World Hepatitis Day: Living organ donor helps in battle against illness

Hepatitis is characterised by inflammation of the liver. Coreen Walstra, project manager at Transplant Education for Living Legacies (Tell) , is a living testimony of how the virus can affect your life and how she leads a much better life thanks to a friend who donated part of his liver to her.

Types of Hepatitis

• Hepatitis A: Infection of the liver caused by a virus that is spread by coming into contact with someone who has recently been infected with the virus or through contaminated food and drink.
• Hepatitis B: A virus carried in blood and body fluids which infects and damages the liver.  It is spread by blood to blood contact, however, hepatitis B is also present in other body fluids such as saliva, semen and vaginal fluid. The WHO estimates that one third of the world’s population has been infected at some time.
• Hepatitis C: A virus that is carried in blood and body fluids that infects and damages the liver. The hepatitis C virus is highly infectious; this means you can get the virus even if you have only been in contact with a very small amount of it. It can be passed on through open cuts, wounds or scratches but cannot be passed on through unbroken skin.
• Hepatitis E: Caused by a virus spread through food or water that has been contaminated with faeces from people or animals with the infection. Most people have no symptoms and get better quickly but serious or long term (chronic) hepatitis E can happen in people who are immunosuppressed, have had a transplant, are pregnant, or already have another liver condition.
• Autoimmune Hepatitis: An autoimmune disorder where your body’s immune system (the body’s defence against illness) attacks your body’s own cells.

Source: Johns Hopkins – Hepatitis

Coreen’s Story

Walstra was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis when she was one year old.

In 2019, her health took a turn for the worse and she was admitted to hospital for continuous infections. Her symptoms became more prominent – feeling exhausted with worrying water retention issues. It was then decided to list her for a transplant.

In 2020 a friend of hers, Morgan Kloes, offered to donate a portion of his liver to Walstra.  Upon hearing the news that she had a donor, she says she felt both excited and nervous.

“Everything I was hoping for had now become a reality. I was worried about Morgan and what would happen to him. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity at a healthier life, and nervous about the outcome.”

After numerous tests, Kloes was found to be a match and the transplant surgery took place on the October 5, 2021.

The transplant was a huge success and Walstra is now able to live a better life. She feels more energetic, stronger and more settled in her day to day activities.

“I get nervous that my health may take another dip, but on the whole I’m incredibly grateful for everything that Morgan has done for me. My support system has been so overwhelming, and I wouldn’t be here today without them.”

Kloes is well too, his liver grew back to its original size within six weeks after the surgery.

When asked why he chose to donate part of his liver, Kloes said “Coreen has always brought joy to everyone around her, even when she was in pain. Even when things were dark for her, she always strove to make the lives of those around her better. She deserves to have a long and happy life. The world is a better place with her in it. I think some things are just meant to happen. I was meant to see her post and I was meant to have the courage to help her, because I could.”

Living Organ Donation

Living liver donation is not very common but is hugely successful for liver transplant recipients. One is able to donate a portion of their liver because the liver can regenerate.

Anyone who hasn’t had previous liver infections and are below the age of 50, can apply to be a living donor.

To qualify as a donor, blood tests are the first step. If they are approved, more tests will follow.  Blood type, height, health and the prospective donor’s support system are taken into account.

If an immediate family member donates a part of their liver, there is no requirement for approval from the health department. However, if the donor is not an immediate family member, the final step of the process is to obtain approval from the department.

This requires both the donor and the recipient to sign a declaration form confirming that the donor has not been forced into this decision, and they will not receive monetary benefits.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit Tell’s social media pages @tellorgza, their website at www.tell.org.za or e-mail: info@tell.org.za