Living donor

[Guest guest]

I just came back from my New England Med transplant clinic check up.

While waiting for our call to clinic, we transplantees attend a

post-transplant support group. Well, this time, most of the attendants

were caregivers or recipients of living donor transplants. The subject

came up of anonymous donors. It is a difficult emotional issue, and

DiNapoli, the social worker who leads the group, brought up many

questions regarding what might be involved down the line when a person

receives a liver from a donor they don't know.

It seems to me if there is a trade for transplant as Gracie suggested,

then there should be time to get to know the other family and that both

families should be comfortable with the trade. Then, when going to the

transplant team, the group should be prepared to stand firm.

Because Handi was unrelated--a friend--the team really asked hard

questions about her motives. But...she was accepted at New England Med,

and we became the first successful living donor transplant. Now they've

done eight. And we are all doing fine.

By the way, I just talked to Handi yesterday. She is back to showing

poodles and teaching obedience classes.

I found out that the chest pain I have had...soreness...is probably due

to a bruised rib from the refractor used during transplant. Guess that

is just a side effect of 16 1/2 hours of surgery. Dr. Rorher said it

would take a few more months to heal...meanwhile take Tylenol, do some

range of motion exercises, and don't lift more than 10 lbs.

Other than that bruised rib and the dropped foot, I am great. Oh, I am

losing hair from taking prograf. So the team said to take folic acid.

Just the latest.

in NH

Life is good....and I got to cast my vote for the Democrats today! Yes!

It is so great to be alive.