Benefit Fundraiser for Doug and Travis Tucker
When: Saturday, September 20 at 5:00pm
Where: Edgar Fire Hall
Silent Auction, dinner, and music!
In May 2018, Doug was hospitalized with an unknown infection in his legs. Over the course of the next two years, Doug was in and out of the hospital with more infections in his legs and other unexplained health issues, with his doctor referring to him as a "medical mystery." In September of 2023, after many tests and multiple specialists, Doug was finally diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By this point, his liver was already in end-stage liver failure, and he was in need of a liver transplant. Doug's health continued to decline due to his liver disease, which led to many medical procedures to drain fluid off his lungs and abdomen and treatment of esophageal varices. Despite extensive testing, the exact cause remained undetermined, and his declining health soon left him unable to work.
End-stage liver disease meant Doug was in urgent need of a transplant. Thankfully, Doug's son, Travis, was a blood type match. Travis underwent medical testing and a liver biopsy, which revealed he was a candidate to be a living donor. On October 8th, Travis and Doug will both undergo surgery in Denver at UCHealth as Travis will give the ultimate gift, the gift of life, by donating part of his liver to his dad. Recovery from this surgery will be long and difficult for both Doug and Travis. Doug will need to be in the hospital for at least a month and then live near the hospital in Denver for at least another 3-6 months. Doug will also have to be on expensive, lifelong medications to ensure his body does not reject the donated liver. Travis’s recovery will also require him to live in Denver for at least a month. Doug and Travis’s surgeries will be covered by Doug’s insurance, however, living expenses for their time in Denver will not be covered. Travis and his wife are also expecting their second daughter in August, and this surgery will leave him unable to work and provide for his wife and daughters for several months.
With travel and living expenses in Denver, we expect this to be a significant financial burden for Doug, Travis, and their families. A benefit account has also been set up at Bank of Bridger, Family of Banks, in Doug and Travis’s names, as well as a Go Fund Me account.
https://gofund.me/b761abf8. Any support you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Also check out other Nonprofit events in Joliet, Health & Wellness events in Joliet, Workshops in Joliet.
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