September Patient of the Month: David Fraser

Around Easter of 2009, David Fraser and his family had just arrived at the beach for vacation when he had a seizure while unpacking the car. He was rushed to the hospital, and was soon transported to a larger hospital in Orlando, where he stayed for nearly a week. For the next few months, numerous tests and procedures were done until doctors discovered David was suffering from liver disease. Doctors told him a liver transplant was essential to his survival. Thankfully, he received his lifesaving transplant earlier this month and is recovering well.

This hardworking man has a positive attitude and sees no point in focusing on the negative things in life. Even throughout multiple hospitalizations, he has remained optimistic. His personal motto is, "What possible benefit can I get from having a bad or sour attitude?"

David and his wife, Vickie, have three children who hate seeing their dad so sick. His young son still says, "Daddy, don't pick up the black suitcase!" because that is the last memory he has before seeing his dad suffer from a seizure. David loves to spend time outdoors, golf, attend sporting events and play with his children, but his health has prevented him from enjoying his favorite activities very often. Before becoming ill, he spent countless hours volunteering for local charities and planning fundraisers for organizations such as the American Red Cross and Huntington's Disease Society of America. Now, he simply looks forward to resuming a normal life without feeling exhausted all the time.

A liver transplant costs approximately $500,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, David faces significant medical expenses related to his transplant. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

To read more about David or to make a donation to NFT in his honor, visit his web bio.