When liver is available for transplant how much time to arrive?

No! Organs are very fragile and doctors have a very limited window for transplant. You will need to be close to your transplant center.
Here is a link to UNOS to help you understand the process. This one is about receiving the call. However this site has many links to help you understand and navigate the transplant process.
https://transplantliving.org/before-the-transplant/waiting-for-your-transplant/receiving-the-call/
Wishing you the very best on your journey.

Thank you very much for this information and link❤️.

Wait times vary quite a lot between different US States. Your queue in the wait list depends largely on your MELD score. Some states usually only do liver transplants if the patient's MELD score is 30 or higher. Others will at 25 or higher. They will take into other factors but since demand is so high to be fair the MELD score is primarily used.

The start of most transplant journeys is the pretransplant evaluation. These questions and concerns are addressed at that time before it can be decided if transplant is in the patient’s best interest. If transplant is approved and you are accepted for transplant you will be assigned a coordinator that can assist you in making arrangements for all the details such as being able to accept the offer for the organ when it becomes available.

@vera77, you might also be interested in these related discussions:
- Packing question: What did you have ready for "the call"? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/packing-question/
- Waiting for the Call: What needs to get done at home before you go?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/waiting-for-the-call-what-needs-to-get-done-at-home-before-you-go/

Hi vera77
I am on the transplant list at Duke hospital and they require about a week of onboarding, regular blood tests and return doctor visits, bone scans, liver scans, etc through the process. I have to be able to get there within 8 hours of a call, and if fortunate enough to get a liver, must stay within minutes of Duke for a month, then regular checkups and med adjustments again. It is a long. long process, and you would have to live near your transplant center for months or even years.
I have had two calls so far but on our way to the hospital were called with the news that the livers were bad in some way. Hoping for another call and a good one!
Best to you in this journey,
Blessings,
Granamom

@granamom, Welcome to Connect. I am a transplant recipient, and I want to say that I am happy to hear that you are on the liver transplant list! I hope that you do get your liver transplant soon. I can understand how disappointing it is to get the call, and then to turn around to return home. When I was listed at UofKY, I lived 45 minutes away, so I was given a 45 minute - 1 hour window of time for arrival. I also had a bag packed and we kept gas in the car for a quick get-away. Then when complications developed, I was flown to Mayo in Rochester where I did receive my liver and kidney transplant. At that time I lived only 7 blocks away from the hospital and was able to ride the patient shuttle from the Gift of Life Transplant House to the clinic for my transplant.

It is amazing how different we each experience the entire process, isn't it? Does Duke have lodging for transplant patients? Or is there a nearby motel where you can stay after the transplant until you are discharged from outpatient care?

Hi Rosemary!
We have to find 39-day short term lodging after the transplant, which is unfortunately not covered by insurance, but worth it if I get a liver! So, so glad to hear that you were transplants went well.
Many blessings, Charlene

Hi,
My husband had his liver transplant 3 months ago, after being on the list for 3 months. He had his surgery at Tampa General Hospital. We live just over 2 hours from the hospital. We got "the call" at 7:00pm and was told we had to be in there by midnight. That was actually more time than I thought. We got there at 10:00pm and they started tests immediately. Blood work, chest scan, ekg, etc. They finished around 2:00am - a lot of waiting time in between each test. They brought in papers to sign, and then at 7:00am, he was brought to surgery. Surgery was finished at 1:45pm. 2 days in ICU, 5 more days in a regular room and then discharged. We were told to stay local for 30 days. We rented an Airbnb 1 mile from the hospital. About 3 weeks later, his transplant team said it was safe to go home. His labs have been perfect and follow ups have been great. I thank God every single day for this amazing process. I think the key is to do everything they tell you to do exactly the way they want you to do it. I wish you the best of luck.