Transplant Success!!

[Whoyle]

By the grace of God, the immeasurable love and generosity of my donor and their family, and the wonderful staff at UNC-CH, I was successfully transplanted with my new liver March 2, 2011!

I was listed August of 2010, my MELD had risen to 28, and right up until I received the offer, I had received no calls at all, as a back up or otherwise. But as my wonderful wife always reminds me, things happen for a reason. Because of the concerns of the HCC spreading outside of my liver, and the continued ablation therapies attempting to keep it in check, I had agreed to consider an extended criteria donor. As it turned out, I was told that the offer was a perfect match for me, and a perfectly healthy liver! I was out of ICU in less than 24 hours, transported from ICU to a regular room by wheelchair (no stretcher requiired), needed NO blood transfusion throughout the surgery, and was back home in 6 days!

Now, a little more than 2 weeks out, my labs continue to look good. I feel better everyday, and truly haven't felt this well in months! I would like to say THANK YOU to those of you who have indulged me and my questions as I waited. A special thanks to Mike and Wanda, whose journey earlier was very similar in some respects to mine, enlightened and relieved us with information that helped us know what to expect, and who we got to meet at my first post transplant clinic. And, of course, the biggest thanks of all to the wonderfully selfless family whose generosity has given me a miraculous second chance at life!

To those still waiting, our thoughts, hopes, and prayers are with you. Believe that things happen for a reason. Take care of yourself through diet and excercise, whatever you can do, and keep your family close. From the donor and their family, to the miraculous hands of the surgeons, the TLC of the nursing staff, the love and support of family, and the endless prayers of total and complete strangers, this can only be described as a devine miracle. We believe, we know, that this has not only saved my life, it has CHANGED my life. And I will spend the rest of my life attempting to "pay it forward".

Bill

[Betty W.]

I am so happy for you !!! I also am from NC and my license plates reads....GIVELIFE......A friend of mine died this month and was a donor....The family kept her on a rspirator until all had said their
"goodbyes.....It was so sad.......!  Part of her lives on...and that is the great part !
I have HCV and could never be a donor and I am also 68 so God has blessed me in that I will probabley die with something else ! I have had this dreaded disease for about 35 years now
from a blood transf. May you have a speedy recovery

  God Bless you !
  Betty

[MissyMouse]

Bill/Whoyle...
 
What an awesome, wonder, upbeat, fabulous, happy dancing update!

Congratulations to you I'm truly thrilled for you!

Mouse

[DougV]

I'm so sorry I didn't see this immediately, and have no clue how I missed it....

That is so awesome.  I gather you must be feeling a heck of a lot better.  Wish you the very best and a speedy and full recovery.

Doug

[Whoyle]

Thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement.
to get that second chance
Betty, thank you so for your efforts to spread the word about "Giving Life". It's good folks like you that make it possible for people like me to have that second chance at life!

Yes Missy, a very happy jump up and down, grinning from ear to ear kinda dance, the best dance my wife and I have ever had!

And Doug, you are correct. The difference in how I felt pre and post transplant is incredible! And immediate!

Bill

[Helen]

So happy to hear this is going so well for you and I think it brings hope to others that are on the transplant list. 
 Success stories like this can be so uplifting to all of us.
 
  Hope you will stay around here at the board.