My husband’s life is in danger!

Please read to the end. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

He was the best man and way out of my league. Gorgeous, smart, sexy, kind and the most passionate man on that dance floor. The year was 1976, we were at Donna and Floyd’s wedding. When David asked me to attend a private party, my heart fluttered for the first time in my life!

I knew our journey together would have challenges. What marriage doesn’t? Together, we stepped up to meet every one of them. David was and always will be my every breath, dream and desire. Today, he is my every prayer. We do everything together. From grocery shopping to riding his Harley Davidson, kayaking, fishing, hunting and watching old black and white movies. My heart smiles every time David reaches for my hand, kisses me with those smiling blue eyes.

September 2, 2021, a tick bite brought him to Sharon Hospital where he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. He contracted hepatitis C while working for New York State in the early seventies. Back then there was no cure or treatment for Hepatitis C – also known as the silent killer.

On September 28^th we met with a liver specialist, Dr. Lorna Dove from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She promised us, along with her team and the right liver donor, David can be saved. Before we left her office I looked at her and said, “You mean save us. This man is my life! Saving him means saving me, too.”

January 2022, David was approved and placed on the donor list. I’ve learned so much these past few months: Our liver has two parts, a small lobe and a large lobe. A donor can be a living person. A living donor transplant is a surgical procedure in which a patient on the waiting list receives their transplant from a suitable donor who elects to donate a piece of their healthy liver. You can give a portion of your liver and it will grow back!

A living donor liver transplant is most desirable because it provides immediate organ availability to those awaiting transplantation. Thus, patients can avoid long waits for scaring donor organs, minimizing progression of liver disease and lowering the risk of life threatening complications that may accompany severe liver disease.

A donor can be between the ages of 18 and 59. The decision to donate should be completely voluntary. Donors do not receive compensation. After transplant, the partial livers of both the donor and the recipient will grow and remodel to form complete organs that function normally.

Living donors allow the recipients to get transplant before they become gravely ill. It lowers the risk of dying while waiting for a transplant and therefor reduces mortality rates significantly.

• Living donor hospitalization is about 3 to 7 days.
• The liver portion of both the living donor and the recipient will grow to nearly full size in 12 weeks.
• Living donor can expect to take approximately 4 to 10 weeks off from work.
• Common donor complaints are fatigue and incision pain.
• Living donors are able to donate their right or left liver lobes.

I just learned about the liver swap program spearheaded by Dr. Alyson Fox at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. If you need a liver transplant and have a donor, however they are not compatible to you…Perhaps they are a match for someone else. Hey, we can swap! Dr. Fox can arrange for a paired exchange.

Example: Joe and Jack need a liver transplant.

Joe is type A his donor is type B.

Jack is type B and his donor is type A.

Perfect scenario for a paired liver swap!

You can become a living donor by calling (212) 305-9381 or by logging online to the donor portal: www.ny.p.org/livingdonorliver

For more information you can contact New York Presbyterian Hospital at the center for liver disease transplant center at https://columbiasurgery.org/liver/living-donor-program

After forty-six years he is still my world! If you can help or know someone who would be a good match, please reach out, share this message and consider becoming a living donor. With all my heart thank you for reading my plea. God bless you.

Love, hugs and kisses,

Judy Prescott Marshall

(845) 905-2935

Judymarshall.us@gmail.com