My mother's transplant

Because of the negative press the liver transplant program has received ("Study Reveals High Rate of Complications From UPMC Procedures That Used Living Donors," Aug. 1), I feel compelled to shed a positive experience our family had with a transplant from a nonliving donor.

My mother was sick with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, just like city Councilman Jim Motznik's mother ("Motznik: No Liver Donation After Starzl Spoke With Him," Aug. 4). Under Dr. Thomas Starzl's watchful eye, with several wonderful surgeons, Dr. Catorelli and Dr. Fontes, she received a successful transplant. It will be nine years, on Labor Day. She was in the hospital four days; two weeks after her transplant we were at a Tina Turner concert!

She's 75 and is doing fabulous. She has had no rejection and is off any anti-rejection medications. Our appreciation goes out to Dr. Starzl and his expert guidance for giving my mother a second chance at life and also to the generous family who donated their loved one's liver.

 

ESTELLE AVERSA
Kennedy

 

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