The Application Process:

1. The first step is having a doctors note with your blood type confirmed: Type O+ or O-. If your doctor does not have your blood type on file, you can get a requisition from you doctor and complete your blood test at any LifeLabs near you, and you will have the results within 24 hours.

2. Next is to make sure the application form is filled out and completed. Be sure to have Caius’ full name and birth date: Caius David, 15 October 2012.

3. Once the application has been completed, it can be emailed to livingdonorliver@uhn.ca.

4. While you wait for a response, it can be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Living Donor Manual.

If you are selected as a potential candidate, the next part of the journey will be to visit either Toronto General Hospital and/or Princess Margaret Hospital. A Transplant Team Nurse at UHN will schedule a date and let you know which hospital for which test.

In all, they will take blood and do an ECG, chest X-ray, MRI, and CT scan. For your results, the team will help you set up a patient account to view and share all your results and communicate with the team when that happens.

If you are from out of town, they will try and get everything done in one or two days. These are the hotels they recommend based on location for your convenience:

The Eaton Chelsea Hotel: 416-595-1975 (33 Gerrard St. West)

Super 8 Hotel: 647-426-8118 (222 Spadina Ave.)

Holiday Inn: 416-977-6655 (30 Carlton St)

Courtyard Marriott: 416-924-0611 (475 Yonge St.)

N.B.

When you phone, be sure to say that you are part of the donor program and you are coming for testing. They will give you a discount.

Also, be sure to keep all receipts from your stay—parking, hotel, and food—for the reimbursement PRELOD Program

The transplant team will keep all of your appointments, results, and information private, so you will hear directly from them on the next steps should you be considered as a donor. Please be aware that they reject 60-80 percent of even qualified applicants based on individual anatomy that may not be compatible with the child, even when the applicant is healthy in all respects.

In our experience, the wait is not long. If you are not accepted, please know that we so appreciate your efforts. Ultimately, the doctors will not go ahead if they feel there is safety risk or risk to success to either side. Above all, we want everyone safe and for the transplant to take.

Please know you made an amazing, selfless, and beautiful offer and we will always be grateful!

If you were accepted, we will move forward with scheduling.

There are a few details that can be negotiated for scheduling the transplant. Whenever possible, we want to honour the donor’s life and schedule and based on the recommendation and schedule of the Transplant Team, a date will be set.

The only caveat, of course, would be if the delay was life-threatening and we needed to move more quickly.

You will be discharged, most expectantly, after 5 days of recovery. You will be siting up by the second day and on your way to regrowing your liver.

Once discharged, you will return home and not lift anything heavy for the next 6 weeks. By the end of the 3rd week, your liver will have mostly grown back to its original size. By the end of week 6, most are ready to return to work, albeit without any serious strenuous lifting. Be sure to follow the doctor’s recommendations and consult the guide.

We will of course be in touch and let you know how Caius is doing. And at some point in the future, should you wish it, we will all meet, reflect, and celebrate this amazing story we have woven together!