7 year old needs liver transplant

Hi all, i know that I'm just a stranger on the internet, but I'm hoping you'll give this a read. I'll make it short.

I know a wonderful couple with 3 young boys. The oldest is 7 and was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that has destroyed his liver. It's treatable and he can live a long life.

He had a liver transplant this past Sunday and the cost, all tolled, will be about $1 million. The family's insurance caps out at $250k and there's also a charity called COTA that helps families crowdfund donations to assist.

The bill for this will crush this gentle family. If you have it in your heart to help a random stranger, please check this out. I promise it's legit:


If you can spare anything at all, your generosity will be greatly appreciated. If you have nothing extra, I understand and I know that the family will appreciate prayers if you're so inclined.

Little Roman is still in the ICU - the transplant was successful. He should be in a normal room by the end of the week. He'll stay in the hospital at least 4 weeks. Probably 6.

I'm just some dude on the internet, but I'm going to beg for your compassion on this boy and his family. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'll tell you what I can without doxxing them.

Thank you for thoughts, prayers, and donations.

Sludig said:

Glad you arn't asking for a liver just money, I couldn't do it. At a stretch a kidney.

Maybe our finance people could talk about it. I've heard people try to say these days medical debt is no longer able to completely trash your credit? Or basically w/ the numbers at play here, rather than trying to pay little bits towards the bill for the rest of their lives potentially, this might be the exact scenario that trying to full blown bankruptsy etc might be best, some short term pain to hopefully get discharged from a lot of it.

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It seems, at least in this specific scenario, everyone involved knows it's a near impossible burden. I believe that once the insurance and the charity pays, the family will be put on a means adjusted payment plan and just pay on it until they die or it's paid off. Almost nobody can afford this.

Sludig said:

Hence looking into flat out ceasing payments at some point if it's true they can no longer go into garnishment on medical debts only harass w/ collectors, or trying to discharge the debt through bankruptsy....

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I don't think the hospital /doctors take this to the point of wage garnishment or debt collection. From what I've heard so far, everyone is working together and the family is willing to make payments long term as long as they are reasonable.

Regardless, if anyone reads this and can afford to send them a dollar or 5, everyone involved would be grateful.

Kithani said:

Doctors have almost nothing to do with the billing for stuff like this.

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I'm aware. Perhaps "billing for the physicians" as a separate entity would have been more precise.

I'm not in a position to tell them to do anything in particular with regard to this medical debt. I am intentionally not engaging the conversation about bankruptcy vs refusing to pay, etc.

They are smart and honorable people. They will negotiate as best they can within legal and moral limits they set and then pay the rest.

I understand that massive medical debt is a problem that people feel strongly about. I don't want to debate it in this thread. I would like to keep it focused on helping this family for whoever is able and has the heart for it.

Update: Roman was able to eat for the first time since the transplant (about 68 hrs ago). He also was able to sit up. He had cheerios with milk . So far so good. Thank you for any continued goodwill / assistance.

Update on Roman:

Good news to report:

The family was able to find a place to stay for the next month near the hospital which is 3+ hrs from home.

Roman is Moving out of the ICU to the main floor today

Several more tubes were taken out today

Still waiting, though, on his GI tract to get going again. It has been slow to wake up...

Thanks again for your well wishes, prayers and if you can spare a buck, donations as well (link in first post).

A special thank you to the folks who have reached out in PMs and have made donations. God bless you. Your generosity is humbling and appreciated beyond measure.

Another update for those who are interested:

Roman went outside for the first time without any tubes or wires today.

He had a small procedure yesterday (liver biopsy) and the results show that all systems are improving.

He should be able to go home in 3-4 weeks as long as improvements continue.

Continued prayers are appreciated. Thank you!

Update: Roman should be discharged some time next week. He'll be able to go home, but will have to go back for monthly tests for the next year.

It looks like between their insurance and fund raising they've covered about 40% of the estimated bill. There's still some negotiations happening, so who knows where it will end up.

Thanks again for your kindness and prayers for this boy and his family!