Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your prayers, most importantly, and also your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
This first story is written by a friend, but most of the journaling will come directly from Jack or Julie or one of the McGraths. Thank you for caring.
The McGraths are a sweet family In Hickory - six kids ranging from 6th grade through adulthood. Several years ago, as a teenager, Jack became very sick and was ultimately diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Eventually Jack's liver began to fail, and he was then diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), which is a condition that can come along with UC. This is ultimately a fatal diagnosis unless he receives a liver transplant. After looking at the options, the strongly recommended course was a living donor. A living donor involves identifying someone who meets a long list of criteria and is willing to go into surgery and donate 60+ percent of their own liver. This a a long and tough workup and recovery for the donor, and it will also be a long and tough recovery for Jack. When he receives this new liver he will have a greater than 80% chance of no recurrence.
After nearly a year of prayer and searching, Jack's mother, Julie, has been identified as the best donor for Jack. Originally she was turned away by University of Pennsylvania, but they looked again at her many months later and made the decision to accept her as the donor! The surgery is planned for August 21st . Currently Jack is struggling with infection and progressive liver disease and will be in the hospital at UPenn until surgery. Please pray for readiness on all fronts for this surgery.
Please pray for the McGrath family -
1) for a succesful transplant - no rejection
2) no recurrence
3) speedy and smooth recovery for Jack and Julie
4) peace for the girls who will be at home in Hickory
5) no episodes of Ulcerative colitis or infection
6) the Peace that passes understanding - from the Lord - during this time
7) finances to cover this ordeal -
https://www.gofundme.com/help-fund-jack039s-new-liver 
