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| Imagine living with a 34-pound liver. A single mother and her liver are making history at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Fox TV first introduced Debbie Scherr a few years ago when her genetic liver disease, polycystic liver disease PLD, was taking over her body, and her life. But this month a rare set of circumstances brought an unexpected and happy ending to this story. Debbie Scherr's Story - watch the video of her liver transplant Hi everyone - I finally was blessed with a new liver on December 2nd and so far only minor bumps! The stars literally fell my way that day - the donor was a woman in her 40s who had had a stroke. She was a large woman and a number of facilities refused the liver because it would be too fatty. We took a chance and since I was so large and could take a larger liver we decided to try it. When they took the donor liver it wasn't very fatty at all and they felt very good about it and since I was local. I was the liver lottery winner! My liver was 35 pounds when they took it out (it is now in 3 buckets in pathology). Fox news did a final follow-up story (3rd one) and it aired on Christmas Eve. I am hoping my doctors will present my case to the UNOS and show the massive size - nobody should have to carry a liver that big. It was so painful and the quality of life we have was greatly diminished. It is amazing after 7 years of waiting the little things I now notice and we seemingly forget as the liver progresses. I remember taking a shower and seeing my lap for the first time! Didn't have to walk like a pregnant woman (although I am hunched a bit forward with all the stitches and staples!). I can sit a couple of hours without going to the bathroom and I have a lot more room to eat (not sure if that is a good thing!). I do have quite a bit of skin - like when real heavy people lose a lot of weight - it is just hanging there and I am trying to get use to the new look of my mangled body. One of the doctors said I will probably need some additional abdominal work - I had absolutely no muscle in my abdomen or back (I was 53 inches around when I checked in for surgery) - all the muscles were literally stretched out. Minor complaints. I was truly blessed this Christmas and I hope my story will help our disease. Thank you everyone who has gotten me through the last 6 years - it has truly been a comfort when nobody else really understands what we go through - not even our families. |
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