Posted on 08/21/2010 7:39:36 PM PDT by nmh
In Denver, Colorado two brothers embraced before going into surgery for a liver transplant. Ryan Arnold, age 34, was donating a part of his healthy liver so that his older brother Chad Arnold, who had an incurable liver disease, could live.
This type of surgery is rare and not without risk. After what seemed to be a successful surgery complications arose. Within four days, the donor Ryan Arnold died while his brother Chad lived.
Ryan and Chad’s father fought back tears as he broke the news to Chad with the simple words, “I have some bad news. Ryan’s gone but we still serve a good God.”
...
In a world in which faith is often ridiculed or marginalized, Ryan Arnold, husband of Shannon and father of their three children ages 6, 4 and 1, simply lived out his faith. His words, spoken minutes before his surgery to his brother telling him that he was “worth it” caused us all to catch a glimpse of how God views us. His faith told him that love has the power to forever change the life of another.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
1. “Strange how people who suffer together have stronger connections than those who are most content.” -- Bob Dylan
2. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” -- Hebrews 11:1
Donor dies after live liver transplant at CU Hospital
Ginger Delgado Reporter
August 12, 2010
AURORA, Colo. - A man who agreed to donate part of his liver to help save his brother died just four days after the transplant procedure at The University of Colorado Hospital.
It’s the first death of a living liver donor in Colorado and only the fourth in the U.S.
The death has led to a temporary halt of all live donor liver transplants at The University of Colorado Hospital. The hospital has also launched an investigation into what went wrong.
...
We met the brothers at 5:30 a.m. on July 29th in the waiting room at the University of Colorado Hospital. They were both in good spirits and surrounded by their parents, wives and siblings who were there for support.
By 6:00 a.m., Ryan and Chad were being prepped for surgery.
Chad was overcome with emotion as he told us about the day he learned his brother’s liver was a perfect match.
“It was a very humbling experience,” said Chad. “Ryan called me and said, ‘I’m a match.’ And you feel a lot of things at that point. Relief, gratefulness to God and to Ryan. And after that you wrestle with a lot of guilt, like I really don’t want to bring him through this. But he shut me up pretty fast and said, ‘Well, you would do it for me, wouldn’t you?’”
Chad had PSC, a disease of the liver for which there’s no cure. His symptoms were getting worse — the itching, fatigue and jaundice. He was in the final stages of liver failure, his condition was deteriorating and he needed a liver fast.
A living donor was his only hope, so his brother Ryan stepped in.
“You know, I love Chad. He’s my brother and he’s got a lot of life left to live,” Ryan told us as he was being prepped for the procedure. “I’m healthy and I know I’ll stay healthy. I’ll recover and I want to see him do the things he wants to do, and spend time with his family, and I want to have him around for a long time.”
Little was said as the brothers said goodbye to each in the surgery room. They hugged and smiled, but didn’t speak much.
...
Video this link and at thread posting link
http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-liver-transplant-death-txt,0,3369112.story
This is outrageous. I am royally PO’d. That older brother took away the father of those children...........I am infuriated. One of the kids was just 1. I am a devout Christian too and I say this is just plain bullsheet
I don’t mind this. I don’t like the outcome.
They were brothers. There was no pressure to donate part of his liver to his ailing brother.
“The first live liver transplant in Colorado was done in 1997 at The University of Colorado Hospital. A total of 141 similar procedures have been performed there since 1997. “
I’m not sure what the actual risks are for this surgery, but I question whether a father of 3 young children should have gone through with it.
What sibling wouldn't have done this for the other, and what better example of sacrifice to set for the rest of the family?
No brainer, even knowing the results.
Wrong. Your obligation is to your wife and children, not your big brother. Read the Bible.
Yes, I think you are right. He had no right to make such young children orphans.
I got the impression that it was almost a routine surgery when a match was made.
“It’s the first death of a living liver donor in Colorado and only the fourth in the U.S.”
...
Deaths of living donors are rare — about .5 to 1 percent, but the surgery is still risky. While both livers will regenerate and grow back to their original size, if too much is removed or something goes wrong, it’s the donor whose life is at risk.
...
“It’s still a very controversial surgery in the United States. There have been a few deaths of donors, healthy people who gave part of their liver and didn’t make it. But I think we’re very careful in selecting our donors and the chances of it happening here are very, very low,” Dr. Kam said with confidence.
In the initial days following the procedure, both men were recovering at different rates. Ryan’s family says one minute Chad was doing better, and then Ryan, and vice versa.
On July 30, Ryan was moved out of the Intensive Care Unit. The next day, on the evening of July 31, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, lapsed into a coma and was placed on life support.
He died two days later, on Aug. 2.
http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-liver-transplant-death-txt,0,3369112.story
They don’t know what went wrong.
I’d do it for someone I love.
The answer may be simple in your mind, it certainly isn’t in mine. This wasn’t a bone marrow transplant.
Maybe the Dr’s oversold the positive results and undersold the risks. I don’t know.
I have to admit, that’s my gut reaction too. Three small children, 6, 4, and 1... man.
Another way to look at it is this way:
God allowed his own son to suffer so that we might be saved.
Think of how our military, routinely takes risk and some lose their life on behalf of you and I.
I believe his brother was rather selfless.
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his
friends.
The outcome was unexpected.
They didn’t expect one to live and one to die.
The family is not bitter.
Personally, I am impressed. It is so sad that these little ones lost their father - well, he's not “lost”. He's in heaven. When his children are older they will be impressed with the selflessness of their father.
Who knows ... maybe I am weird.
I’ve thought about this since first hearing about it. I think if it were me (with no children), and my older sister (with three small children) wanted to donate part of her liver, or engage in an equally risky transplant procedure, I would thank her and decline.
I know my sister would offer, but her life as a mother of little children would have more earthly value than mine.
Not judging Chad, I’m just saying he had an opportunity to decline and not put his brother through the risk. I don’t think either of them really thought anything would go wrong.
It’s a touchy question.
I posted my opinion, however I am not going to argue with folks. It’s a tough situation.
No Sheet Sherlock. If you have three little kids, I say look I appreciate your offer, thank you, but I will not consider it. Next donor.
I got the impression that it was almost a routine surgery when a match was made.”
The surgery was described as “rare” and “controversial”. That’s not routine.
I understand the position he was in having to take this chance or watch his brother die - I’d feel terrible watching my brother die, thinking that I could have saved him and then having to live with that.
I didn’t see any mention of the sick brother having children. Maybe the sick brother should have put his foot down & refused? Then the decision & guilt would have been lifted from the healthy brother.
That would have been a selfless act.
Yes, it is. One that we really aren’t in a position to judge, as outsiders. Sad.
Amen I say. But fear of death selfishness, self interest...oh well be careful what you wish for, you might get it
I hope he had made arrangements for the care of the children in case of a disaster like this. I don’t know what the risk rate is for being a liver donor, but I wonder how it compares with the risk of being killed in a car accident. Maybe their uncle (the older brother) will help once his health returns.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.