Colorado man dies after transplant operation

[Daisy and Delilah]

That is an incredible story. Wow!

Isn't it extremely dangerous to remove 60% of someone's liver? I can imagine anything could have easily gone wrong. It just seems unrealistic to think that would work in the donor or the recipient. Wow!

[Grace]

That is an incredible story. Wow!

Isn't it extremely dangerous to remove 60% of someone's liver? I can imagine anything could have easily gone wrong. It just seems unrealistic to think that would work in the donor or the recipient. Wow!

They can take anywhere from 25 - 60%. Most of the liver, in both donor and recipient, will regenerate within a couple of months.

The big problem with liver surgery is the possibility of bleeding - for both parties.

[pomtzu]

That's a pretty sad story.

I worked with a girl in her 30's, who was a perfect match, and thus donated a kidney to her husband. They both did well following the procedure, but I have lost track of her over the years, so I don't know of any updates.

I don't believe I have what it takes to be a living donor, even if I was younger and healthier. I would always have the thought in the back of my head, that if I did this, and then my one remaining kidney failed - then what??? So I'd definitely say that it takes a strong and special person to do this.

[Bonny]

My neighbor received a donor kidney from a man that was killed in a car accident in Texas. So on my drivers license there is donor permission to harvest whatever they can harvest to help someone else. You can give after you are deceased & still help someone live to see another day.

[pomtzu]

So on my drivers license there is donor permission to harvest whatever they can harvest to help someone else. You can give after you are deceased & still help someone live to see another day.

I also was listed as an organ donor on my license for many years, but had it removed when I last had it renewed. Considering my senior status, there isn't much left of me that would benefit anyone else - believe me!

[Grace]

I also was listed as an organ donor on my license for many years, but had it removed when I last had it renewed. Considering my senior status, there isn't much left of me that would benefit anyone else - believe me!

Oh yes there is. They can use your skin for burn patients; if your kidneys are ok they can be used for a senior citizen who might need one. They can use bones, tendons, veins - lots of stuff.

I'm older than you, and I'm still a potential donor.

[Bonny]

Way to go Grace. Pomtzu almost had me thinking my parts wouldn't be worth it & a waste of time. Now I feel better.

[Daisy and Delilah]

They can take anywhere from 25 - 60%. Most of the liver, in both donor and recipient, will regenerate within a couple of months.

The big problem with liver surgery is the possibility of bleeding - for both parties.

Thank you, Gretchen. I can't believe the clear possibility of this happening. The rate of regeneration is amazing.

I would think the bleeding is very hard to control.

[Grace]

I'm reading a book written by a female heart surgeon. She does do transplants. She once had a 63 year old man who needed a new heart. He got it - from a college student who died of head trauma suffered in a fall.

This young man saved or improved the lives of eleven strangers -

1. Corneas to a 14 year old girl who had lost her sight by a corneal perforation. She got to see her parents again.

2. Skin for a temporary graft for a fireman who had 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body rescuing a family from a house fire.

3. Bones, tendons, cartilage, ligaments as grafts to save the legs of a young man who had severe injuries from a car accident. He was thus able to walk again.

4 & 5. Lungs - one each to twin boys dying together from pulmonary fibrosis.

6. Pancreas and one kidney saved a 38 year old woman with brittle diabetes.

7. Other kidney saved a mother of two from dialysis 3X/week.

8 & 9. Liver was split in two - smaller portion to a baby born with biliary atresia who would have died before her first birthday. Larger section to a high school English teacher with Hep C.

10. Small intestine to a child dying of malnutrition 2° to an abnormally short bowel.

11. His heart to this doctor's patient.

One donor - and look at the lives that were saved and/or changed for the better!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

Absolutely wonderful, Gretchen.

[Karen]

I am a donor, they can take whatever they need from me. Sure, my eyes aren't great, and I have worn glasses since the summer I turned 9, but I CAN see with corrective lenses, and that's a whole lot better than being blind!