Last Christmas, I knew a liver transplant was my only chance to survive. This holiday, I’m alive because of the ultimate gift.
It never leaves my thoughts that someone I don't know made it possible for me to still be here.
December 20, 2022In September, I celebrated my 35th anniversary as a VUMC employee. I’m proud of this accomplishment and incredibly fortunate to have reached this milestone at all. You see, during the holidays last year everything about my future was in doubt. Last Christmas, I knew a liver transplant was my only chance to survive.
I was in end-stage organ failure and hoping for a miracle. When you’re dying, you find out in a very personal way how important it is that our institution values and supports its people.
After 20 years with an insidious autoimmune disorder attacking my liver, it was done. By early May, my wife, Blayne, and I were on 6 MCE. I was in end-stage organ failure and hoping for a miracle.
I’ve always been grateful to work with smart, hard-working colleagues who are completely dedicated to their responsibilities. Many are the very best in the nation or world at what they do. When you’re dying, you find out in a very personal way how important this is, that our institution values and supports its people and their tireless efforts to save patients from dire circumstances.
Photo by Donn Jones
While few will ever need an organ transplant, you should take comfort in knowing your colleagues will do everything possible to save your life. That this an institutional capability should be added to our list of employee benefits.
Even before becoming listed with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in hopes of a new liver, I knew I had the care, concern, and hundreds of years of expertise in my corner through the Vanderbilt Transplant Center. For example, my wonderful and inspiring hepatologist caring for me since diagnosis in 2003, Dr. David Raiford, used his considerable wisdom to wring the last mile out of my dying liver, buying me precious years in the process.
Looking back, it seems as if fate put me here at VUMC all those years ago at the home of the nation’s best transplant center.
However, there are no guarantees when you need a donated organ. My UNOS listing started a monthslong wait due to the perpetual shortage of donor organs. Sadly, in the U.S., according to UNOS, 17 people die each day waiting for organs. A new name is added to transplant wait lists in UNOS’ system every 9 minutes. This year, as of December, there were more than 105,000 people hoping for a second chance.
On Tuesday, May 10, a date Blayne and I now recognize as my second birthday, entering my room at midday was my incredible surgeon, Dr. Lee Gorden, who said it was possible a donor liver was available. For my blood group— livers are matched by blood group and body size – I was the sickest on VUMC’s list, and it was possible the organ could be mine.
I’m here to revel in another Christmas because of a dedicated team of renowned experts and my donor. Someone I’ll never get to meet saved my life through the ultimate act of generosity. At this point, I know he was a husband and father of six who lived in the Midwest. Through an intermediary, I’m in contact with his wife and hope to meet his family. It never leaves my thoughts that someone unknown made it possible for me to still be here.
A new chance at life is a remarkable feeling. What I’m taking away from a year of many challenges is a renewed sense of gratitude.
Even after my transplant, I was ill for weeks due to years of liver disease. Enough can’t be said about our world class nurses. During almost a month in the SICU, I was in awe of these fearless, gifted professionals who were so essential to my recovery. They calmly and patiently dealt with my setbacks while pushing me forward.
A new chance at life is a remarkable feeling. What I’m taking away from a year of many challenges is a renewed sense of gratitude. Whether it’s being awakened an hour early every morning by the 15-pound poodle in charge of our house or being back on campus every day with people I admire so much, a return to normal feels indescribable.
Throughout my illness the kindness and support I received from hundreds of colleagues, my department, my supervisor and his supervisor made all the difference in the outcome. I am forever thankful. I hope you never need the same type of assistance, but if you do, your colleagues will be here for you too.
This year, the physicians, nurses and staff of the Transplant Center will save more than 600 lives. It’s an awe-inspiring achievement. However, these professionals who stand ready can’t help if donor organs aren’t available. If you would like to consider the opportunity to register as an organ donor, you can find out more through Tennessee Donor Services or Donate Life.
John Howser is VUMC’s Chief Communications Officer.
