Farmingdale Woman Battling Cirrhosis Needs Liver Transplant; Community Rallies To Help

FARMINGDALE, NY — A Farmingdale woman is battling liver cirrhosis and is in need of a transplant.

Lexi Martone was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis around three years ago and has been battling the disease ever since, her sister, Bria, wrote on a GoFundMe page for her sister. Lexi was stable until December when "everything hit the fan," Bria said.

Lexi has been in and out of hospitals for the last eight months — more in the hospital than out —and it is "definitely taking a toll on her," Bria said.

"My mom, who is caregiver to my children so I can go to work, had to drop everything to help Lexi, so I had to take a step back in work as well, so my mom can care for my sister," Bria said.

Lexi "NEVER" asks for anything from anyone and has a reputation as "Miss Independent," Bria said.

"So now Miss 'Does Everything On Her Own' has come to an unfamiliar road where she needs help holding it down," Bria said.

Lexi had been working four jobs while running her "Witch B-tch is Sick" podcast and maintaining a social media presence.

"She’s probably working like six jobs at this point and does not know the meaning of sitting still or taking a break," Bria said. "She had to come to terms with being unable to work right now, unable to take care of herself alone, and needs the help of family and friends."

Now, the Martone family finds themselves in a weird spot, Bria said.

"We were always the givers," she wrote. "We were always the generous ones. We were always the ones lending a helping hand. So once again, like I said, we find ourselves in very unfamiliar territory where we’re asking for help."

Bria set up the GoFundMe page for Lexi to aid with her medical expenses and the costs of traveling to and from appointments and hospitals across New York, as she fears her sister could lose her home while she's out of work.

More than $27K has been raised as of Tuesday afternoon. People may donate to the GoFundMe here.

The next phase of Lexi's treatment involves a liver transplant. She is currently on a liver transplant list waiting for a donor.

"That’s something that you just don’t know when it’s going to happen," Bria said. "In the meantime, as she struggles with work and just barely life every day, I wanted to do something special for her because my sister is really very generous and she does a lot for other people. I set up this page just to show our love and support while she’s on this crazy journey of getting a liver transplant."

Lithology Brewing Co., where Lexi works as a bartender, is set to host a vegan popup at 5 p.m. Friday. The brewery is at 211A Main St., Farmingdale. For every pint sold, $1 will benefit Lexi's GoFundMe page.