FEATUR ES | Breaking the Silence: Organ Transplantation
“I didn’t realize that I had surgery. When the doctor first told me I had a liver transplant, I was in a stupor from the surgery and half-dreaming. My brain was so fuzzy I actually thought Dr. Sharma printed a 3-D liver for me and that we were going to be famous and do a TED Talk together. My doctor got a real kick out of that one.” - Brittany Sandone
From that point on, Bethany seemed to recover at warp speed, the way only a healthy 20-something can. Dr. Sharma encouraged walking and prescribed breathing exercises, so Bethany did laps around the hospital floors, toting her IV pole, tubes, bags, and all. On December 13, she was discharged — an astonishing nine days after receiving her new liver. “We have a video of Bethany walking out of the hospital, a sight we prayed that we would see,” says Scott. “The whole experience was surreal. When we were in the hospital in the thick of it, I felt like I was watching a movie — as if this kind of thing couldn’t possibly be happening to me, to our family.” For three days, Bethany and her parents stayed at the Doorways, a facility that provides hoteltype accommodations for patients at local hospitals and their families. Then they moved into a two-bedroom apartment nearby while Bethany recuperated. “We needed to be close by so I could see my doctor frequently,” says Bethany. “They wanted to make sure my new liver was functioning as it should.” Bethany had blood drawn and saw her surgeon first twice a week, then once a week, then every other week until January 31, when she could finally return home to Pennsylvania. But she would have to keep coming back to VCU Health for at least a year after her transplant. No matter where she is, Bethany is never out of touch with the team at VCU Health. “I check in with Shawn Fenner, my transplant coordinator, regularly. He wants to know how I’m feeling and if my medications are all doing their jobs. I also have a hotline I can call 24/7 if I have any concerns or problems. And I can always email Dr. Sharma directly.” Medication is now a big part of Bethany’s life. “When I first got out of the hospital I was taking 17 pills in the morning and 13 at night. Now I take 11 in the morning and 8 at night.” And she takes every single one happily, knowing that her life-saving medications protect her from infections and organ rejection. Today, as Bethany continues to heal, she is looking to the future and is eager to get back to school. She will take a few online courses this summer and then return to Virginia Tech in January 2018 to complete her degree in environmental science. “I foresee a long, healthy life ahead for Bethany,” predicts Dr. Sharma.
What is acute liver failure? Acute liver failure is a sudden and severe failure of the liver. It can be life threatening. The cause might be an underlying infection, such as hepatitis, or exposure to toxins, alcohol, or medication, including antibiotics and Tylenol. In some cases, including Bethany’s, the condition is cryptogenic: its cause is unknown. Depending on the cause, 40 to 70 people out of 100 will recover without major treatment. In a smaller number of cases, liver transplant offers the only chance for survival.
www.OurHealthswva.com
47