Recipient of live liver donation going home from hospital

[WendyWeber]

I hadn't heard about this before

The son donated 60% of his healthy liver to the father and they are both fine - the op only took place on June 21st.

Fantastic!

Even if it were your own child, noddy. And you knew your child was taking a very significant risk with their health by donating to you?

I can't say I would unequivocally.

I think it depends on the person.

A very dear friend of my father's turned down being put on the transplant list at all.

He was in his 70s, and felt that his quality of life would not be good post-transplant, that he'd lived what he felt was a full life and was ready to move on.

Of course, someone younger, it's different.

But I can't see allowing my child to put herself at that big a risk for me, because if she were old enough to be a live donor, then that means she is an adult.

And I am not young. She is. With the rest of her life ahead of her.

And I want nothing more than for both of them to have healthy adult lives.

Even if it's without me.

My mother and brother have both donated and are fit as fiddles It is routine sugery now and I think if someone wants to do it its fine although i know I am coming from a biased view so won't post on this thread xx

God, Fio, that was a horrific ammount of emotional pressute to be put under!

I also had no idea that living donation of lung is a possibility.

It's NOT routine here, this is the first one done on the NHS with a liver.

And no operation is without risks.

Sorry, but there's NO WAY I would let my child do this for me.

NO WAY I would even bring the possibility of their being a donor up, because I wouldn't want them to feel pressured.

Organ harvesting is routine not that particular op.What people don't realise is that removing an organ because it is diseased has been routine surgery for yrs and is not seen as high risk.I agree that no one should feel pressured but I think you will find that few donors are asked and most offer (at least ime)Fio's case sounds awful

I agree taking a diseased organ is differnet but the actual procedure is no more life threatening.Kidneys are often seen as different because we have two I suppose.I really think any discussion on organ donation is very difficult because you really don't know what you would do until faced with it.

my grandfather had one kidney they didn;t find out until he was in his 70's and died in his 80's. I was expected to have only one functioning kidney (in fact have one and a bit) and was told it was perfectly feasible to get by on half a kidney.

I agree with Fio that no-one really knows until they are in the position themselves.

I think that I would give up a kidney for a family member/close mate. I'm not so sure about a lung. Would feel 'happier' about giving up a bit of liver, as it does re-grow.

You need one third of one kidney or one third of a whole liver to live perfectly normally.The biggest risk in the op is the anaesthetic which I understand.

Does anyone know what the outlook is for the son? Will he have a normal life expectancy ?

Yes he will There are NO cases of donor problems which is reassuring but not a guarantee.i think it is a great thing he has done when you need an organ it is like life is being sucked out of you and then due to someone elses selflessness you are literally reborn I cannot stress how amazing it is.I agree it is not for everyone and should be a choice

Thats amazing . Good luck to both of them

I'd give some of my liver to my kids or my parents if they needed it, or to my best friend or dh. I wouldn't think twice.

I probably would have too before DS but now (and I'm single) I would have to think twice.

I'd give it to my kids. I can say that.

Agree with most on this thread. I would do anything for my kids. I would die for them. But would not expect them (or allow them) to take any risks for me.

But everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should be respected for that IMHO

If you look at the photo of the man and his son I think you can see why the son agreed - his father is only 51, he looks about 70, and the lad is 20 - he wants his father around for a bit longer.

IMHO, once a child is over 18 the decision should be theirs - they still need their parents, and if they volunteer to donate an organ (or part of an organ) to help that parent stay alive, then to refuse would be wrong.