Since the last update, Mark had been able to start living on his own. This photo was taken at the end of December when he was living at home, but with assistance. Since then, Mark 's health declined further, requiring hospitalization, where he remains. His appetite is very low, and he is now getting nutrition through a nasogastric tube feed. He still gets regular parcenteses (abdominal draining) and physiotherapy to help him walk. He is awaiting transfer to Toronto for further transplant assessment. He needs a transplant immediately.
Mark still needs a liver donor.
Over the last month Mark has been to Emergency twice: once leading to admission for 5 days, another leading to an overnight stay, both with significantly low sodium and decreased renal function. He is not yet back living on his own, as he remains weak, needing care for meals and daily functioning.
We are touched and thankful to know that at least two people had stepped forward to be assessed as a liver donor. The UHN hospital is excellent at taking utmost care to ensure the safety and confidentiality of donors. We thank UHN for screening people cautiously. Unfortunately, both those persons have not been accepted as donors. As UHN is committed to donor safety and privacy, we are understandably not informed whether others are on the list to be assessed. They have only been able to tell us: “We recommend keeping your donor campaign open.” Please let’s keep this campaign open. Spread the word through e-mails, posters, flyers and social media. Follow or Like our Facebook page and Subscribe to MarkNeedsALiver.ca for information and updates.
MARK IS OFFICIALLY ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST
We spent this week at UHN in Toronto, for a thorough transplant evaluation. Mark was officially added TODAY to the transplant list (previously transplant was still subject to in-person evaluation at UHN).
What we learned during this week of doctor visits:
- Mark’s condition is deteriorating rapidly and transplant is now needed urgently.
- Given his frailty and rapid muscle loss, he would not survive the wait for a deceased donor.
- Living liver donation technique has improved, so that the surgical scar for the donor is now midline and only about 4” long. Donor hospital stay is about 4 days. The donor can be off pain meds in 1 week and back to work in 2 weeks for desk jobs and 4 weeks for heavier duties.
- Now that he is on the list, living donor applicants will be formally evaluated and contacted by UHN.
We had a close opportunity:
SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS! Yesterday, a stranger in southern USA found our Facebook page, and contacted us wishing to donate their dying family member’s liver to Mark. However, Mark wasn’t “on the list” until today so donation wasn’t a possibility. To the family: Thank you. We are grateful that people like you are willing to donate organs. You have given a beautiful, generous gift to the family that received the liver and the other organs. And you have given us hope that a liver will come our way. To everyone reading this: Social media works. Please forward this website.
We need a donor URGENTLY!
MARK IS OFFICIALLY ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST
We spent this week at UHN in Toronto, for a thorough transplant evaluation. Mark was officially added TODAY to the transplant list (previously transplant was still subject to in-person evaluation at UHN).
What we learned during this week of doctor visits:
- Mark’s condition is deteriorating rapidly and transplant is now needed urgently.
- Given his frailty and rapid muscle loss, he would not survive the wait for a deceased donor.
- Living liver donation technique has improved, so that the surgical scar for the donor is now midline and only about 4” long. Donor hospital stay is about 4 days. The donor can be off pain meds in 1 week and back to work in 2 weeks for desk jobs and 4 weeks for heavier duties.
- Now that he is on the list, living donor applicants will be formally evaluated and contacted by UHN.
We had a close opportunity:
SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS! Yesterday, a stranger in southern USA found our Facebook page, and contacted us wishing to donate their dying family member’s liver to Mark. However, Mark wasn’t “on the list” until today so donation wasn’t a possibility. To the family: Thank you. We are grateful that people like you are willing to donate organs. You have given a beautiful, generous gift to the family that received the liver and the other organs. And you have given us hope that a liver will come our way. To everyone reading this: Social media works. Please forward this website.
We need a donor URGENTLY!
Mark's abdomen gets severely distended due to the build-up of fluid (ascites). This causes severe pain, and he cannot eat leading to further weight loss and weakness. He requires weekly draining of this fluid by a procedure called paracentesis.
This is the fluid that is drained from his abdomen during a paracentesis. Every week they typically drain between 8 to 10 litres of fluid from his abdomen or the equivalent of 5 large bottles of soda.
He always feels much better after the drainage, but within days, the fluid builds up again, leaving him nauseous, unable to eat, and very weak. He will continue with the weekly procedure, while awaiting the next step.