Aa
Liver transplant
A local guy with Hep c had a tumor on his liver and needed a transplant. He had no insurance and many fundraisers were held and they raised $22,000.00 which was great! Anyway he has his liver and was home in a week. they called him 1am and told them they might have a liver for him. They said you are 3rd on the list but we have to tell you that it belonged to a 26 year old prision inmate but the liver is healthy. He said fine I don't care. they called him back at 3:30Am and said it's yours what time can you be here , he said I'm leaving now. The other two people refused the liver He was in Boston and getting his liver at 6am. Monda and came home the following Monday. The Drs at Lahey can't believe he's doing so well.
I'm sorry but those people that refused a good healthy liver because it was an inmates should be bumped to the end of the line. My god your dying and your judging. in the end this guy did a very good thing by being an organ donor and giving the gift of life. People's ignorance amazes me.
I'm sorry but those people that refused a good healthy liver because it was an inmates should be bumped to the end of the line. My god your dying and your judging. in the end this guy did a very good thing by being an organ donor and giving the gift of life. People's ignorance amazes me.
You can go to Ridn Steel and thier event calendar for August 27 and SE's story is there. My friend and her Husband set up the bike run and has been in touch with this guy.
you say we are all dying I feel like I'm dying from the sxs on this VIC. I hope it's kicking my HCV in the ***.
you say we are all dying I feel like I'm dying from the sxs on this VIC. I hope it's kicking my HCV in the ***.
"I'm sorry but those people that refused a good healthy liver because it was an inmates should be bumped to the end of the line."
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Your friend (of your friend) is very lucky and alive because those other people didn't receive the inmates liver -- I do wonder if the recipient, the cousin of your friend, feels that those two people who passed up the liver so that he could live... does he feel they should be kicked to the back of the line?
It's also worth considering, rocky, unless you heard it directly from the individuals, that they actually refused a liver for those reasons, possibly still hearsay or assumption. In actuality, most livers that become available don't necessarily match up to the 1st recipient in line.
" My god your dying and your judging..."
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We're all dying, rocky, those two people on the list who are still waiting may just be a few steps ahead of us.
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Your friend (of your friend) is very lucky and alive because those other people didn't receive the inmates liver -- I do wonder if the recipient, the cousin of your friend, feels that those two people who passed up the liver so that he could live... does he feel they should be kicked to the back of the line?
It's also worth considering, rocky, unless you heard it directly from the individuals, that they actually refused a liver for those reasons, possibly still hearsay or assumption. In actuality, most livers that become available don't necessarily match up to the 1st recipient in line.
" My god your dying and your judging..."
-----------------
We're all dying, rocky, those two people on the list who are still waiting may just be a few steps ahead of us.
No this guy is a very dear friend of an old friend and the cousin to another. I don't know what the inmate died of and I don't know if that is something they will tell the reciever of the liver. Who cares the liver was medically cleared. The guy who had the transplant and doing great. Yes everyone is entilted to thier opinion!
I am sorry but there is a lot of totally bogus information in these posts. As for the opinions... everyone has a right to there own opinion no matter what the facts are. There are still people that believe the world is flat and no data will ever convince them otherwise. I would have to write a book to explain all the particulars about HCV and liver transplant and liver cancer, but I will try to simplify this issue as best I can.
First is this a story that you read in the newspaper or on television? The "so-called" facts are stated are more like a fairly tale as anyone who is either listed for transplant or has had a transplant can tell you. It would be laughable if I didn't think that the people on this forum are more educated then the general public and might possibility have some compassion for other who suffer with there own health issues. Unfortunately to me it is about as laughable as when people shun us because we have HCV and they think they will be infected if they are around you.
Reality Check #1:
First you are not listed for transplant at any transplant center unless you have the money to cover the transplant (hundreds of thousands of dollars) and the medication you will need for the rest of your life. (tens of thousands of dollars). For example I had to prove to the transplant center that I have $1,000,000 in medical insurance and can afford to pay for my meds for the rest of my life. No one gets a transplant for $22,000. Are you kidding? The average hospital cost per day in 2009 was $9,604. That doesn't include any tests, procedures, medical fees. Just for the intake and room. Are you aware that the post-transplant meds for one month after transplant are about $6,000?
Reality Check # 2.
"I'm sorry but those people that refused a good healthy liver because it was an inmates should be bumped to the end of the line."
Each transplant patient gets to choose which "high risks" livers they willing accept.
Obviously if you choose to accept a "high risk" donor liver you will have more chances of getting a liver, BUT many high risk livers may reduce your likelihood of living very long after transplant. I am not sure why no one understood this or even mentions it but a liver from a prisoner is more likely to have been exposed to hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV amongst other factors. In fact it has been estimated that between 17 and 25 percent of people living with HIV in America pass through the correctional system. Yes, these are screened of course but as we all know from our knowledge of hepatitis C, after a person is infected there is a window of time before the virus can be detectable in the blood. Well of course the same for HIV. Except the time period for HIV to appear in the blood can be many months. So for all those who are are so judgmental and called is recipient "stupid", would you choose a liver that might have HIV or would you wait hoping to receive a liver from someone who is less likely to be infected? Are you aware that 1/3 of donated livers come from teenagers and persons in there early 20s that die from accidents? These are the "ideal" livers. Would would you prefer a liver from a young person or a person who has lead a lifestyle of a criminal which probably involves drug and alcohol abuse. If you wouldn't even question it I'm afraid everything I am saying falls on deaf ears. Luckily I have gotten to make my own personal choice of what "high risk" livers I will take without interference from others who how no idea what a person has to deal with on a daily basis as we face death or if they are lucky, receive a donor liver. It is my life. I don't want anyone but me deciding how I choose to live or die. Thank you.
All livers (any any organ for that matter) are examined to make sure the liver is healthy. For example they could find that the donor had cancer but dies before the cancer had killed them. Or an infection. If you put that liver in a recipient they will most likely die quickly from an infection (a post-transplant patient has a minimal immune system, or they would reject the liver) or in time when the cancer grows.
Mike. Choosing a older liver for patients with hepatitis C is a very risky choice. If the virus can't be cleared, longevity after transplant is greatly reduced. Here at UCSF, I was told not to take an elderly donors liver because the odds of survival after 5 years is so poor. Thanks for injecting some sanity into the thread. ;-)
"should be bumped to the end of the line."
Glad your not running UNOS. We all would be suffering more than we already are.
Suggestion. Forget reading about a liver transplant. Go to your local transplant center an visit a patient and their family when their their loved love is near death. (A MELD score 40 or above). Let me know what you think then.
Hector
First is this a story that you read in the newspaper or on television? The "so-called" facts are stated are more like a fairly tale as anyone who is either listed for transplant or has had a transplant can tell you. It would be laughable if I didn't think that the people on this forum are more educated then the general public and might possibility have some compassion for other who suffer with there own health issues. Unfortunately to me it is about as laughable as when people shun us because we have HCV and they think they will be infected if they are around you.
Reality Check #1:
First you are not listed for transplant at any transplant center unless you have the money to cover the transplant (hundreds of thousands of dollars) and the medication you will need for the rest of your life. (tens of thousands of dollars). For example I had to prove to the transplant center that I have $1,000,000 in medical insurance and can afford to pay for my meds for the rest of my life. No one gets a transplant for $22,000. Are you kidding? The average hospital cost per day in 2009 was $9,604. That doesn't include any tests, procedures, medical fees. Just for the intake and room. Are you aware that the post-transplant meds for one month after transplant are about $6,000?
Reality Check # 2.
"I'm sorry but those people that refused a good healthy liver because it was an inmates should be bumped to the end of the line."
Each transplant patient gets to choose which "high risks" livers they willing accept.
Obviously if you choose to accept a "high risk" donor liver you will have more chances of getting a liver, BUT many high risk livers may reduce your likelihood of living very long after transplant. I am not sure why no one understood this or even mentions it but a liver from a prisoner is more likely to have been exposed to hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV amongst other factors. In fact it has been estimated that between 17 and 25 percent of people living with HIV in America pass through the correctional system. Yes, these are screened of course but as we all know from our knowledge of hepatitis C, after a person is infected there is a window of time before the virus can be detectable in the blood. Well of course the same for HIV. Except the time period for HIV to appear in the blood can be many months. So for all those who are are so judgmental and called is recipient "stupid", would you choose a liver that might have HIV or would you wait hoping to receive a liver from someone who is less likely to be infected? Are you aware that 1/3 of donated livers come from teenagers and persons in there early 20s that die from accidents? These are the "ideal" livers. Would would you prefer a liver from a young person or a person who has lead a lifestyle of a criminal which probably involves drug and alcohol abuse. If you wouldn't even question it I'm afraid everything I am saying falls on deaf ears. Luckily I have gotten to make my own personal choice of what "high risk" livers I will take without interference from others who how no idea what a person has to deal with on a daily basis as we face death or if they are lucky, receive a donor liver. It is my life. I don't want anyone but me deciding how I choose to live or die. Thank you.
All livers (any any organ for that matter) are examined to make sure the liver is healthy. For example they could find that the donor had cancer but dies before the cancer had killed them. Or an infection. If you put that liver in a recipient they will most likely die quickly from an infection (a post-transplant patient has a minimal immune system, or they would reject the liver) or in time when the cancer grows.
Mike. Choosing a older liver for patients with hepatitis C is a very risky choice. If the virus can't be cleared, longevity after transplant is greatly reduced. Here at UCSF, I was told not to take an elderly donors liver because the odds of survival after 5 years is so poor. Thanks for injecting some sanity into the thread. ;-)
"should be bumped to the end of the line."
Glad your not running UNOS. We all would be suffering more than we already are.
Suggestion. Forget reading about a liver transplant. Go to your local transplant center an visit a patient and their family when their their loved love is near death. (A MELD score 40 or above). Let me know what you think then.
Hector
I can see passing up a 73 year old liver but a perfect healthy 26 year old liver never!
No I'm sure he had medicaid as he is a slef employed house painter. That's what was raised to help the family out for expenses not covered. We have some good free care clinics in the northeast also.
I dont know about a 73 year old liver either but a healthy nonhcv/hiv 26 year old I would have been all over that for sure (I think).
The whole story sounds vague - at best.
A 26 year old prisoner dies. What did he die from?
I turned a liver down. It was 73 years old and I wasn't comfortable with it. I know the guy who got that liver and he did well. He was Genotype 2 and he cleared about 1.5 years after transplant. I got my liver 2 days after turning down the 73 year old liver and I know that I was extremely fortunate. My liver was from a 40 year old man.
It's hard to judge sometimes - especially if you haven't been there.
Mike
A 26 year old prisoner dies. What did he die from?
I turned a liver down. It was 73 years old and I wasn't comfortable with it. I know the guy who got that liver and he did well. He was Genotype 2 and he cleared about 1.5 years after transplant. I got my liver 2 days after turning down the 73 year old liver and I know that I was extremely fortunate. My liver was from a 40 year old man.
It's hard to judge sometimes - especially if you haven't been there.
Mike
Did he really get a transplant for $22,000 ?
To me, this is the incredible part of the story
To me, this is the incredible part of the story
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