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Liver for Linda
A Liver for Linda – my journey
At the beginning of 2008 I became ill and spent almost a year unwell. No one seemed to have an answer. At the beginning of 2009 I was taken to hospital with what I now know to be encephalopathy. I had fluid in my pleural cavity and had a sealed drain inserted and 12 litres of fluid drained. 
After a long stay in hospital I was diagnosed as suffering from an autoimmune liver disease, which was causing lots of problems.
I spent lots of time in and out of hospital and received the news that the only thing that would help me would be a liver transplant, and in mid September of that year I was admitted to Flinders Medical Centre for transplant assessment. I experienced a few hiccups along the way with more encephalopathy incidents, and troublesome dental work requirements (my blood would not clot) and many more stays in hospital. I was placed on the list for a transplant.
At my own insistence I went home from hospital for Christmas. I had the feeling that it could be my last Christmas and I wanted so desperately to spend it with my family. I was very unwell and on the morning of Boxing Day I knew I had no choice but to get back into hospital. On the 29th of December I got the news. There was a liver for me.
After much preparation and some time with my family I went to theatre at about 4am on 30th December 2009, feeling an immense sense of calm and peace.
Surgery went well and I made good progress with a few hiccups along the way. I was well on the way to going home until I contracted Stevens Johnson Syndrome due to an allergy to an antibiotic. I was desperately ill for three long weeks and required five lots of surgery to have dressings changed, but my new liver was working well and saw me through all of that.
I finally came home in early April and have made wonderful progress - I live because of the generosity of my donor and family and I live each day with a thankful heart – I am grateful to my donor and family.
I know personally the benefit of organ donation. A liver transplant saved my life.