Rangoon University Convocation Hall

EVER THINK OF DONATING PART OF YOUR LIVER TO A LIVER PATIENT? IT'S SCARY -- EVEN TO THINK -- BUT PERHAPS THE BRAVEST DECISION YOU'LL EVER MAKE IN YOUR LIFE. YOU THINK YOUR ACTION MIGHT SAVE ONE LIFE, BUT ACTUALLY YOU'RE SAVING MANY LIVES.

IN BUDDHISM -- or any other religions -- donating an organ to someone who needs it most is incomparable act of merit-making and saving-life. No act is more so selfless than giving one or more of your working organs to save life of a fellow human being.

But before you become a liver donor, you have to go through a series of blood tests and screening. You need to meet the following requirements. You are:

1. Aged between 18 and 55;
2. Have a minimum body weight of 50 kg; 
3. Have the same blood group as the recipient or blood group O;
4. Have to do a number of blood tests and screening of your liver;
5. Are are generally healthy with no health issues.

If you passed all the basic requirements, you are pretty much sure to become a liver donor -- a live liver donor for a liver patient whose survival depends on the success of the liver transplant operation, which is called LDLT or live donor liver transplant.

In a LDLT, transplant surgeons cut half of your liver and transplant it in recipient. Your liver becomes full to its original size and functions within a few weeks as the liver generates itself quickly. The transplanted liver also gets to its fullness in 2-3 months in recipient.

You don't have to worry. Since most LDLTs are not done in urgent, emergency or extreme situations, the transplant operation is quite safe for both the donor and the recipient.

Well having said that, it's not without risk as in any major operations. LDLT is a major operation and extra-care must be given to both the donor and the recipient. 

The operation takes about 12-14 hours and while you are given anesthesia throughout, the doctors put a tracheostomy tube in your throat to breath. This tube will be removed once you're in ICU. The donor stays in ICU for about 3-4 days, followed by 1 week-stay in the hospital. Each day, doctors and nurses check your blood test results, give some medication to take orally and via IV injections. 

You are good to go home after a week but you must do regular check-ups once a week for a few more weeks as an outpatient. Your stitches can be out after a month and you can return to your normal routine life after 2 months.

As the donor you need not take any medicine after your discharge from the hospital, but you must take care not to lift heavy things within 6 months of the operation. 

All this takes about 2 months or less in most cases. So why do you donate your liver? To save life, in short. Different people have different feelings about donating an organ to a sick person. But it should never be because of the pressure of someone or financial transaction.

The greatest deed in your life should not be influenced by anything in any way. By donating part of your liver, you're not only saving the life of the patient/recipient but you're also saving lives of his family members and those who need him to be alive.                                 

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