reported “end stage liver disease”. 

And so my current medical treatment journey began.  Coming to the realization that this disease was incurable, I had to make some major lifestyle changes so as to keep this condition at bay.  This included beginning a regimen of medication (10-15 different medications a day) to treat the symptoms of this disease.  Unfortunately, the side effects followed, with extreme fatigue, the later the day went, being the most frustrating.  Most days after working long hours, I would go home to my loving family and be done, both mentally and physically.  I so wanted to spend some quality time with my family and be there for others who needed a helping hand, but most of the time, I just did not have the energy.

Moving on, in July 2025, my then treating providers noticed some concerning results from my blood work.  Without going into to too much detail, certain numbers were extremely elevated, giving the indication that an even more serious medical condition had reared its ugly head.  At that point, I transferred all of my specialty care, liver and otherwise, to MUSC and looking back, that was the best decision, I could have made. 

My MUSC medical team immediately went to work trying to confirm what they expected was going on and learned, in fact, that I had liver cancer.  My team immediately went to work to decide on the best course of action to treat this condition and decided that targeted radiation was the best place to start.  Within a short amount of time this treatment was completed and I am overjoyed to report that the tumor, once present, is now gone.  Now, the bad news, for me at least, is that this treatment was exactly that, treatment.  It was made clear to me that my Cancer was not cured and would likely return at some point, maybe soon or maybe much later, but it would return.

Being placed on the liver transplant list had been mentioned to me in passing  before this diagnosis but apparently my MELD score was not yet high enough.  Well, after the most recent diagnosis my medical team thought it would be best to go through the transplant evaluation and attempt to get listed.  Long story short, I did that and am now on the liver transplant list.  I probably have a couple of months before I start getting offers of a liver.  My fingers are crossed and prayers lifted that all will work out so I can have a little more time in my earthly home.

Here is the rub and why I need as much help as I can get.  My treatment up until now has not been cheap but fails in comparison to what is about to come, expense wise, for me and my family.  The expenses related to my medical treatment, transplant surgery, lifelong, very expensive, medications and other expenses associated with my medical care will far exceed what will be covered by insurance and what I can scrape up to help cover the difference.  I have struggled with my own pride of having to ask for help, but am left with no other choice.  I really need your help.

To help facilitate receipt of this financial help, I have partnered with Help, Hope, Live.  This is not a peer-to-peer donating platform.  This organization is a non-profit organization that administers any donation made and verifies that the donations are being used for the intended purpose.  All donations through Help, Hope, Live are tax deductible. 

I know just as well as the next person that times are tough right now and cost of living is not going down.  So if a monetary  donation is impossible, do me one favor, include me, my family and friends, my medical team and anyone else who gives a damn, in your daily prayers. And please share my page on your social media platforms.

Thanks for lending me your ear for a few minutes this morning

Feel free to explore my page for details or unanswered questions.  I will also be glad to answer any questions that I can about my journey.

My family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in my honor, William Nichols, to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Transplant.

I chose 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!