Help Save Mike

Thanks and peace to you all. It has taken a long time for me to write this update.

Previous to Mike’s health issues - he always signed the back of his drivers license to be a donor and donated blood. In October someone was on life support due to an accident and they were giving their precious organ. Mike was called and jumped at the chance.

Despite hours of work and multiple doctors at NW medical on his case, his body just could not accept this organ due to an undiagnosed condition. He passed away in the midst of his liver surgery.

Right before he was wheeled in we were holding hands and he was full of hope for more years, for better health, to see his children graduate from high school and begin their adult lives.

If you can, give the gift of HOPE. Be a donor.

Living Donor Organ Transplantation The Organ Transplant Center is a leader in living donor transplant surgery. Learn more.

This is me back when I was going through chemo in 2016.

Much better hair now, but a lot more energy and muscle back then!

Thanks to the tremendous support I was fortunate to receive, I somehow made it through that phase.

Only about 14% of the people who get diagnosed with what I had are still alive 5 years later, so I look at it as all bonus time since then.

Here’s the thing though: even if you don’t have a deadly diagnosis of one kind or another, no one really knows how much time they have left.

Look for ways to enjoy!

Peace and love to all.

Eagle River man receives rare living-donor liver transplant from his nephew The organ donation likely saved 54-year-old Tim Seafler’s life: Waitlists for organs from deceased donors are long, and living in Alaska makes it hard to be a last-minute standby candidate.

Any list of sign/symptom of liver disease typically includes abdominal pain and swelling. This is also something Mike is dealing with.

Because his biliary drainage system is so damaged, the abdominal region is subject to bloating and can sometimes be a bit painful. In fact, during one of the biliary procedures Mike has undergone, the medical team drained about 3 liters of fluid out of the abdominal region. This susceptibility to fluid build-up is also why Mike is on diuretics (also known as water pills).

Anyone interested in exploring becoming a living liver donor should call the donor hotline at 312-695-0340

Anyone interested in exploring becoming a living donor should call the donor hotline at 312-695-0340

Thought it would be helpful for those following this page to know what the signs and symptoms of liver disease are.

Any such list of signs and symptoms will include chronic fatigue. This is definitely something Mike is feeling. It doesn't seem to matter how much sleep happens either, with the caveat that not getting a full night's worth results in more fatigue than normal.

Happy Independence Day!

May we continue to strive towards a more perfect union.