I am grateful that I work and learn on the ancestral and unceded lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations in Burnaby and on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in Port Moody
Mar 19, 2023
THE LIVER IS ON THE WAY
2024-12-7
Twelve years ago, I had a liver transplant in December.
Once notification is made, the patient must arrive at the hospital within two hours to benefit from the still fresh enough condition of the donated liver. Delay will take away this golden opportunity. Blood test and assessment will be done immediately to determine if the liver matches with the patient. If not, the patient has a “dry run” and needs to wait for another call. It is very stressful. A few hard lucks followed me on that day.
HARD LUCKS
Canadians are caring, but careless. I was instructed waiting for the urgent call of transplant through the pager assigned to me. Instead the call was made to my home and my wife was there that day. With hesitation she replied and called me afterward to check if the call was spam. And it was real. Immediately a colleague drove me to the hospital. During the ride he asked how I felt. “Exciting” was my answer. At the same time my wife called our younger son to go to the hospital together.
After arrival and registration at the emergency by 3 pm, I waited, checked with the reception.., and it was 5 pm…Then my phone rang and a lady on the other end of the phone asked if I arrived, and found out that no one was sent to bring me to their ward. Finally a care aid showed up trying to identify a very sick patient. I approached her and it surprised her that I still looked healthy. She led me to the ward.
LAST WORDS AND AFTERMATH
“It is a small piece of cake.” It was the comforting words from the doctor in charge. Before entering the operation room, I told my son who was 20 not to blame anyone, especially the transplant team if the operation was unsuccessful. It was because everyone has done their best to help me. I never want my family to live their lives with doubts and sourness. Instead, they should accept the facts and face reality.
Successful liver transplant patients can live for 22 more years as said by the websites that time. My wife always attended to me, arranged our lives, took care of me, and planned for the family. Yet she left halfway at eleven and a half years which was unthinkable by then.