My name is Dave Aley, and I’m a father, husband, and balloon pilot from Albuquerque, New Mexico. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love for the skies. Flying hot air balloons has been more than just a hobby for me—it’s been a passion that has shaped so much of my life. Every time I get up in the air, surrounded by the quiet of the open sky, I feel a sense of freedom that’s hard to describe. It’s one of the most peaceful, beautiful experiences, and I’ve been lucky to share that with my family and friends.

However, life has thrown me some unexpected challenges. For many years now, I’ve been living with a rare disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). It’s an autoimmune disease that affects the bile ducts in my liver, causing them to scar and eventually leading to liver damage. Over time, PSC takes its toll, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. As my liver continues to fail, I’ve reached the point where I need a liver transplant.

I’ve been on the transplant list for 13 months, but the way the system works—based on something called a MELD score—hasn’t played in my favor. The MELD score measures how urgently someone needs a liver transplant, but with PSC, the numbers don’t always reflect the reality of how sick I am. So despite my liver failing, my score isn’t high enough to get a liver from a deceased donor. That’s why I’m now on the search for a living donor—someone who can donate a portion of their liver to help save my life.

The amazing thing about the liver is that it’s the only organ in the body that can regenerate. A living donor can give part of their liver, and both the donor’s liver and my liver will grow back to full size in just a few months. It’s a truly incredible process, and it gives people like me a chance at a second life. Of course, it’s not something that everyone can do—being a living donor takes a special kind of person, someone who’s willing to give a part of themselves to help someone else.

The process starts with a simple blood test to check for compatibility, and from there, more tests are done to ensure the donor is healthy and the surgery is safe for both of us. My insurance covers all the medical costs, and there are programs in place to help with other expenses like travel or time off work. The donor wouldn’t have to worry about any financial burden.

I don’t take this lightly. Asking for someone to help in this way feels huge, but I know that out there, somewhere, there’s a hero who might be willing to help me. Every day I hope that I’ll find that person so I can get back to flying balloons and, more importantly, spending many more years with my family. Until then, I’ll keep reaching for the sky.