My Living Organ Donor Story

1ThoughtKnown

Three days ago I went under the knife to donate 68% of my liver to my Brother-In-Law.   He had a pre-existing genetic liver disease which results in the development of cancer in approximately 10% of afflicted patients. Luckily, they were screening him regularly and caught the cancer early, therefore making him eligible for a living donor.  He would have needed one eventually but the cancer expedited the process.
i am currently recovering in the Toronto General Hospital and I am doing great.  More importantly, my Brother-In-Law is also doing great and has accepted the liver.  A full recovery for both of us is expected.  I am in the process of being moved from the post-op step down unit to a hospital room for the next 3 nights.
I am posting this because the PJ Faithful are a charitable bunch and I want to spread the word on the living donor liver and kidney programs around the world. 
This hospital in Toronto is a world leader however excellent programs are available from UPMC in Pittsburgh and in South Korea for instance.

Speaking for myself, being a living donor and saving someone’s life is the greatest thing I have ever done. There are people who donate organs to people they DON’T KNOW.   Those are the real heroes.   Once again, this is not intended for me to get unnecessary adulation, I just want more folks to be aware of the programs and perhaps we can save lives.   You don’t have to be deceased to provide a liver or a kidney and I can tell you first-hand,  the small amount of discomfort is worth saving another’s life!

 Cheers everyone 

Fifthelement

That’s awesome.  Congrats to both you and your BiL on successful surgeries.  I hope you both mend fast.

Thank you for dropping knowledge about living donations as well.  I regularly donate blood, but I’ll look into other possibilities as well.

1ThoughtKnown

Fifthelement said:

That’s awesome.  Congrats to both you and your BiL on successful surgeries.  I hope you both mend fast.

Thank you for dropping knowledge about living donations as well.  I regularly donate blood, but I’ll look into other possibilities as well.

Cheers! I honestly had no idea... that your liver grows back. They can take up to 70% of it. 

hedonist

I think anyone who gives of themselves - so literally! - is heroic.  So if you won't pat yourself on the back, I will

My brother-in-law has had three kidney transplants, with one donated by someone he works with.  Just amazing to me.

As to the liver growing back, it should be clarified that some regeneration can occur only with a transplant.  Having cirrhosis myself, my docs have told me this time and again.  I'm thankful I'm not at the point again where a transplant was a real possibility.

I hope you both continue to heal well, and that your BIL's health worries are mostly behind him.

I've always been a donor, but these days I doubt much, if anything, in this body of mine would be much use

1ThoughtKnown

hedonist said:

I think anyone who gives of themselves - so literally! - is heroic.  So if you won't pat yourself on the back, I will

My brother-in-law has had three kidney transplants, with one donated by someone he works with.  Just amazing to me.

As to the liver growing back, it should be clarified that some regeneration can occur only with a transplant.  Having cirrhosis myself, my docs have told me this time and again.  I'm thankful I'm not at the point again where a transplant was a real possibility.

I hope you both continue to heal well, and that your BIL's health worries are mostly behind him.

I've always been a donor, but these days I doubt much, if anything, in this body of mine would be much use

Thank you. I’m having a rough afternoon. 2 days post-Op and your  kind words were a real boost. 
And you are correct, the liver will only regenerate in the transplant process and only once. They took the entire B side of my liver and left
fhe A side.   The live will regenerate to be one A side and look differently, however function the same.’
 

PureandEasy

hedonist said:

I think anyone who gives of themselves - so literally! - is heroic.  So if you won't pat yourself on the back, I will

My brother-in-law has had three kidney transplants, with one donated by someone he works with.  Just amazing to me.

As to the liver growing back, it should be clarified that some regeneration can occur only with a transplant.  Having cirrhosis myself, my docs have told me this time and again.  I'm thankful I'm not at the point again where a transplant was a real possibility.

I hope you both continue to heal well, and that your BIL's health worries are mostly behind him.

I've always been a donor, but these days I doubt much, if anything, in this body of mine would be much use

This whole post is amazing.  What modern medicine can do to save a life boggles my mind.  I too am an organ donor.  I'm no saint and have abused my body.  The miraculous aspect of all that is that so much of your body can be used, your skin, your muscle . . . everything.  You can't take it with you folks, consider being an organ donor today.  

WhatYouTaughtMe

As someone who needs a new liver eventually, good fucking job. You should feel good and pat yourself on the back. 

lastexitlondon

Im blown away by this selfless  act. A real life hero in my eyes. * tip of the hat 

1ThoughtKnown

PureandEasy said:

hedonist said:

I think anyone who gives of themselves - so literally! - is heroic.  So if you won't pat yourself on the back, I will

My brother-in-law has had three kidney transplants, with one donated by someone he works with.  Just amazing to me.

As to the liver growing back, it should be clarified that some regeneration can occur only with a transplant.  Having cirrhosis myself, my docs have told me this time and again.  I'm thankful I'm not at the point again where a transplant was a real possibility.

I hope you both continue to heal well, and that your BIL's health worries are mostly behind him.

I've always been a donor, but these days I doubt much, if anything, in this body of mine would be much use

This whole post is amazing.  What modern medicine can do to save a life boggles my mind.  I too am an organ donor.  I'm no saint and have abused my body.  The miraculous aspect of all that is that so much of your body can be used, your skin, your muscle . . . everything.  You can't take it with you folks, consider being an organ donor today.  

This^^^^
Im right there with you, although I took great strides in taking care of myself the past
18 months. My naturopath has been a great help in that aspect. 
Sign your organ donor card (in Alberta it is on our health care card)

1ThoughtKnown

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

As someone who needs a new liver eventually, good fucking job. You should feel good and pat yourself on the back. 

My fingers are crossed for you.  

1ThoughtKnown

lastexitlondon said:

Im blown away by this selfless  act. A real life hero in my eyes. * tip of the hat 

Thank you... but to me if the shoe was on the other foot, I would have hoped someone could/would have helped me (with an “O” blood type of course).
The kindness of the folks in the Jamily does not surprise me.  Both the recipient (BiL) and I will be more charitable individuals going forward.   Love is here to be spread... and although I can’t donate my liver all the time I can definitely do more.  I will do more. 

1ThoughtKnown

Bump .... for those who NEED you to know. Some have commented on here already...

hedonist

Hope your bodies are recovering well!

1ThoughtKnown

hedonist said:

Hope your bodies are recovering well!

Thanks so much for asking!
It’s been a week and both of us are released from the hospital and recovering in Toronto.  It really is amazing how quickly we are both recovering.  Energy levels are low and my sleep patterns are screwy but every day it gets a little better. 5 weeks and I’ll be back to work (I don’t have a physical job that would require 3 months off). 

Its just weird imagining this liver growing inside of me. It will be 94-96% of its original size in 6 weeks from date of surgery. 

They em told me today that their teenage children have a new hero.... and they have both reached out to me...all very humbling.  It is an amazing experience to make real change in people’s lives.   

Fifthelement

Glad to hear that you’re both on the mend.  Hope your sleep sorts itself out soon.  It must be such a surreal experience.  Truly amazing.

vogonpoetbythelake

You are incredibly generous and inspiring to know the details of such a selfless act...blessings to you both...thanks for sharing 

1ThoughtKnown

Thanks so much to both of you! 
I really hope it gives hope to any folks who have or have people close to them in need of a transplant. 
I would do it again.... except I can only do this once haha

 

1ThoughtKnown

A news article about our personal story as a living organ donor and transplant recipient:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5341339

1ThoughtKnown

That article is based on this radio interview.  Feel free to have a listen if you would like. 

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-41-morning-north/clip/15743784-we-check-in-with-steve-matusch-of-sudbury-a-month-after-his-liver-transplant

Renfield

1ThoughtKnown said:

A news article about our personal story as a living organ donor and transplant recipient:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5341339

Look at you two! Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Wear your scars proudly!

hedonist

1ThoughtKnown said:

A news article about our personal story as a living organ donor and transplant recipient:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5341339