James Littlehale

Jim Littlehale

Transplant Type:  Liver

What if you were living on borrowed time?

Jim Littlehale is fighting for his life. While battling long term gastrointestinal issues, and suffering from nonalcoholic steteo-hepatitis (NASH) with cirrhosis, Jim finally was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).  After successful treatment of his first lesion/tumor in March 2020, doctors now say a liver transplant is critical and essential to his survival.

During such a challenging time, Jim is thankful for his wife, Julie, their children, family and friends, who have been by his side every step of the way. He wishes they didn’t have to be so concerned about his health, but he is grateful for their love and support. Jim has a long history of volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter. He has always enjoyed outdoor activities, including SCUBA Diving, mountain climbing and photography. The liver and gastric issues have had specific, strong impacts on his life, affecting his ability to do many of the things he used to enjoy and be able to do. He looks forward to the transplant that will allow him to live his life with as few limitations as possible, but right now, he needs your help.

Unfortunately, Jim’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price.  The average liver transplant costs approximately $878,000. And that’s only the beginning. Even with health insurance, which will cover the cost of the transplant, he faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

Jim lives more than 80 miles from the transplant center, and he incurs substantial expenses each time he visits for evaluations and doctors’ appointments. When he receives his transplant, Jim and his caregiver will need to stay near the hospital, during recovery, adding to the financial strain.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Jim. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT South Carolina Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Jim Littlehale” in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Transplant Center:  Medical University of South Carolina