I hope this message finds you well. Today, we come to you with an urgent and heartfelt appeal for support that has the power to change a life forever.

Norman Savadina, a beloved member of our church and a faithful man of God has been a source of light and inspiration for all who know him. His unwavering faith has lifted our spirits and his selflessness has touched our hearts for many years.

His diagnosis last summer of cirrhosis of the liver delivered a devasting blow, but Norman kept his faith, striving to follow his liver team's directives, including a change to eating a healthy diet. Through months of doctor's appointments, testing, bouts of hepatic encephalopathy (HE, a brain disorder that can occur in people with acute or chronic liver disease), Norman endured both physical, emotional, and cognitive issues. The effects of the medications and the disease often caused memory lapses, terrible muscle cramps, and fatigue.

Throughout these months after the cirrhosis diagnosis, Norman continued his business, S and N Trucking. Driving a dump truck is no easy task with such a disease, but Norman kept going since this business is his sole source of income. His hernia, a result of a past surgery, grew and tripled, adding more pain and complications to working. Norman found someone to drive in May, but this driver has not kept the production of loads required to may a living for Norman.

Norman was hospitalized several times starting in May due to the severe edema caused by his failing liver. In June he spent 13 days in the hospital, where his liver team strived to rid his body of 70 pounds of fluid in his body tissue. Two days after his release from the hospital, he got the call that a match for a new liver had been found. A true miracle!

The transplant, on June 21, 2024, immediately made a noticeable difference, especially in the jaundice and edema. Norman was released from the hospital on July 3. As of July 7, he hired a caregiver in Montgomery, Texas to help with daily needs while he awaits a Home Health nurse to be authorized by his liver doctor.

The expense of the transplant alone was well over $170,000. Though Norman has obviously met his deductible, insurance doesn’t cover everything. Money is desperately needed to pay expenses such as the temporary hired caregiver, repairs for his dump truck, gas for traveling to Houston two to three times a week, the numerous medications (anti-rejection meds, insulin, just to name a few) that will keep Norman alive for the rest of his life, not to mention normal living expenses. And come January, Norman will pay full medical expenses until the deductible is met.

Since Norman is too yound (57 years old) for Medicare, he applied to Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, the SSA will not pay benefits until 1 year after a liver transplant.

Here are a few examples of the medical expenses Norman is facing and will continue to face:

Liver transplant expenses can include both transplant-related and non-transplant-related costs. Some post-transplant expenses include:

• Immunosuppressant medications

These anti-rejection drugs can cost between $5,000 and $7,000 per month and must be taken for the life of the transplant.

• Outpatient medications

These can include prescription medications, such as immunosuppressants, from discharge to 180 days after the transplant.

Here's how you can contribute:

1. Donate: make a contribution right here. Every dollar counts, and your generosity will bring us one step closer to our goal.

2. Share: Spread the word about Norman's fundraiser. Share this message with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can reach a wider audience and make a more significant impact.

3. Pray: If you can't contribute financially, your prayers are equally valuable. Please keep Norman in your prayers for a successful transplant and a swift recovery.

If we band together, God can provide a miracle through all of us. Your support can give him a second chance at life, allowing him to continue his journey as a man of God, a source of inspiration, and a symbol of hope.

Thank you for taking the time to read this appeal. Your compassion can make all the difference. Let's join hands and make this life-saving liver transplant possible for Norman. Together, we can bring light to his darkest hour.

In Christ,

Chris Gober
Senior Pastor, First Montgomery
https://givebutter.com/eQABrw

Help Norman Savadina with His Liver Transplant Recovery

By First Montgomery Baptist Church

Help Norman Savadina with His Liver Transplant Recovery