10th November 2003

Denny's Story

Denny wanted to share his experience with other transplant patients. Obviously everyone's experience is different.

My transplant, my caravan, MY LIFE!

It just doesn't seem possible that a year has passed since my liver transplant. Yet here I am with my wife Fran, enjoying the Devon countryside in glorious sunshine. The reason that I am writing this is to reassure anybody who has to face a liver transplant, that it is not the end of the world, but can be the beginning of a whole new life. A priceless gift, another chance to live life to the full. This is a brief account of my own experience.

My wife and I had both retired in October 2001 and then on December 18th 2001, we were given the "dreaded news". After suffering with ulcerative colitis for many years and then developing primary schlerosing cholangitis (PSC), I had reached the point where I needed a liver transplant.

So February 2002 saw me attending Addenbrooke's for an assessment and after five days, I was told that I had been accepted onto the Transplant list. Strangely enough, this was very happy news. No fear or worry about the impending operation, only the thought that, at last Fran and I could look forward to the future and a happy retirement together. In May 2001, with our retirement in mind, we had bought a motor caravan with plans to spend lots of time touring the countryside. My need to have a liver transplant appeared to have changed all of these plans.

Whilst I was being assessed at Addenbrooke's, Fran stayed in B & B accommodation near the hospital. This was OK but we made the decision that she would stay in our caravan during my operation, particularly as the Caravan Club site was close to the hospital at Cherry Hinton. We had been told that we would get approximately three hours notice when a liver became available. Towing time from home was about one and a half hours so this was not seen as a problem.

Then on June 11th 2002 came "the call". It was Emma from Addenbrooke's advising me that a liver was available and that we should make our way to the hospital as quickly as possible, but not to panic. Everything had been prepared and packed for the last 14 weeks, so we got ourselves ready and half an hour later, at 10.30am, we set off for Addenbrooke's. En route we made a phone call to the warden at the Caravan site to warn him of our arrival. We dropped the "van" and then arrived at the hospital at 12 noon. Here we were met, welcomed and made our first real contact with C9's very dedicated team of lovely, friendly, efficient people. Just what you need at a time like this. Still no fear or panic. Everything cool, calm and collected. After having blood taken and other tests and checks, I was ready. Put on the funny gown, then taken to theatre by a jovial porter to meet Luc Delriviere and his team. Yet another lovely person. Still no worries and certainly no second thoughts. This was it !

"The next time I see you, it will all be over and you will begin to feel much better" said Luc with a handshake in a very believable way. It was 2.30pm. I do not remember much after that until 11pm. Luc was there again as I returned to the world of the living. He was joined by my wife Fran, complete with smile, so maybe I didn't look so bad ! It was over, I was alive and feeling reasonably OK.

The next few days were a little uncomfortable but I did feel better. I had minor ups and downs, but reassurances from everyone, including other patients, helped me through. 18 days later I was discharged and Fran and I decided that we would spend my first night of freedom in our caravan at Cherry Hinton. The fact that it was only a few minutes away from Addenbrooke's was very reassuring.

The next day we returned home. Apart from one minor setback and a slight worry about not being able to put on weight, things have gone smoothly for me. It is now over a year since my transplant and I am enjoying life to the full. In 2002, in what Fran and I call, "Transplant Year", we managed to spend about five weeks away in the caravan. I could not drive, which I found very frustrating and this was probably my biggest hardship at the time. Then after 12 weeks I am able to drive again and am let loose to spend a couple of weeks in the Cotswolds and then on to see our five youngest grandchildren. Life is just so good !

This year, 2003, we intend to make up for lost time and spend even more time touring. My new liver and I are enjoying our new found life, together with my wife and our caravan. I have written this in the hope that it may be of some help to others awaiting transplantation.

Denny, aged 66 years