Donna Stander
I was told in January of 2022 that I needed a liver transplant and that I had 3 to 9 months to live. I was in denial
because every other blood test would get better results and I thought... not me!
About a year ago, I was really sick and probably near death. Most of my muscle and fat was gone. I was 265 lbs,
full of fluid, weak and tired and starting to understand how someone feels when they may not be able to go on.
On 4/2/22 my husband helped me get into our vehicle and took me to the Emergency Room. Thank God! That was the
day my life began to change. I got worse before I got better. The night I arrived at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans I
began having symptoms of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE). I remember being woken up and being asked a lot of
questions. I was so tired and cold. All I wanted to do was sleep. This went on for 4 to 5 days and I gradually began to be
aware of my surroundings.
I went through many tests and was told on the 13th of April I was approved for a transplant. On Holy Thursday,
4/14/22, I received a call and was told I was at the top of the list. I was told to keep my phone plugged in and answer it if
it rings. Early, Good Friday morning my phone rang. My husband answered and was told we had a liver. With tears he
began calling our children with the news.
That day seemed to be an eternity long. I don’t think I slept until 1a.m. the following morning, just before they took me
back for surgery. I kept thinking to myself that this couldn’t be true and was sure I would not make it through surgery.
So much so, that when I woke up I kept seeing this guy who kept smiling like he was happy to see me. Only people in
Heaven are that happy, right? I asked him if he was God. He said “no, I just work here”. To this day I am not sure who
he was, whether he was a doctor or a nurse. I would love to talk with him and discuss our conversations. I am certain it
wasn’t typical of a transplant recipient just waking up from surgery.
So much has changed in the last year. Everything is different. My attitude, my perspective and I am happy. I am
beginning to feel like a normal human being. Better than I have in years. I am certain I had been sick for years but
circumstances blocked many aspects of my illness. I sprained my knee and couldn’t play tennis. A few months later
COVID shut many things down and we stayed home a lot. I figured being less active and sedate was the culprit for my
weight gain and not feeling well.
Now, I am so grateful to so many. God, my Family, the Doctors and Nurses who took care of me. I am eternally grateful
that my donor said “YES” and has given me the opportunity to live and hang out with my loved ones. It took me a while
to wrap my head around the fact that someone died so that I could live. But they didn’t die for me. They said yes to
gift others with life when they couldn’t go on. What a generous thing to do!!
I am grateful to Libbie, who works for LOPA. Her son was a donor. She has met the recipients and encouraged me to
write a letter to my donor and family. It still means a lot to her and she would like to speak to other recipients who
may need to understand that, “the donor’s choice to say yes, is a GIFT”. Not a death sentence but an opportunity for
others, like me, who have the chance to go on.
Eternally Grateful, Blessed and Happy to be Alive!
Are you a registered donor? I am.