Boyertown PA
11-25-2025 4:49am

Community Rallies To Help BASH Grads After Lifesaving Transplant

by Lesley Misko

“When you’re neck-deep in alligators it’s really hard to figure out what you need,” writes Anne Kent Gibson in her Facebook update, describing how she feels several days following her husband Nathaniel’s recent liver transplant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“It turns out that asking for help is a skill that you have to develop and I did not,” she continues. “I look around and think ‘I don’t know, I’m up to my neck in alligators, I guess this is just how things are now.’ “

Anne and Nathaniel Gibson have been living surrounded by alligators for a long time. Both Boyertown class of 1994 graduates, they developed a relationship during high school and went on to marry. Their alligators have a name: Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Since birth, Nathaniel has struggled with this genetic illness that causes thick mucus to build up in the body, causing breathing problems, frequent lung infections, digestive issues. Persistent coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are symptoms. CF takes a heavy toll on the lungs, liver, pancreas, and other organs. There is no cure, but modern treatment advances have improved life expectancy and quality of life.

For decades, Anne and Nathaniel have navigated the challenges of his illness, hoping not to awaken the alligators surrounding them, but recently, Nathaniel’s condition worsened when his kidneys began to fail and their failure cascaded into liver failure. After weeks in the hospital on dialysis, a liver was found. The transplant is over, but there is still a long road – at least 38 more days in the hospital— ahead for Nathaniel’s body to adjust to his new liver and make certain it works effectively.

“Every fiber of my … being is shouting that even asking for help shames me, my husband, and my family,” Anne reveals as she concludes her update.

Please join in helping Anne and Nathaniel conquer their alligators.

How you can help:

** Send digital Marriott gift cards (to help Anne get some sleep nearby the hospital) by clicking here. Be sure to input agibson42@kirabug.com as the recipient.

** Send digital Wawa gift cards (to cover food and gas costs) by clicking here. You will need to follow the on-screen instructions, which advance you through the process. Make sure to input agibson42@kirabug.com as the recipient.

** Send digital Doordash gift cards (to help cover food costs) by clicking here. Be sure to check off the “e-mail” delivery option and input agibson42@kirabug.com as the recipient.

If you can volunteer some time to sit with Nathaniel so that Anne has time to deal with other responsibilities, contact her at: agibson42@kirabug.com

Recently, The Expression published a thank you poem that Anne wrote about the transplant. If you missed it,  you can click here to read it.

More News from Boyertown
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive