Transplant & Healthcare Support

I first learned about liver and kidney transplant patients in the mid 2000s when my spouse worked on the solid organ transplant team at a Chicago hospital. I gained trust in the healthcare field learning of the many patients who received the opportunity of renewed life through surgery. I also worked with patients and families in hospice care and witnessed the impact of people having to manage health challenges.

In October 2019, a family member fell ill having pain in his stomach shortly after a routine dental visit. A CT Scan discovered a large tumor on his liver. He was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and a congenital abernethy malformation in his portal vein. He qualified for a deceased donor but his MELD score (model for end-stage liver disease) was very low which means his chances of getting a deceased liver was extremely low. His only option was a live liver transplant. For the next two years, family and friends embarked on donor evaluations at a hospital in Wisconsin and all were ruled out due to the medical team’s interest of the perfect match. A relative researched other programs and discovered The University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC) Transplant program led by Dr. Abhinav Humar. We were grateful that my family member’s care was approved for a transplant at UPMC where they provide a large volume of live liver transplants. Since my application as a donor in Wisconsin was denied, I applied for the donor evaluation at UPMC and I was approved as a match for my family member. In May 2022, we were in awe and full of gratitude to have a successful surgery with this exceptional team.

I was amazed at the science and expertise of the doctors, nurses and all the staff who helped throughout the many phases in the transplant experience. I am grateful to friends, family, my doctor and psychotherapist who were all part of my support team as I entered the process and proceeded to the live liver donor transplant surgery. My family member is an important part of our lives and I am honored to share this bond of renewed life.

Through these life experiences, I would like to provide support for those who are waiting for a transplant or family members who are supporting them. I also support medical providers and staff members who work in transplant services and other areas of healthcare. Please contact me if you are interested in connecting for counseling support.

Consider being a live liver donor. More than 100,000 people are on a waitlist for lifesaving organ transplants and multicultural patients make up the majority on the waitlist.