Transplant Anecdotes & Allegories

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Comment by Tricia Berger on June 26, 2009 at 5:46pm

I was listed on September 15th 2008 for a liver. I had an appointment for a check-up (A 3hr drive to the clinic) on sept 29th ,2008 half asleep in the car while my husband was driving we were past Dayton on I-75 halfway there when my cell phone rang I was so tired I didn't even hear it but my husband shook me and gave me the phone it was my transplant cordinator she said they had a liver for me and do not eat or drink anything. that was at 9:30 a.m.well I went into the O.R. @ 6:00 p.m. and by2:00 a.m. I was in the Icu with my very special new gift!

Comment by Michael Strane on June 24, 2009 at 10:00pm

I had been in a coma for 6 weeks, 6 weeks almost dead. When I awoke it was "around" September 10, 2008. I spent the next two weeks learning to drink eat and walk again, my voice was a whisper for being intabated for so long. Less than 2 weeks later, on September 23, 2008 I was deemed healthy enough to survive the surgery and I was place on the transplant waiting list. There would be no leaving the hospital for me - I was on 2 Ventricular Assist Devices and couldn't leave the hospital. So I prepared myself for a long wait. At least the next day, they would move me out the ICU. Not so fast though, around 5 pm, the transplant coordinator called my room. My girlfriend answered the phone (I couldn't, the VADs kept me in bed and the phone was on the far wall) - I could tell by her expression, it was good news. Indeed, only 7 hours after I was put on the list, a donor heart was found for me. To this day it blows my mind. Some people wait years, some people with VADs wait years, I waited 7 hours. At 10am, the next morning I went into surgery, and 9 months to the day (today) - I feel good.

Comment by Tiana on June 24, 2009 at 11:03am

I love reading about all these stories! Wonder if anyone would be interested in doing a documentary on the transplant community to provide more awareness to the general public? Not sure if this is the correct place to do this but these stories are wonderful! They really make my day! Please tell your other Transplant Cafe friends to post their stories here!

Hugs,

Tiana

Comment by Bobbiejo Winfrey on June 24, 2009 at 6:13am

I was half in and out of sleep when I got my call as it was late at night. I was staying in the Transplant House in Miami, FL while my parents were working back home in Kentucky, so I was by myself. I had had two dry runs before, but it somehow felt as though this was the time. I called my parents, and it turned out, since it was my birthday the next day they had already set up flight plans to come down and see me with a surprise visit for my birthday. I guess I ending up surprising them first. I do not think that this was a coincidence. God seemed to have an ever present hand in all of this. People from the Transplant House helped me to get the hospital. Every moment seemed surreal as if this was not truly happening as I had two dry runs before and perhaps because my emotions were whirling in excitement and a little fear. Because of my parents' plans to come see me for my birthday, they were able to get to see me before I went under, and I had time to make phone calls to share the good news. There was a little scare right before the transplant because I started to have a little bit of fever, but as everything else seemed okay, the procedure went on ahead. Despite the ups and downs of my emotions before hand, right before I went to be taken to the operating table, I felt a wonderful peace about everything and a deep sense that no matter what I would make it. I consider my transplant the best birthday gift I ever got as the surgery just happened to begin on my birthday Oct. 6, 2005, and I will remain forever grateful!

Comment by Tiana on June 24, 2009 at 2:28am

My phone call... continued... When I received my phone call at school, I spoke to the transplant coordinator and found out the donor kidney was a 2 out of 5 match. I was not sure if I should take it but thought, "if I am not definite on saying I'll be there then I should decline."

Well I told the coordinator I'd pass on it. My final exam was on Wednesday and had previously decided to go to Disneyland with my spouse once my exams were finished. We planned on leaving on Friday at 12:00 noon. It would be about a 5 hr drive or so and did not want to get there too late at night. Well, as always, I was running late going back in the house and back to the car for various items I thought I was forgetting.

Just as I was locking the door, I heard the phone ring. I thought, "maybe I'll just let the answering machine get it." My spouse heard it too and told me, "you should get it.. it might be your parents." I ran back inside and picked up the phone. The voice on the other end said, "Hello, this is the transplant coordinator at Stanford." She asked for me and I responded.

I started shaking in my shoes and the coordinator said, "we have a 4 out of 5 match for you!" I was like OMG... I asked when she wanted me to head to the hospital. She replied, "right away, or as soon as possible."

Well I yelled out to the car, "It's Stanford! They got a match for me!" Well, we were all packed so we drove straight to Stanford after that and the rest is history. Talk about coincidence and luck! But since I don't believe in luck, I have a feeling that God was looking out for me!

Ohh and to top that off... one of my surgeons was the brother of actor Willem DaFoe!

Comment by Brad shwidock on June 22, 2009 at 7:27pm

My first call came 2 days after I was listed (1/28/08). The call came from my mother. She told me that my closest childhood friend had died suddenly of a stroke that morning. He was 49 years old. She then told me that his mother and his wife both wanted to donate his liver to me. I went to see him at the hospital and while i was sitting with him the nurse came in to tell me that we were a match. After speaking to my surgeon I headed to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and waited for his liver to arrive. When it finally came it was determined that his liver was too fatty and couln't be used. He was able to save 3 other lives with his lungs and kidneys. After 11 months and 4 more calls I finally received my gift on 12/17/08. I am doing great now. Loving Life.