Hi my name is Dawn Byars. I am a 34 years old, married to Staff Sergeant Michael Byars. My husband is currently in Afghanistan at Camp Leather Neck. I am very sick with Congestive Heart Failure/Liver Failure. Because of a poor survival prognosis of less than one year, UCLA is moving me up to Level 1 for organ transplant and they are admitting me into the hospital. Level one means I could get new organs in a couple of days or even a few weeks of being admitted. I am to be admitted into UCLA Hospital April 5 and to stay until I get my organs. We have documentation from both UCLA as well as the Marine Corp verifying our situation. My husband and I currently live an apartment off base in San Diego that we will be continuing to pay rent on, so after my transplant I will have a home to come back too. In the meantime we must live in Los Angeles next to UCLA becasue of my heart and liver transplant. UCLA does not provide family, husbands, or wives with a place to live while there loved ones are waiting in the hospital on the transplant list, and they do not pay for housing. I found an apartment called the Westside Terrance Aparments located 5 mintues from UCLA. This is the best location and situation for my husband and I . It is "Fully Furnished" with Utilities/Cable/Internet/Parking all included. It is a 1/bed/1bath. It is on the ground level and handicap accessible for my wheelchair. My husband will be living there while I am in the hospital,this way he can stay with me by my side and support me mentally and emotionally. I will be joining him after my transplant for another 2-3 months. I will have to remian in Los Angeles for two to three month to follow up and do checks for organ rejection.The Red Cross sent out a message today and my husband will be on his way back from Afghanistan in about 24 hours. We are in need of some financial assistance to help us with this apartment in Los Angeles. To move in we need $250 for a cat depsosit, the deposit $500-2995.00 depending on our credit scores, and the firsts month rent of $2,995.00. This apartment is $2,995.00 per month and that is the amount we will need help with each month to support us while we are in LA. We are able to take care of our groceries and gas costs. We just need help with this apartment. This is the best situatuion for us and has verything we need to accomodate me after my transplant. We will sign a three month lease, and after that they will allow us a month to month rental based on my transplant recovery. We will need this apartment for possibly 3-6 months. We need this aparment by next week friday April 2 which is when my husband will be moving into it. And as family members come to visit me they too will be staying in the apartment. I have filled out an application, paid the credit check fee, and an apartment is on hold for us right now. I am writing this letter to ask for help because we are not financially able to do do this by ourselves right now with such a short notice. I was removed from my job becasue of my illness and only my husband works to support us. Any support would greatly appreacited by both Michael and I from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you everyone for all your blessings, your love, encouragement, and support. We could not do this without you!

God Bless You All,
Dawn Byars