Fighting for the Genther Family!

A husband and wife with four children find themselves suddenly fighting separate yet equally devastating diseases.

On December 31, 2018, Josh Genther was diagnosed with stage four cirrhosis of the liver. Never a heavy drinker nor a drug user, doctors tell Josh that he is one of just three-percent of cases caused by “other” reasons. Now, an onslaught of medical testing, procedures, and an experimental drug trial will help doctors try to figure out what’s going on, in an urgent effort to save his life.

Just two years prior, Josh’s wife Melissa Genther was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. Likely caused by a previously unknown genetic condition, Melissa’s own body is constantly attacking her liver. Medications now suppress her immune system to keep her body functioning, which means she lives with the constant worry that even a simple cold could take her down.

Josh and Melissa are both suddenly fighting different liver diseases — with four children, ages 11 to 2 worrying for their parents. Hospital stays, countless visits to doctors and specialists, ongoing labwork — all of it is expensive, on top of overwhelming and stressful. Fearing the worst for their health — and now each other’s health — they are also fighting mounting medical bills and worry about the future security and well-being of their four children.

Here is something Melissa has shared:

"For whatever rhyme or reason, God has blessed me with a liver buddy. Not what Josh signed up for when we got married 15 years ago. But here we are battling our own separate liver diseases. While I’m suppressing mine, his is barely hanging on. More tests, appointments, blood draws and biopsies are in his future. I ask for prayers during this time as we navigate this passage. I urge any of you who aren’t organ donors to think about becoming one. You never know who’s life you may be saving. Josh Genther and myself may very well depend on organ donors to save our lives one day. Praying no one ever has to endure what we’ve endured but for whatever reason here we are. All we can do is suit up, fight for our lives and trust in God."

This is where we come in! We’ve watched the Genthers give so much to others over the years, and now it’s our turn to give to them when they need it most.

Our hope is to ease some of the financial burden so that Melissa and Josh can focus on their medical care. Families shouldn’t have to worry about which bills to pay in order to continue receiving care — and we want to make sure that doesn’t happen to the Genthers. Their four beautiful kiddos deserve to have their parents for a very long time, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that happens!