The family of Donna Ma is awaiting some good news as she awaits a liver transplant in an Edmonton hospital.

Ma was diagnosed with fatty liver about 10 years ago, but things became more serious a few years later when the damage to her liver became worse.

This past year she was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver and fluid was building up in her abdomen.

She was admitted into an Intensive Care Unit in Regina and flown by air ambulance to Edmonton last week.

“She’s been having problems for quite a few years but it got worse really quickly and really unexpectedly and now it is a very urgent situation,” said Donna’s niece Kayla Dale.

Donna’s husband Kevin and adult children Riley, Emily and Tyler have all travelled to Edmonton to be with her.

Dale said last she heard Donna was in critical, but stable, condition and she’s doing as well as to be expected.

“She is in the Intensive Care Unit. She hasn’t been moved on to the regular part of the hospital yet, so it is still very serious,” Dale said.

“Right now they are trying to control the infection in her abdomen and get her healthy enough to be able to receive a transplant should the opportunity arise.”

Because of the costs, Dale and Donna’s daughter Emily have set up a Go Fund Me page with the goal of raising $10,000 to help with bills. As of Wednesday morning, the page has raised over $5,500.

Dale said its been financially difficult for the family.

“They’ve all had to take leaves from their jobs, they have to find somewhere to stay in Edmonton, they have to buy food and living supplies while they are there, plus the cost of medical bills, the air travel and them travelling to and from Edmonton by car,” she said.

The Go Fund Me page can be found here. Kevin’s co-workers at Safeway have also organized a dry rib night fundraiser on March 19 at the Crushed Can. Tickets are $20 and information on how to buy tickets can be found here.