I was one of the 5000+ people to be fortunate enough to have received a liver transplant thanks to a most wonderful, totally unselfish donor. And not forgetting a bunch of pretty amazing staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Having nothing better to do, I was trolling "YouTube" just now and came across this little gem of information. I thought some of you may find this interesting. This video was posted up just three weeks ago, so the information is quite up-to-date.
Thats amazing to watch, what they can do now is spectacular. I know there are many people who have or need a liver transplant but that girl on the video, well it just really touched me, she looked so very young healthy and well. it does bring a tear to my eyes and i hear the gratitude of many people's posts who still think about thier donor. its humbling. thanks for posting this.
I saw an article on tv about that machine. I think that the doctor who was speaking on the clip is the person who invented it. Amazing. I'm new to cirrhosis or at least I wasn't diagnosed until july this year. I think I must have had it some time though, I've had the spider naevie for a couple of years. I worry that I might need a transplant sometime in the future but hopefully if I'm ever in that position medical science will have moved on as it always does.
I received my new liver last October at Addenbrookes, and I was incewdibly lucky to benefit from this machine. My donated liver was at first considered not totally viable for transplant, but after 4 hours on this machine (the Rig, they called it and it was so new it had only been used a couple of times before me) with ‘warm fluids’ run through it, my liver was deemed safe and good enough for transplant. So after receiving a phone call at 3 in the morning, a 3 hour trip to Addenbrookes, a 14 hour wait to actually find out if I would be sent home or not, I finally went down to theatre at 8pm. If it hadn’t been for this machine I would’ve been sent home and to wait for another call. I honestly felt that I hadn’t long left as couldn’t walk, shower, eat , hold a conversation without asking ‘what were we talking about’ or do anything that made me feel useful or needed.
Thanks to this wonderful, incredible miracles of modern science, I received my liver, and I’m doing very well. Have had no real issues or infections, apart of one whilst in ICU and don’t remember that 😊
I have been so incredibly lucky.
The absolutely best bit about this new piece of technology is that more people will be able to,receive life changing surgery. An extra 400 people according to,a documentary I watched about pioneering surgeons, potentially could receive the gift of life via a new liver and that is incredible.
Thank you Richard, always great to see Birmingham showcase their expertise and innovation in liver transplant research. I am and always will be in awe of the amazing care I received there as I also am one of the fortunate ones to have been a recipient of a wonderful, unselfish gift of a donor liver. A much needed transplant due to cirrhosis, caused by PBC. The excellent care I received at the hands of some wonderful people, the surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff. Such a fantastic group of people, every single one! So dedicated to saving the patients in their care. I literally wouldn’t be here without them! Although I’m sure I could be using this precious time more wisely than watching a cheesy 40 year old James Bond film but hey ho, it is Sunday morning 😁 what else would I be doing? 🤨
An amazing video , I am one of those benefiting as well, it makes me think of the donors and those still waiting., and how lucky I have been.
I think and pray for all those still waiting, and admire their amazing strength and hope their day comes soon.
I’m pretty sure the young woman (Amy?) in the video was one of the nurses who cared for me on the Ward while I was recovering from my transplant in Birmingham. Such a lovely person & how amazing that she now cares for others in the same situation! Also met Alan the gentleman with her who does so much to promote patient care, education & support. He’s so easy to talk to, would love to go to the support group, it’s just so far from home! The Dr in the video I met at my transplant assessment!
So bizarre seeing this video and having a personal connection! 😊
I was lucky enough to also benefit from this machine as had been told by my surgeon he had checked the donor liver on it before coming to see me.
What an incredible machine almost as incredible as my Donor and family
Huw
Hi Richard
Great post! I had my tp just over 4 weeks ago at QEHB and woke up (asleep again, now theres a surprise) and found the charming and interesting, and inspirational, Alan Hyde standing by my bed. We had chat for about 30 minutes during which time he showed me pictures (I think the are in the Assement Clinics as well) of how he looked before the operaion - and seeing them reminded me of the awful pictures of POWs - completely emaciated. To see him now 17 or 19 years after his tp (I forget how many years (well there’s a surprise) was totally inspiring. And all the work does like visiting patients is voluntary. Amazing.
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Liver transplant
Well getting ready to travel to QE Birmingham 
TRAVELLING ABROAD, POST LIVER TRANSPLANT.
Awaiting liver transplant - Kings College Hospital
