The Liver Transplant Candidate Makes it on the Transplant List and Gets to meet the Transplant Team.

The liver transplant candidate makes it on the transplant list and gets to meet the transplant team.  Finally, in 6 to 8 months, after all the diagnostic testing, meetings, therapy sessions, state board approval, and the like the liver transplant candidate is on the transplant list, and you get to meet with the transplant team.  Shortly after approval, you will be sent a brochure that explains all about liver transplants, the surgical procedure, and all kind of details about the liver transplant surgery.  Soon after you receive your brochure, a meeting will be set up for you and your family to talk with the transplant team and have any questions that you might have.  Although approval is an important step, there is waiting, follow up testing, and insurance approval.  How long is the wait?  Anywhere from 1 to 4 years.  What is the reason for this waiting process?  Unfortunately, there are not enough donor livers to satisfy the demand, which keeps growing. Currently the ratio of liver donors to livers needed  is around 1 in 8 or so.  So this is a major reason for the wait.  Then cell matching must be accomplished, and also your MELD score needs to be generally at 20 or above to receive a new liver.  So should the liver transplant candidate be discouraged?  Not really – there is always hope.  Also, in the vast amount of cases involving cirrhosis, the condition progresses very slowly, if the liver transplant candidate takes proper care of himself and absolutely abstains from any alcohol.  In my case, my MELD score is 14.  My doctor has told me I may never need a transplant.  He has seen many liver transplant candidates with the same or similar MELD scores live over 20 years until a transplant is necessary.