Victoria Woman Urgently Seeks Living Liver Donor to Survive

A woman from Victoria, British Columbia, is urgently seeking a living liver donor after being diagnosed with a rare and incurable liver disease known as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Lori Roter, who was diagnosed in 2017, has learned that her chances of receiving a transplant from a deceased donor are slim. This liver condition affects approximately one in 10,000 Canadians and can lead to severe complications, including liver failure.

PSC causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, which can result in bile backing up in the blood. Symptoms include jaundice, extreme itching, cognitive problems, and ultimately cirrhosis. Currently, Roter is on the transplant list in British Columbia, but many individuals with PSC struggle to reach the top of the deceased donor list, often facing fatal delays.

Living Donation Offers Hope

Despite the challenges, there is hope through living donor liver transplantation. In this procedure, a healthy individual donates a portion of their liver, which can regenerate within four to eight weeks. Unfortunately, Roter’s family members are unable to donate due to age or medical issues, prompting her to appeal to the wider community for assistance.

Roter expressed her desire not only to find a match for herself but also to raise awareness about the critical need for living liver donors. “There are many people in need and deserving of a liver,” she stated. “In addition to seeking help, I also want to broaden awareness of the need for live liver donations by angels who meet the criteria and want to help save a life.”

Eligibility and Contact Information

Potential donors must meet specific criteria to be eligible. They should be in good health, aged between 19 and 55 years, have blood type A or O, and must not have a history of cancer except for certain types of skin cancer. The evaluation process for donors can take several months and involves visits to a transplant centre in Vancouver.

Financial resources and paid leave options are available to assist those who wish to donate. Roter encourages anyone who meets the criteria and may be interested in helping to reach out to the Living Donor Liver Program at BC Transplant. For more information, individuals can contact the program directly at 604-875-4111 ext. 66523, toll-free at 1-855-875-5182, or via email at [email protected].

As Roter continues her search for a living donor, her story highlights the urgent need for more individuals to consider becoming organ donors.