Susan Lower

A dedicated teacher, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, loyal friend, and competitive triathlete, Susan Lower has always lived life with boundless determination, profound faith, and a deep heart for others. She is an Ironman. The kind of person who faces monumental challenges head-on. So, when she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer with liver metastases in March 2022, it was a shock to everyone who knows and loves her.

What followed was a relentless four-year journey no family is ever fully prepared for. Susan’s life became a grueling cycle of chemotherapy, radiation, major colorectal surgery, countless appointments, and adapting to life with an ostomy bag. Yet, true to her Ironman spirit, Susan’s strength proved unstoppable. In a display of sheer grit that left everyone in awe, she continued working as a first grade teacher and even completed a Half Ironman while undergoing radiation, and chemotherapy treatment. She has met every single obstacle with an unwavering belief that better days are ahead.

Today, after years of fierce fighting, Susan has been given a remarkable, life-saving opportunity. Susan was accepted as a patient at the Cleveland Clinic’s living donor liver transplant program.

For many families, finding a living donor is a rare miracle. For the Lower family, that miracle came from within.

Without hesitation, Susan’s daughter, Maddie, stepped forward to be evaluated. After extensive testing, they received the incredible news: Maddie is the perfect match. Maddie recently achieved her own massive milestones, graduating from Physician Assistant (PA) school and passing her boards. Ready to embark on her new medical career, Maddie chose to put her own professional plans on hold to step into a different medical role, as her mother’s lifesaver. It is the ultimate act of love: a daughter giving her mother the greatest gift imaginable, a second chance at life.

While the family is incredibly grateful for this opportunity, the financial burden of a dual-transplant surgery is monumental.

Susan and Maddie must temporarily relocate to Cleveland, Ohio, for two full months post-surgery so they can be closely monitored by the transplant team. We are raising funds through the trusted nonprofit Help Hope Live to help cover the massive expenses that health insurance won’t touch. Donations will directly fund:

• Relocation & Housing: Double living expenses and temporary lodging in Cleveland for two months during recovery.

• Uncovered Medical Costs: Pre- and post-operative care, specialized medications, and unexpected medical bills.

• Travel & Lost Wages: Easing the financial strain while both recipient and donor are out of work and healing.

Your support will help relieve these heavy burdens so Susan and Maddie can focus entirely on what matters most: recovering and getting an Ironman back to the starting line of life.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity as this family embarks on this extraordinary journey.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate: All donations made in Susan and Maddie’s honor through Help Hope Live are tax-deductible and go directly toward managing these critical transplant-related expenses.

2. Share: Please share this story with your friends, family, and networks to help spread the word.

3. Pray: Keep Susan, Maddie, and their surgical team in your thoughts and prayers.