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Jeff Isaacs had a liver transplant in 2005, and now serves as a certified transplant mentor. He recently celebrated at New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, which has performed more than 1,400 liver transplants.
Story and photos by Sherry Mazzocchi
Video by Sherry Mazzocchi
Jeff Isaacs was extremely ill with liver disease, but he found out he didn’t immediately qualify for a transplant.
His mother, grandfather and great-grandfather all died from the same ailment.
But his doctor took an interest in his case.
Isaacs had polycystic liver disease, a rare genetic disorder. His doctor applied for the extra genetic markers that boosted his Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Only then did Isaacs to qualify for a transplant.
“If I had to wait for the normal channels, I probably would have died because I only had about another ten days to live,” Isaacs said.
That was six years ago.
Isaacs, who recently turned 60, was celebrating the gift of life with about 160 other liver transplant recipients at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital this past Tues., Dec. 13th.
The Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation (CLDT) at New York-Presbyterian Hospital is among the top 10 centers in the country for number of liver transplants performed annually, with 119 transplants in 2011 alone. Since 1998, the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation has performed more than 1,400 liver transplants.
And every year, the center throws a holiday party for the patients.
Dr. Robert Brown, medical director for the hospital’s transplant initiative, said the celebration just as important for the staff as it is for the patients. It’s good for patients to connect with one another, he said, but it’s also valuable for the staff to see patients feeling well and looking happy.
“This gives us a reason to do what we do,” Brown said, “a reason to work harder and complain less.”
After his procedure, Isaacs became a certified transplant mentor. He’s active in the bi-monthly patient support groups. He advises patients how to set up the household before the operation, informs caregivers on what to expect and discusses financial issues.
“A lot of people know me. It’s like a second family,” he said.
Tony Herrera also became a counselor to other patients after his transplant. In 2001, he was suffering from end-stage liver disease. His normal weight of 155 pounds skyrocketed to 203 because his dysfunctional liver caused him to retain fluid. His son volunteered to donate 60 percent of his liver.
Tony Herrera, who had a transplant in 2001, is shown here with his doctor, Dr. Jean Emond, chief of transplantation. Herrera received a transplant from his son. “I was dying,” he said. “My son is my hero.”
“I was on death row. I was dying,” he said. “My son is my hero.”
Herrera said his life has turned around. He’s getting a degree at Queens College, is active in sports and goes dancing. He’s also an advocate for patients with Hepatitis C and hold seminars on the disease for other patients.
Brown said having a transplant is a little like being born again.
“I wish more people could see the results of transplants,” he said, “so they would donate organs.”
Checking off the organ donor box on a driver’s license is not legally binding, so people also have to tell their next of kin of their intentions.
“The next of kin makes the decisions,” Brown said. “No one is willing to go against the next of kin.”
Isaacs also echoed that sentiment. “You can’t take your organs with you. Leave them here for other people. A liver can live to be 150 years,” he said.
“Not that I want to live that long,” he joked. “I can’t afford the meds.”
http://tinyurl.com/cxg6ubt.
To hear directly from Jeff Isaacs, who recently turned 60, and now serves as a transplant mentor, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ckd59wd.
Tony Herrera tells the story of his son’s choice to donate part of his liver to him, eleven years ago:
http://tinyurl.com/btjzgbw
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