Should he or shouldn't he?

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Susie and I am new to the group. My mother Polly has

been posting messages about my husband Steve. He was diagnosed with

PSC 15 years ago and UC this year. He has been in and out of the

hospital over the past 7 years for numerous ERCP's and stint

placements. He was recently placed on the waiting list for a

transplant. The doctors said it would take years to receive a

transplant and by that time it will pobably be to late. His brother is

getting tested to be a live donor and if he is a match they are

planning on doing the surgery as early as July. The problem is that he

is feeling great right now so we don't know if this is the right time.

Is it better to have the surgery done when your healthy? Any

suggestions?

Susie

[Guest guest]

Susie,

Welome to the group. There are others here with more experience with

living donor transplants. My husband had a liver transplant in

November and as others will tell you everyone is different. His

doctors did not feel like a living donor transplant would be his best

option because of the scar tissue from his j pouch surgery. I

actually feel that part of that was because although Vandy is a

wonderful hospital, they haven't yet developed experience in living

donor transplants. My husband was actually quite ill when we got the

call. He was in our local hospital where we stayed three out of four

weeks most months prior to finally getting a high enough MELD score

to move to the top of the list. There were many times I was quite

panicked that he wouldn't make it until they finally decided he was

sick enough. It is a decision you and your family must make, but I

kinda feel that if your husband's brother is a match, and is willing,

he may be blessed to do the living donor transplant. As you said, he

isn't that sick now, it's hard to make that decision. In our case,

and most of the others who have had a transplant, you reach a point

where you pray for the transplant. It is no longer something

negative, it is your only option. If your husband isn't that sick,

I'm sure that a transplant is an even more difficult thing to

contemplate. I'm sure you and your family will make the best

decision. This group has been through it all, so they can help you

every step of the way.

wife of

UC & PSC 2000

J pouch 2004

Transplant November 2006 @ 29 years old