“Second Chances”
My personal life was pretty normal. I’m married, I have a career and outside interests and I’m active in the church. But one day my normal routine was impacted and changed forever.
Mi hígado falló repentinamente en 2009 debido a una intoxicación por paracetamol, que básicamente acabó con mi hígado. Mi mujer y mi abogado convencieron al equipo de trasplantes hepáticos para que me pusieran en la lista de trasplantes, a pesar de que mis posibilidades de sobrevivir eran escasas. Una vez en la lista, le dijeron a mi mujer que tenía 72 horas para recibir un trasplante.
Me llevaron en silla de ruedas al quirófano en menos de 48 horas, pero el trasplante no se realizó porque estaba demasiado inestable. Este hígado no se desperdició, sino que se envió al siguiente receptor de la lista de trasplantes.
The surgeon came into the waiting room to tell my wife the bad news. Michele asked the surgeon what options there were to save my life. The surgeon said he could remove my liver with the hope that I would stabilize. Then I would be able to receive a liver for a transplant. Michele chose that option knowing it was my only hope for survival. She was then told that I had 48 hours to receive the second liver transplant. My wife, my family, friends and even people I didn’t know, prayed to St. Rita, Saint of the Impossible, for the impossible to happen. Beyond medicine, beyond reason, I received a liver and was successfully transplanted in the eleventh hour of the fifth day.
Michele & I are beyond thankful that I’m here today to lead a normal and productive life. My “Second Chance” has changed my perspective in life. What is important now is very different from what was important before my transplant. Now I’m involved in the transplant community, a volunteer at the OPO and my transplant hospital. Also, my wife and I founded a Maryland Chapter of TRIO (Transplant Recipients International Organization) to support others making the transplant journey. It is now an important & necessary part of my life to be an active member of the transplant community.