"Giving three lives through one donation"
Barbara, liver transplant since 1994 at the age of 11
My name is Barbara Hobmeier. I was born in 1983 as an identical twin. I also have a healthy brother who is three years older than me. Shortly after I was born, I was diagnosed with extrahepatic biliary atresia. My twin sister, who is one minute younger, is healthy. Six weeks after I was born, I had a Kasai operation, which had to be revised two weeks later and a porto-enteroanastomosis was performed, which allowed me to spend the first few years of my life fairly normally.
"I looked different with my big belly and took endless pills every day."
It wasn't until elementary school that I realized that I was different from the others. I couldn't play like my siblings, I looked different with my big belly and I took an endless number of tablets every day. Regular blood tests and infusions were part of my everyday life. I am lucky that my father is a pediatrician and he was able to do many of the treatments at home. This saved me a lot of time in hospital, thank goodness. Nevertheless, it was not possible for me to have a normal everyday life or go to school, as it was all far too much for me. Visits to play with friends were very rare, and my health deteriorated more and more. In 1992 and 1993, I had a total of five stomach bleeds, which resulted in several comas. I was admitted to the hospital in Erlangen and underwent a transplant. The visits to the physician became more and more frequent and my family's everyday life changed just as drastically.
"I was the first child in Bavaria to receive a liver transplant."
On May 20, 1994, after a severe hemorrhage, pathological conditions of the brain and a significant loss of liver function, an emergency request was made and I was admitted to the children's hospital in Erlangen. The physicians and nurses were incredibly nice to me and I am still in contact with one of the transplant physicians today. As my parents had to leave the children's ward in the evening and I was alone in the room, contact with the nurses and physicians was extremely important for me.
In June 1994, I received the redemptive call that there was a split liver for me. I was the first child in Bavaria to have a liver transplant. The days in the intensive care unit were very exhausting and stressful for my whole family. However, I recovered very quickly and was soon able to be transferred to the normal ward and leave the hospital again at the end of June. A few weeks later, I had to be hospitalized again with pyelonephritis.
"I was lucky enough to give birth to two healthy children."
Today I'm doing quite well apart from minor, unfortunately recurring problems with my bile ducts. In 2011 and 2012, I was very lucky to give birth to two healthy children who have made my and my husband's lives perfect. I can go to work as normal and pursue my dream job as an educator. In my free time, I like to go to the mountains and enjoy nature.
I hope to have many more healthy years with my family and that I can encourage others with my story. The work for transplanted children absolutely has to continue in this great way. I would like to contribute to this.
I am proud that, despite the difficult start, I can now lead an almost normal life and that I was very lucky to have two healthy girls. And also of the many great people who have accompanied me on my journey.
"It's hard to imagine what an important role the nurses, carers and physicians play in such difficult times."
I am infinitely grateful to my donor and his family for deciding to donate their organs at their darkest moment and giving me and my two girls the gift of life!
It is hard to imagine what an important role nurses, caregivers and physicians play in such difficult times, how much they can contribute to the recovery and well-being of patients by taking their time and being there!
And even more so how important and irreplaceable family and friends are during this time!