It all began one day when David (click here for more about David) just simply was not feeling well. In his words, “it was if someone sucked the life out of me but I was still walking around and trying to function.”  As time progressed, he didn’t get better. He was sluggish and run down.  This all started back in August of 2007. 

   After a few trips to the doctor, they decided it must be his gall bladder.  Of course this would have been a common and simple surgery so that’s where it was all headed.  The doctors were making preparation and said there was “one more test” before we schedule surgery.

   This test revealed there was something going on (wrong) with the liver.  They explained that they could not remove the gall bladder due to the fact his liver was bad.  The otherwise common surgery could have resulted in severe bleeding as a result of the bad liver.  The tests later revealed that David had Cirrhosis of the liver.  Contrary to the common cause, this was not as a result of alcohol.  David seldom drinks. (Read more about "NASH")   The cirrhosis was caused from a fatty liver.  Cirrhosis is an irreversible change in the normal liver tissue that results in the degeneration of functioning liver cells and their replacement with fibrous connective tissue.

   As time progressed, David’s condition seemed to worsen.  There were days that were – quite frankly – horrible.  More tests and more trips to the emergency room and the doctor led to the decision that a transplant was in David’s future.  As one doctor politely put it, “he needs a transplant within the next two years or he will die.”

   The saga continued – bad days, calls to the doctor, trips to the emergency room.  The road to a “transplant” was complicated with insurance and money issues (Why are we raising money for David?) .  A transplant is expensive and if the insurance was not in place, the hospitals didn’t seem to want to help.  The often referred to “list” seemed an eternity and world away for David Laws name to be placed.  Without his name on the list, a transplant would never occur.

   Why did the list seem unattainable?  Of course - the all mighty dollar.  The initial tests would cost around $50,000.  A friend, Barry Dotson, who had been through a liver transplant recently referred David to a hospital in Memphis where he had discovered the costs were less.  The tests could be administered for a mere $10,000.  (yes – the use of the word “mere” is an attempt at sarcasm but it was sure a heck of a lot better than 50k).

   David contacted Methodist University Hospital around July 15 of 2008 and after much persistence finally got an appointment to see Dr. Nezakatgoo, who is one of the transplant surgeons.  A July 29th appointment was scheduled and David and Elizabeth were able to attend the orientation at the transplant center. On July 31st & Aug. 1st David did all of his tests.

   David is now on “the list” and needs to raise at least $150,000.  This is less than half of the projected cost at Vanderbilt University.  David has been able to secure insurance which will help with some of the ongoing costs but the insurance will not cover any of the surgical cost of the transplant.  We need to help!

  What can you do to help?

1. Sign up for the Blood Drive - Click here

2. Make a donation - Click here

3. Donate an item for the EBAY auction - Click here

 There are many bad days but David is encouraged by the support of all of his family and friends.  Please say a prayer for him and help save his life.