Liver transplant - Let's support each other

@mathewsw
In answer to your question I did some research and found that according to UNOS there have been NO LDLTs in FLA since 2012 (this includes Mayo) and for PHX MAYO they are continuing to perform them sporadically over the past few years. And finally, ROC MAYO did 15 in 2018 so they are still going strong.

I had my LDLT @ Mayo PHX back in 2013. My wife was the donor and the liver lasted over 5 years until Biliary complications arose and it necessitated a need for us to relocate to JAX where I, only a few weeks ago, received a cadaver liver.

@parmcat Congratulations on your first liverersary. I hope you did something special to celebrate, it is basically like being reborn. I was only called one time so I don't know the agony of getting called and then having your hopes dashed. It must be discouraging.

The letter to the donor family was the most difficult thing I have ever written. Trying to express such extreme gratitude at the same time as expressing sympathy for their loss is almost mind-boggling. I wrote the letter three or four months after my transplant and received a letter back from them a number of months later.
JK

@lmctif Hello 🙂 my dad is going through liver failure right now and we’ve been looking into living donation so I can give him a part of my liver. We were told he had to go through the list and be put on it for a cadaver liver before mine will be considered. Can you help clarify that a little please? I don’t understand if he has to find a cadaver match before using mine or if he just has to be on the list before other options are considered.

I know they do it at the Minnesota location and the Arizona location. My dad and I are looking into this as an option as well

Good Morning, bwebster93. I am extending a virtual handshake across the miles to welcome you to Connect. I am a liver/kidney (2009) recipient of a deceased donor. While I understand what your dad is experiencing now, I do not know the answer to that question.
However, I do want to link you to the Mayo Connect Transplant Pages where you can access the Living Donor and Recipient Toolkits. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/

Let me know what I can do to help you along the way. I am happy to share what I have experienced, as well as locate the information that you might need.
Not all transplant centers offer living organ transplants. Is your dad being seen at a transplant center? Do they offer living donation?

My son is decompensating and getting closer to needing a transplant. Our center does living donor transplants. We were told he would need to be evaluated before they would consider transplanting him. He is stage 4 cirrhosis but still not bad enough that they would transplant him now even with a living donor. Could be your center meant he needs to be evaluated and ready to go on the list. Maybe go back and ask them to be more specific. Best of luck to your Dad. And God Bless you for offering to be his donor. Prayers you are the perfect match!

Hello! Thank you for the response and the offer for help, both are greatly appreciated. We thought the center he was at offered living donation as an option but we just found out they make you go through a waiting list first. So we’re trying to redirect our game plan and figure out what’s next.

Hello Rosemary. I'm fairly new to Connect. I want to thank you for being a mentor for transplants. Your insight and willingness to share is extremely beneficial to those of us heading to transplant. I appreciate you providing the pages for Living Donor and Recipient Toolkits. Great information. Again, thank you for your time and expertise. I'm sure I will be coming to you quite often in the very near future.

@bwebster93, @stella25, Here is something for you. I recommend that you view the webinar.

Top Takeaways from "Transplant 101: Preparing for Your Journey"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/newsfeed/icymi-key-takeaways-from-transplant-101-preparing-for-your-journey/

@bwebster93 It seems that each transplant center has their own protocol for the type of thing you are referring to. I would call the transplant coordinator and ask for clarification. I too find it difficult to understand why he would need to find a cadaver match before having a living donor. To me, that seems to defeat part of the purpose of having a living donor.
I would love to know what your transplant center says, I think maybe there has been a miscommunication.
JK