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Recipient of Live Donor Liver Transplant
I was 15 when I started feeling sick. I was tired all the time, and I had jaundice. At first they thought I had hepatitis A, but then they did more blood work and found out I had autoimmune hepatitis. After I was diagnosed, I went to Children's Hospital in Boston for more tests, and they said eventually I would need a transplant. They referred me to Lahey.
My family and I didn't know anything about live donor liver transplants until we came to Lahey, but they gave us so much information. I read everything they gave us for the surgery and after, and I learned so much.
The whole team really makes you feel like part of the family. I love everybody here. Even the first time I was here, I felt like I had known them forever. They love answering questions. I mean, even if you feel like it's a stupid question, they make it seem like it's the most important thing to them. I feel like I could call them for anything, even now.
I didn't want my dad to have to give me part of his liver, but he wouldn't not do it. There was no talking him out of it. The surgery went well for both of us. I spent nine days in the hospital following the transplant, and my dad was able to go home a day ahead of me. I had hardly any pain at all. I felt amazing. I've never felt like that in my life-like a brand new person. I didn't know what feeling healthy and energetic was until after the transplant.
I was able to go back to work after three months. And now, I only have to come to Lahey for appointments every six months, and it's only been a year since the transplant. I have blood work done monthly, but I do that close to home and then they just fax it to Lahey to make sure my levels are all set.
There are only two medications I have to take, which is less than I was taking before the transplant. Two different types of pills twice a day-they're both to make sure that my body doesn't reject the liver. So I make sure I take those every day. Besides taking the pills, I feel like a normal person. The only restriction I have is that I can't drink. So my whole life will be normal except for drinking, which is fine. Nobody knows that I've had a liver transplant, and who needs to know?!
