From second cousins to ‘liver sisters’

By Alison Brimley |
[email protected]

Till final November, Drea Richardson of West Jordan
had by no means even donated a lot as a vial of blood. Richardson, a veterinarian
and mom of three, is “petite” and doesn’t weigh sufficient.

However when a cousin posted on Fb that her younger
daughter, 1-year-old Future, would wish a liver transplant, Richardson felt
she needed to act.

“I knew I might kick myself if I didn’t at the very least attempt [to
be Destiny’s donor],” she mentioned.

Future was born with a metabolic dysfunction, identified
at 4 days previous. And whereas medical doctors knew from the start that Future would
want a liver transplant, it was too dangerous to carry out the surgical procedure on such a
younger toddler. They knew the possibilities of success could be a lot better in the event that they
waited till after her first birthday.

The Fb put up wasn’t meant to solicit organ
donors. However when Richardson noticed it, she started a means of “soul looking out and
prayer” to know if she ought to attempt to be the donor. She knew her blood sort—O+—made
her a very good candidate.

So, she started the appliance. First, she stuffed out a
questionnaire. When that was accredited, she had bloodwork completed. Subsequent got here the
MRI, CT scan, EKG and extra bloodwork. Along with genetic testing (to make
positive she didn’t have the identical genetic markers of Future’s situation), medical doctors additionally
wanted bodily imaging of her liver to ensure it was a very good anatomical match.
Lastly, a couple of months after initially seeing the Fb put up, she acquired
phrase from the transplant crew that she was a match.

The crew requested her if she needed to name and inform her
cousin the excellent news, or if she needed the medical doctors to name.

“I used to be like, ‘Um, I’m going to name,’” Richardson mentioned
with fun.

Simply earlier than Thanksgiving, Richardson underwent surgical procedure
to have one-fifth of her liver eliminated, a course of she describes as “actually,
truthfully, a straightforward factor to do.”

Drea and Future each had their very own transplant groups,
so there could be no conflicts of curiosity. If at any time Richardson determined
she needed to drag out, she might inform her crew, and they might report that she
had been barred from donation for medical causes.

Richardson was conscious of the potential dangers. With any
main surgical procedure, there’s all the time a small threat of extreme bleeding and even loss of life.
She additionally knew there was an opportunity of hernia post-operation. Nonetheless, she reported
to Colorado to have her surgical procedure, assured issues would go properly.

And so they did. Reside liver donation is feasible as a result of
a wholesome liver will regenerate itself after a portion is eliminated. Simply two
weeks after surgical procedure, her “liver values” had returned to regular. Docs have been
“actually stunned” at her fast restoration.

Future is doing properly too, although her situation means
that she’ll possible by no means be with out some difficulties. She nonetheless makes use of a gastric
tube, and he or she’ll all the time need to stay with dietary restrictions. Technically,
Drea and Future are second cousins, however Drea refers to Future as her “liver
sister.”

Richardson is raring to share her story in hopes of
spreading the phrase about organ donation. Whereas the expertise was a hit,
Richardson is ineligible for any future liver donations. As for different organs?
She’s “extra protecting” of her kidneys—you’ve solely received two, they usually don’t
regrow themselves. And whereas she emphasizes that organ donation is a “very
private choice,” she encourages others to contemplate it.

You may join or get extra info at
BeTheMatch.com or OrganDonor.com.