Gunnar Hermann

Gunnar Hermann

Transplant Type: Liver

What if you were living on borrowed time? 

For Gunnar Hermann, this is his reality. For most of his life Gunnar has been very active. At 13 he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and by 17 diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. At that time doctors determined he was already in stage four liver failure. While they estimated his liver would be able to function for about ten more years, 2023 marked sixteen years since his original diagnosis. However, in July of 2023 his health began to decline. When loved ones noticed increased yellowing in his eyes and skin, Gunnar went to the hospital for testing. At that time doctors confirmed that it was indeed time for Gunnar to get on the list for a lifesaving liver transplant.

Gunnar has spent his life caring for others and now he needs your help.

Gunnar has spent his career as a firefighter outside of Chicago, Illinois. He has devoted his life to serving others in their time of need and now he needs you to support him during his. Following his transplant Gunnar will need to take time off work to focus on his recovery.  

Gunnar lives with his wife and young son 50 miles away from the transplant center.  Along with the financial stress of missed time at work for he and his wife, the costs associated with travel will be an obstacle for the family. While Gunnar’s health insurance will cover some medical expenses, he will ultimately be responsible for the remaining medical expenses as well as transportation, lodging, and food leading up to and following the transplant.

He wants to get back to adventures with his family.

Gunnar loves being a father and wants nothing more than to be able to continue taking his two-year old son on adventures while fostering his love of cars and animals. His young son has started to notice that Gunnar is not feeling well, and he just wants his dad to be ok and able to play.

It is increasingly difficult for Gunnar to have the stamina necessary for his physically demanding job, not to mention keeping up with a two-year-old at home. In the future he is hopeful to feel healthy and able to wake up, go for a walk with his family, and play with his son without feeling fatigued.

Unfortunately, Gunnar’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price.

The average liver transplant costs more than $800,000. That is just the beginning of a lifetime of necessary follow up care. Even with health insurance, he still faces significant medical expenses related to the surgery. Post-surgery he will require lifetime follow-up care and medications. These medications are very costly, and they are as important to his survival as the transplant itself.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the National Foundation for Transplants in honor of Gunnar.  

If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the National Foundation for Transplants, 3249 W. Sarazen’s Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125.  Please be sure to write "in honor of Gunnar Hermann” in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Transplant Center:   Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Transplant Center)

If you have any questions about The National Foundation for Transplants, feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863.