50 ways to love your liver

Did you know April 18 to 22 is National Organ Donor week in Canada?

In late October of 2001, I was just about five months pregnant with my first son. I had been over at the grocery store buying Halloween candy for us — er, I mean, the neighbourhood kids. When I came in the door, before I could even get my coat off, Beloved approached me with tears in his eyes. “Your mom called,” he said, and the world stopped turning for the briefest instant. Thankfully, it was not what I was expecting. “They got the call. Your dad is getting his liver transplant.”

In 2003, 124 of every million Canadians — or almost 4,000 people — were waiting for new organs. But the rate of donations was a fraction of that, at just 13.5 organs per million in population.


My dad got Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in the early 1980s. We didn’t find out he was sick until much later. Aside from becoming increasingly weak and frail, one of the most disturbing results of my dad’s cirrhosis was how it affected his cognitive processes. The gist of it is that the liver filters toxins like ammonia out of your blood, and when it isn’t working properly, the toxins can build up, leading to serious cognitive impairment. It really messes with your memory, your moods, and your mental stamina, among other things. In a lot of ways, it is similar to Alzheimer’s disease. It made me so very sad to see him struggling, because my father is one of the smartest people I know, and I aspired as a child to be as funny, as charming and as quick of wit as him.

We have been blessed. After the transplant, it wasn’t long before I had my ‘old’ dad back. There have been some setbacks, and there are ongoing troubles. But every time I see him interact with Tristan and Simon, my heart soars. Simon especially has a thing for his “Papa Lou” and even as I type this, I am grinning as I imagine how his face lights up when my dad catches his eye.

Overall, 250 Canadians — about five each week — died in 2003 while waiting for new organs. Among them were 82 waiting for a kidney, 100 for a liver, 30 needing a heart, 26 a lung and 12 needing other organs or a combination transplant.


I don’t have the words to express how the pain of some family’s loss can be so intimately bound to our family’s joy. I wish I could let them know what a difference their donation has made in our lives.

Within about 18 months of receiving his transplant, my folks moved across the province to live in the same city as us. Some days, when my dad is out and about, he calls me and offers me a ride home from work. They live just a few blocks from us, and when I was home on maternity leave, he would sometimes wander over in midafternoon while taking the dog for an extended walk.

It’s these tiny moments that are the gift we’ve received from an organ donation. How do you say thank you for the joy of a happy life with someone you love? How do you thank someone for the look in a baby’s eyes as his face lights up with excited recognition?

In the US, more than 87,000 people are waiting for the gift of life. Each day, about 74 people receive an organ transplant. However, 17 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs.


Discuss organ donation with your loved ones. Complete an organ donor card (American version). If you can’t take it with you, why not make sure it lives on as the best of you?

(statistics are from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and organdonor.gov)

Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

10 thoughts on “50 ways to love your liver”

  1. I am so happy for your father and your family. I am sure the day you found out he was going to get his liver was one of the happiest days of your life.;)
    I was an organ donor in the States. I never even thought about the fact I would have to change it for living here. I think I should act on that now.

  2. I have had my organ card signed since I was 18 in 1982. My BIL had kidney disease and almost lost his life before anyone KNEW he had it. OMG I’ll never forget how sick he want we went to see him in the Emergency room. Lucky my DH gave him one kidney but at that time they were testing cycolsporne and he lost that kidney and had to have a 2nd transplant. And I’m happy to say he is fine to this day.
    Dani I’m glad Papa Lou is here to love your boys. And I’m sure you and he are too.
    Sign people on the off chance you may save another.

  3. Thanks for the public service announcement! I’m so glad things worked out for your dad. This subject is near to my heart because my husband had a cornea transplant about 12 years ago. We’ve never forgotten that his eyesight is the direct result of one young man’s generosity (although that’s not quite the right word, is it?) and his family’s painful loss.

  4. That is an amazing post Dani. I didn’t know anything about the way liver disease affects you cognitively. Thank-you for the education!

  5. What a wonderful and important post. My card is signed and in my wallet – but more importantly, my husband and family know of my wishes. I’ll remind them today, though.

  6. Very touching and informative Dani. So glad all turned for the best for your dad. My grandpa wasn’t as lucky with his liver cirrhosis, no donors.
    My donor card has always been signed and I’ve already made a donation of another kind as you know 😉

  7. Great post!!! I remember when you were going thru such a horrible time when your dad was sick…and then how elated you were when he ‘got the call’! I love hearing this encouraging true life story again and again. And yes, thanx for the reminder, my card is signed and family knows my wishes to be a donor.

  8. Thanks for the reminder Dani! Used to carry mine everywhere, then lost it and haven’t had it replaced. Will do that this afternoon. How wonderful that you can watch your Dad interact with your boys.
    Thanks,
    Anna

  9. I made all my family fill out cards years ago and when I read a story like this, I remember exactly why I feel so strongly about it. What a great post, and I hope it encourages many people to sign up wherever they live.

  10. My friend is currently awaiting his 3rd kidney transplant….its because of the gift of others that i have this special friend in my life.
    So glad your Dad was able to have the transplant and spend this time with you and his grandchildren.
    Everyone should have the chance, which is why more people should know about organ donations!

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