@elaineg I am sending prayers for healing for Lady G. May her immune system strengthen and overcome the illness, and may she be relieved of the worry and stress that accompanies it. Blessings and peace to you for caring and bringing this to our attention. ❤️
@Dannyboy's liver donor story:
FYI @Dannyboy is a regular and beloved blogger on this forum. Months ago, he agreed to donate a portion of his liver to his wife's cousin. He was the only family member with a compatible blood type, even though he is not a blood relative.
His wife's cousin, Kevin, has a childhood liver disease that has a fatal diagnosis, unless he can receive a liver. The transplant surgery involves a donor who donates about a third of his liver to a recipient. Both the donor and the recipient's new liver grow back into a full liver.
Both Dannyboy and Kevin are married with young children. Dannyboy, who lost his own father as a child, decided to become a donor, saying he wanted to see his wife's cousin's children grow up with their father.
He was told he could be a donor, provided he lost 50 pounds and got into good shape. He proceeded to rise every morning before work and do a remarkable workout, changed his diet, and lost ALL of the weight and more. He basically rebuilt his body and lost the excess fat in his liver in order to qualify. It's a highly techical operation, that involved the donor team creating a 3-D model of his liver.
Here is some general info on how liver transplant surgeries go:
The actual donor operation takes six to eight hours. The recipient and donor are in separate operating rooms at the same time, and a team of surgeons performs each surgery simultaneously. An incision in the shape of a hockey stick is made in the upper right abdomen of the donor. Approximately one-third to two-thirds of the liver is removed, depending on anatomy and what is needed for the recipient. The gallbladder is also removed as part of the surgery. Care is taken to ensure that there is sufficient liver remaining for normal liver function in the donor.
Immediately following surgery, the donor is taken to a post-operative recovery room for observation and is then transferred to a surgical ICU overnight. If the recovery is proceeding as expected, the donor is then transferred to the transplant floor. Activity and diet are resumed very soon after that, and the donor remains in the hospital for approximately five days.
After leaving the hospital, donors are encouraged to slowly resume normal activity. Most donors return to work six to eight weeks after surgery, depending on the nature of their job. Donors will have several follow-up visits after the surgery ensure that the healing process is successful and a full recovery is achieved.
We will keep you informed on his progress here and in the Circle of Light thread.
@dannyboy Thank you for your incredible posts about your journey. As you stated, big or small, the light we share through our actions creates more light in the world. Reminded me of this great graphic I saw over the weekend.
We will all be sending light today and in the coming days as this amazing journey continues. Take good care and much love to you, Kevin and your families!
Best wishes @dannyboy for a very non eventful recovery!!!
May Kevin's new liver grow and thrive, allowing him to lead a long and happy life!!!
Thank you for being a donor.
A shout out to NMDP, formerly known as Be the Match , a marrow donor organization. Another way people can be a living donor for those with blood cancers.
My husband had a bone marrow transplant back in 2017, and Be the Match found him a donor in Poland. Being predominantly one ethnicity helps. Our sons were a no go. Greg's sister was a good match, but the docs were not happy about her age and the fact she gave birth in the past. 😏
That same donor was still available last year to help Greg once again for a "booster" of sorts, but Greg passed before they could do the procedure. 💔
So thank you to the guy in Poland, who could help a guy in Ohio.
Dannyboy's wife just texted me: Dannyboy is out of surgery he did great. They had minimal bleeding and he never needed a blood transfusion. They have one drain placed to support the bile duct. Team is working to wake him up and then I can see him. He should not need to go to the ICU. They are still dissecting Kevin’s liver so he will be another 4+ hours