Page 28 - Seniorstoday September 21
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combination of drugs and a strict diet - only liver to his relative. It was only after talking
2 grams of salt per day, only 1200 ml of to him, and the recipient, that he decided to
liquid. give it a thought.
In spite of the strict regime, his health Second obstacle, I was in no shape to
kept deteriorating, till, about a year later, donate… the parameters for liver donation
he started complaining of breathing are very rigid, and I did not fit in. We were
difficulty and a dry cough, which wouldn’t advised to ask close relatives if anyone
settle. An x-ray showed pleural effusion would come forward, but really, how
(fluid outside the lungs), which had to be does one ask a relative to donate a piece of
aspirated. Unfortunately, it recurred within themselves??
a couple of months, requiring repeated
aspirations.
At this point, his treating physician
urged us to meet a hepatologist, for further
treatment.
The day before our appointment with the
hepatologist, he took a turn for the worse
and had to be admitted in the hospital
where the hepatologist was an attendee.
The team of doctors there checked him and
treated the immediate problem; however,
we were told that the pleural effusion A graphic of a typical liver transplantation with the
would just keep recurring, as the liver replacement of a diseased liver
damage was extensive. The tests they ran We were fast running out of time, his
showed a completely cirrhotic liver, not health was going downhill… with no other
responding to treatment. We were advised alternative, the team of doctors , and our
that the best course of treatment was a liver family, decided that we would go ahead
transplant, possibly within a month. with me donating, if I was a match. I was
We immediately got him registered in the told to undergo a whole battery of tests, and
national transplant list, but his MELD score lose weight…up to 8 kgs in three weeks…
(used to assess patients) was far too low; my liver had to be in prime condition.
he wouldn’t get a liver in the time frame The next two weeks were a jumble of
required. consultations with the doctors, the dietician
The doctors then suggested a live donor, and the labs, as I underwent blood tests, a
someone in the family… a close relative. very long and uncomfortable MRI, and a
Someone sharing a similar DNA profile, so painful liver biopsy.
that it would be a match. Sharing the same I was also put on a strict diet, about 1000
Blood group, I volunteered. calories a day. Restricted to having half a
First obstacle, my father wouldn’t hear of fruit twice a day, half a bowl of rice, plenty
it… he didn’t want to put me at risk. What of green tea, no sugar, and, the toughest for
convinced him was a long conversation me, no chocolates. And, of course, exercise.
with an acquaintance… a friend who had, With no access to a gym (we were at the
just six months back, donated a part of his hospital all the time), the hospital staircase
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