Here it is:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/06/12/at_the_lahey_a_stunning_rare_tragedy/

A tragedy indeed.

Craig

This is very sad. I know when doctors last year weren't giving me great odds of survival, I had several family members come forward willing to test to be a donor. Of course, in Alabama no live donor transplants can be preformed to date. When I was researching the subject though, everything I came across certainly said there were risks. The donor must go through every process the receipient does, including psych eval's ect. It sounds like a grueling process. It would be hard for me to allow one of my loved ones to do this for me. It would take a lot of soul searching to realize the risk and complete the process. I imagine it is for everyone involved. The only thing that could be said is because of all that's involved to actually get two people to the point that this kind of operation can actually even occur would be that all involved did know the risk. There had to be a tremendous amount of love and commitment on the donors part. Death of any kind unexpected is tradject and sad. Statically though 3 deaths out of over 4,000 sucessful procedures seems better odds than I think I had imagined.

There is a risk in every surgery even the minor of some. There is no guarentee for anyone participating in transplant process...look at jenn who is still struggling and then those who breeze through. We can't focus on one incident as the norm. It is tragic expec to the family and the reciepeint. The jury is not even out as to what caused the death. As sad and scary as this story is it should not be cause for alarm, sympothy and prayers to all involved. I am a patient at Lahey in Boston...I am also a canadite for a living transplant. My son when old enough is willing to share his liver with me when needed. I can assure all of you that Lahey Cilinic lives to it's name and that this must be extreamly horrible for all involved. We all have so much to worry about and and keeping a good mind set that we should not worry about things that we don't even know the conclusions to. Death will happen to all of us regardless of our sitituation with or without illness. We have been all informed of the risks. What is most comforting abut this article is that this is the exception not the norm. Just like flying. Planes crash but most make to there destination. Lets try not to get on a negative roll with this until we know all the facts. My prayers to all involved and those not directly involved.

big time downer...I don't know that it is something that a support group should worry about. I did read the entire article. one thing that Maggie omited was that the percent rates of this happening were1or 2 in a 1000. the percent ratio is .001%. Pretty good odds if your a betting man.

just posted 3hours ago on lahey's site the 57 yr old man died from an infection. I would rather have read about the sucess rates regarding living transplants rather than the .001% who did not make it. Not a positive way to start my day....Just like I dont' want to hear about how tragically someone died to save me.....don't see the point. I guess I have the mind set of the glass is half full unless someone spills it or fills it.

. Do some of you think I shouldn't have posted this? Yhat's the impression I'm getting? Once again, the master of the obvious has shed light on the subject by pointing out that ther is risk in all surgeries.

dek, I think your post is totally appropriate for the forum. I actually didn't realize the success rate for this procedure was as high as it is. There are NO guarantees for any kind of surgical operation. Thank you for posting.

~Karen

Dek, I also think your post is entirely appropriate.
If people don't want to know the truth about the risks and the nastiness that is brought about by Liver Disease then perhaps they are wanting blinkered life or hiding from the reality.

Many people who come to this forum may either be considering having a living donor transplant. It is only a good thing that everyone appreciates the risks involved. My good friend Jenn, who had a live transplant months ago has had a terrible time involving multiple organ failure, for a process everyone assumed she would sail through.

As always there is an option on this board - no one is forced to read anything here just as no one is forced to comment on what is posted.

The board is for the education of everyone here and posts we should be grateful that most folk here post information which is entirely related to liver issues.

Craig

what bad writing! I just woke up - I meant to say that 'Many people who come to this forum may either be considering having a living donor transplant or being a live donor. It is only a good thing that everyone concerned appreciates the risks involved.'

Craig

Amen Craig. It is our choice to read or not. This post was just giving information. What we choose to do with it is our responsiblity. I appreciated hearing everyone's issues and information, be it ranting, crying or informative. This disease is so awful finding a place like this for support and information is truly a blessing to me.

When I wrote big time downer it was directed at how I felt about the sitituation not at dek for posting it. I just thought that we should also note that this is not the norm. this is the exception. As a member looking for support...though I am not a living donor candate...If i were I would be devastated by this news. and that there should be some support or ease to follow such a tragic story. We all have a level of denial we live with in order to cope...I don't think it is hiding reality. It is a good thing you cleared that up because I did not know what to make of that statement my friend.

I was totally caught off guard by the story. As this is my hospital, my procedure and my best chance to survival. I think I would have rather heard it from my doctor than unexpectently run accross it on my support group. I am sure that is a high expectation that only in a perfect world it would exist. As far as the comments of the Master of the obvious and and not wanting to know the truth or hiding from reality...I found those comments inappropriate responses. Neither could be further from the truth. As I stated This is my hosipital, My procedure, My life, and My best chance of survival. I do not live a sheltered life. When you walk a day in my shoes feel free to pass judgement. I did not make any comments regarding the article personal to someone...just tried to but the remaining facts out there....Which I am aware of as it has been explained fully to me by the Lahey Clinic.

Please Maggie, for Gods sake let it go!! There is no need for name calling ie "Master of the obvious"???!!! His comments were NOT directed at you. Read your first post on this thread...totally appropriate, this second one?? not so much. No one passed judgement on you. Why are you so defensive in this post? Walking in your shoes?? We don't need to do that, our own shoes are tight enough.

It's obvious for whatever reason you don't like Craig which I don't understand since he has done so much for this board. Maybe it stems back to that ONE post he made where he was less than sympathetic with another member. I actually agreed with you. Maybe it is something else. I don't know, and I don't care. Put him on ignore since he bothers you so much. Just please let this board heal...this is REALLY getting old. New members don't know what the heck to think about what's going on here..it's confusing.

I welcome most posts to this group. Good or bad we all learn from them and they won't all be stories with happy endings.

What's great about this board is it weeds out the trolls, the troublemakers, the internet sellers and the people who just get on and preach about what caused our problems. Those we can do without.

I read a social security disability board that is now about 95% crap. It used to be easy to skip the junk, you grow to recognize their writing patterns and screen names, now it's hardly worth the troup to look at all.

This board may have its disagreements, but it's all stuff we can learn from. We all belong here and our life experiences, good or bad, help others.

My sincere appologies to Maggie.... I misinterpreted her post. I should have reread the whole thread again and it would have been clear. I just want the old, caring board back without any snippyness (sp). I value everyones input. I hope everyone has a great day!! :)

I agree. The post was very interesting. This was a sad event, no doubt, for the family who is going through this. But to me it just made me think about how much love and commitment and sacrifice is involved in this sort of procedure. There are no guarantee's with anything, that's for sure. Being aware of the risk and still taking them is not a bad thing. It's a very brave and loving thing. I thought the same about the %'s it's was amazing to me that it was that low. x'4 had a great point those are about as good of odds as anyone could ask for.

Again, I must agree with Karen, enough with the crap attitude on a personal level. This board never use to be like this!! I never thought I'd see the day when I felt bad and worried before I even read something someone wrote for fear that it was going to be so hateful. That's why I was so Strong with my words the other day about the other ridiculous post.