This page is being used to provide updates about Richard Graham.  We will try to keep it up to date as much as possible.

Background

When Richy was 19, he started feeling really sick.  He had pain in his side and his eyes started turning yellow.  He got connected with UW medicine and was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.  He had to stay home from college for a semester and during the summer, but his medical team were able to get his liver function stabilized to the point that he could return to school.  Since this is an autoimmune disorder, Richy has had to be on immune suppressants since his diagnosis.  This and the other medications he takes have been able to keep his liver functioning, however he has had a significant amount of cirrhosis.  

Some time around 2015, Richy was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.  Around 2017 he got really sick and he had to start looking into stronger meds to treat the symptoms.  He has tried several different medications and is currently on Humira, which is working to lower the symptoms.  However, Humira also reduces his immune system leaving him susceptible to pretty much everything.  In October 2024 Richy contracted Valley Fever.  Most people can fight this off without treatment, however Richy ended up in the hospital for several days.  They were able to treat the illness, but he had to add yet another medication to his list of life long treatments.

Over the past few months Richy has had several extended hospital stays dealing with dehydration, nausea, exhaustion.  During his last hospital stay, the doctors started working on getting him connected with the Mayo Clinic because they have experts in all of the areas he needs care.  On Saturday April 5th Richy was feeling very sick and Kylie sent him straight to the Mayo Clinic.  This was a good decision.  After running various tests they determined that Richy is likely going to need a liver transplant.  Richy’s Meld score (a measure of your liver health ranging from 6 (best) to 40 (worst) is around 25.  Anything above 10 they start doing assessments of the suitability of a liver transplant.  

His current team of doctors is trying to get him healthy enough to discharge from the hospital so they can do an outpatient screening for a liver transplant.  Things are changing day to day (both positive and negative).  As we know more solid information, we will update this website.