Transplant Talks

Matison Deaton is a remarkable woman, with perseverance that most cannot even imagine. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 1 1/2 years old, so her life was filled with lots of doctors’ appointments and all kinds of things that kids just shouldn’t have to experience. She knew from a young age that she may one day need a lung transplant. Her doctors didn’t tell her she had kidney disease – she found out from her “after-visit summary” and later learned she would need both a double lung and a kidney transplant. Mattie also found out from her notes that she was estimated to have 5-7 years left to live. It was 6 years into this span that she finally found a transplant center willing to take a risk, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). This was only after being rejected 13 times from other centers, due to being thought to be “too high risk” because she had a multi-drug-resistant lung infection. Mattie says that it was almost “out of spite” that she kept trying…and because she didn’t want others to have to go through what she did. “One day, you guys could be wrong.”  And they were.

Mattie offers insight into what it is like to navigate the complex emotions of receiving a gift that is someone else’s loss…to feel excitement and hope mixed with grief that is not her own.  Recovery was so difficult that, at one point, she felt regret. But, about 6 months later, she was moving forward. She describes what it is like now to be able to change her own sheets, to laugh without worrying about vomiting, and finally, to dance. She also talks about navigating the uncertainty of figuring out how to build a life that is not just filled with illness. 

For more information on organ transplantation:

https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org

www.livingliverdonation.com 

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Dr. Marsh, a professor of psychology and an altruism researcher at Georgetown University, collaborates with our Director of Psychological Services, Dr. Tyler Branagan, alongside our host and psychiatrist, Dr. Rachel Davis.

Together, they delve into the driving forces behind altruism and how it manifests in the actions of living donors!

Dr. Marsh is an altruism researcher at Georgetown University. She interviews Dr. Davis about her altruistic living liver donation and what motivates altruistic giving, especially among living donors. Tune in to listen to this thought-provoking episode.

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Barbara Gould, who, after a grueling battle with COVID-19, received a life-saving liver transplant from Casey Czerpak, a selfless living donor.

We'll talk about their moving journey, the challenges they faced, and how their experience deeply affected their families, highlighting the incredible impact of organ donation. Join us to discover their inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and the powerful connection forged through this act of kindness.

In this episode of Transplant Talks, we're thrilled to welcome Brandi Thornton, a double living donor, and Dr. Whitney Jackson, our Medical Director of Living Donor Liver Transplantation. Brandi shares her inspiring journey as a double donor, offering unique insights into her experiences. Dr. Jackson delves into the vital and transformative role of living organ donation, providing expert perspectives. Additionally, they explore Colorado's leading role in altruistic organ donations across the nation. 

In this month's Transplant Talks episode, we feature Danel Kuhlmann, Colorado’s first robotic living liver donor. She is not only a living liver donor but also a kidney donor to her mother. She compares her traditional kidney donation to this cutting-edge robotic procedure with wonder, detailing the minimal incisions and the technology's potential to change living donation as we know it. Just a month after her surgery, Danel is doing more than recovering; she's thriving and finding joy in the simple things in life. Tune in to hear her discuss her remarkable experience as a double living donor.

This month, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are excited to have Dr. Sixto Giusti joining us. Dr. Giusti is a nephrologist and is the Director of the Hispanic Transplant Clinic at our center. In this episode we discuss our Hispanic Clinic, living kidney donation and some frequently asked questions about kidney donation.

Nic grew up around airplanes his entire childhood - his parents started a charter company right after he was born. He has always wanted to learn to fly, but he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that required open heart surgery at the age of 15. This meant he was unable to get a pilot medical certificate, so he pursued a sports pilot's license to fly for fun. He became a nurse practitioner and has been working in an ER in rural Iowa for the last 5 years. After years of good health and lots of testing, he was approved for a flight medical certificate. After completing many levels of training, he and his father took their first organ transplant flight. He says, "After that, we were sold on flying with a purpose." In 2023, he and his father transported 243 organs for transplantation.

For more information on organ transplantation: 

https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org

Mariela started dancing when she was 12 years old in Ecuador. She trained in the conservatory and then moved to New York City to attend the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. For her, dancing is like breathing, is part of her culture, and is a way of meditation.  In 2014, she ended up in the hospital with liver problems, but no one really knew what was going on. Mariela and her family thought it might be related to her emotions and sadness, “something from the soul.” After years of mysterious symptoms on and off, she was eventually diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.  Mariela shares her difficulty navigating the U.S. healthcare system and what it is like to be someone with chronic illness in a society that doesn’t understand and where healthcare is not a basic right. At first, she didn’t want a transplant – she didn’t feel deserving, and she didn’t want to be cut open. But she realized how much her students and sister were hurting, and “I realized how much I was loved. Love made me change my decision.” By the time she was listed for a transplant, she only had to wait 2 weeks until being matched with a deceased donor liver. She describes her transplant as a series of miracles for which she is very grateful.

For more information on organ transplantation: 

https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org

Mike is a business owner, tattoo artist, and marathoner. He ran the Boston Marathon just 32 days after donating his kidney to a stranger. The same strength and determination that led Mike to pursue sobriety more than ten years ago led him to not even think twice when he learned his friend and running buddy needed a kidney. He donated a kidney anonymously at University of Colorado Hospital‬ to receive a voucher from the National Kidney Foundation which moved his friend to the top of the waitlist for a kidney from a matching living donor. He says, "It felt right...I had no anxiety or hesitation."

For more information on organ transplantation: 

https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org