When I asked my doctor about my liver health, it wasn’t because I was worried; it was curiosity. But what I learned has led me to make significant changes in my life – changes I wouldn’t have otherwise known were needed.
After pushing for additional bloodwork and a liver scan, it turned out I was on the cusp of developing the most common form of liver disease: a buildup of fat in the liver also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
My results didn’t show significant damage, but they were a clear warning: liver disease is often silent, until it’s too late. The experience emphasized just how many Canadians never get the chance to know their risk early enough to act.
That’s why I’m passionate about my work at Liver Canada, where I’m President and CEO. Every gift makes a real difference in helping us regenerate hope through:
- 📢 Awareness & Prevention: Awareness and prevention can never start too early. That’s why we launched a new liver health education program for students in grades four through 12. During the pilot year, we partnered with 8 schools, 5 school boards, 24 classrooms, and more than 715 students across Canada.
- 🔬 Research & Treatment: We invest in research that has long-term benefits, especially in fast-growing diseases with ever-growing needs – like MASLD, viral hepatitis, and rare liver diseases. Most recently, we invested $500,000 in research funding to advance treatment in liver cancer.
- 💚 Community: No one should have to face liver disease alone. Our education team responds to thousands of inquiries each year, and we hold events like our LIVERight Forums that bring patients and caregivers together with liver experts and healthcare professionals for information and empowerment.
Our work is possible thanks to people who believe in this cause. People like you.
Thank you for being part of our community. Together, we can create a healthier tomorrow.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Nebesky
President & CEO, Liver Canada
