Three birthdays in one year
Isabelle, liver transplanted in 1990 at the age of 9 months and retransplanted in 1998
Hello, my name is Isabelle, I'm 30 years old, I'm from Sauerland and I've had two liver transplants.
From then on, a race against time began
At the age of 4 ½ months, as I remember from my mother's stories, I developed a very high fever. The paediatrician called it a 3-day fever. But he took blood samples as a precaution. In the evening, our phone rang and the physician asked us to go to the children's hospital in Siegen immediately because my liver values were very high. A lot of blood was taken and countless tests were carried out. After a week, the diagnosis was made: "Extrahepatic biliary atresia". An appointment was made at the pediatric clinic of the MHH and the procedure started all over again "with even more blood and examinations". It quickly became clear that only a liver transplant could save my "little" life. From then on, a race against time began. My skin turned yellow. Water kept accumulating in my stomach. The visits to the Clinical Department became more frequent. There was even talk of a transplant in Chicago.
I celebrated my first birthday in the children's hospital
When I was about 9 months old, the "redemptive call" came from the pediatric clinic of the MHH. A suitable organ was available. The transplant went well. I spent 3 ½ months with my parents on ward 63b of the children's hospital. Everyone liked me and was very kind to me. I celebrated my first birthday in the children's hospital with lots of lovely presents. After I was discharged, we went to the gastro outpatient clinic on a regular basis.
I got worse and worse at the age of five
After the age of 2, the hospital visits increased. My values deteriorated and there was talk of another transplant being necessary. I started kindergarten at the age of 4 and was no longer as resilient. The next year (5 years) I got worse and worse, I became short of breath and developed rickets. In March 1998 I had a split liver transplant. On the 2nd day in the ITS, the abdominal cavity was opened again. The liver lay on the portal vein and was then sutured in the middle. After about 10 weeks on the 64b, during which I was looked after by a caring nursing staff and a friendly team of physicians, I was finally ready to be discharged. From then on, my health improved, I was able to pursue my hobby of horse riding again and started school that same year.
I celebrate three birthdays a year
In the years from 2013 to 2019, my liver values kept rising (very high). Admitted as an inpatient, several tests and two biopsies unfortunately yielded no results. The values dropped on their own. Thankfully, I was spared the third transplant that was on the cards (2013). I am grateful that I am allowed to live, even if there are a few restrictions, and that I am doing very well today. In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, meeting up with friends and riding once a week. I have been a proud dog owner since 2016 and look forward to going for a walk every day. I completed my training as an office worker in 2012. I hope I can encourage you with my story. At the age of seven, before my second liver transplant, I swore to myself "I can do this", and I did it successfully! Since then, I have celebrated three birthdays in one year.
