Several years ago, Kirsten started experiencing constant nausea and vomiting. These episodes led to multiple doctors and hospital visits. In an effort to identify the issue there were several misdiagnoses. A few years and many procedures later, she was properly diagnosed with two very rare life-threatening digestive conditions, Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction and Gastroparesis, which have resulted in frequent hospital stays. Both of these conditions are characterized by altered and inefficient contractions (peristalsis) of the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract preventing proper stomach emptying. According to a 2008 article in The Medscape Journal of Medicine states that Gastroparesis is estimated to affect up to 4% of the US population.

There are many reasons these conditions may occur, but the typical reason is when the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not properly function, resulting in food remaining in the stomach for an abnormally long time. Normally, the stomach contracts to move food down into the small intestine for additional digestion; however, these conditions cause food to move slowly or stop moving through the digestive tract.

Due to these issues, Kirsten has had several procedures and surgeries performed to attempt to correct these problems she had developed. Unsuccessful, she was referred to Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio where she was evaluated by one of the top Intestinal Reconstruction and Transplant teams in the world. They attempted to reconstruct her gastrointestinal tract, which was beneficial, but did not lead to a successful outcome.

Over several years and many trips to Cleveland, Kirstin was approved for a multivisceral transplant. This type of transplant is a complex surgical procedure that involves the removal of multiple damaged or diseased organs and their replacement with healthy donor organs. This type of transplant is typically performed on patients with multiple organ failure, which may include the liver, stomach, pancreas, small intestine, and/or kidneys. The procedure aims to restore the function of these vital organs and improve the patient's quality of life.

While waiting on the transplant list through Cleveland Clinic, a doctor came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham that had performed the exact procedure that Kirsten needed. Therefore, we switched her care to UAB since the hospital was basically in our back yard, actually it was about 45 miles from home.

The program only lasted a couple of years before it was closed, and the doctor moved on to another hospital. This was just before Co-vid shut down the world in 2020. A few years went by, and the symptoms began to worsen. This led to the team of specialist that had been built in Birmingham to recommend searching for a new transplant hospital. After several months of research, Kirsten decided to meet with the transplant team at Indiana University. First virtually, and then in person a couple of months later. These meetings led to the team deciding to re-list Kirsten on the transplant list. Nine days after learning that she had been re-listed we received the call from Indiana that they had found the perfect match for Kirsten, and 12 hours later we were in surgery that lasted another 12 hours. She was in the hospital just under three weeks, most stay over six, and discharged to a local nonprofit where we stayed for the rest of the stay.

Three months later and many trips back and forth to the hospital for rehabilitation, therapy, and other medical procedures, we were released to return home under the care of a transplant doctor at UAB that we were put in touch with through a member of the team that remained in Birmingham after the team was broken up. This new member of our team has made the journey much easier for us and allowed us to be in the comfort of our own home surrounded by our family and friends.

While we were in the hospital in Indianapolis, the nonprofit organization that we had been working with for fundraising purposes closed their doors. Therefore, we began searching for a new group to work with for these purposes, and we are now working with the Southeast Transplant Fund of Help Hope Live (HHL), which assists people with unmet medical expenses and related costs due to organ transplants. We would like to ask for your assistance with the expenses associated with our medical care through placing bids on the items listed in this silent auction. Your consideration will go a long way in making our journey successful.

Thanks for supporting our cause. Please make a lasting difference in our cause by bidding on auction items, offering a cash donation, or amplifying our reach by sharing this auction on your social media with #kubedcharityauction. Your generosity will have a profound impact on the recovery journey, helping Kirsten to have access to the care needed while easing the financial burden on her family.

Mike Elko Autographed Texas A&M Football