Our Grant Deme is sick. Very sick.
That’s a direct quote from his Facebook Page, “Find Grant a Living Liver Donor.”
Grant is critically ill with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. He was diagnosed just three years ago and his condition has worsened quicker than he and his team had anticipated.
Grant is on donor the list for a liver. He needs a living liver donor with blood type O+ or O-, and is asking that you help by starting the process to see if you can save his life.
You can get to that link by clicking here.
He wants to make sure you know that this isn’t just for him, but for the others facing the same fight for their lives. If you’re not a match for Grant, you could be a life-saving match for someone else. But when it comes to organ donation in general, the registration numbers are staggering when compared to how many of us think it’s a good idea.
There is quite a long list for a liver on the list from deceased donors, while there’s no wait for a living donor. That means, once a match is found, Grant gets the call and he’s off to Toronto for the transplant, followed by a lengthy recovery. Donating as a living donor involves a portion of your liver being transplanted. It regenerates in about a month and a half.
Quite understandably, this journey has been a tough one for Grant. He’s spoken about it with his family since his diagnosis. He’s talked about it with his friends, including his co-workers here at 88.1 myFM. But sharing his story on social media for all to read, was a sobering moment for Grant.
What else is he doing? Working. He’s not letting it slow him down yet. As I write this, he’s off at his desk working away, gathering stories that are important to the communities we serve. Giving of himself, when he could retreat. That’s not the Grant Deme we know. Grant says finding a living donor would save two lives – his, and the next person on the list. Again he’s thinking of how he can help others.
Over 1,000 living liver donor transplants have been done at Toronto General Hospital since 1990, and in each case every living donor has returned to health and their normal lives, while the recipient gets an opportunity to do the same.
Finding a living donor once seemed like something quite a distance down the road for Grant. But the road got a lot shorter, very quickly.
If you can, please share Grant’s story through his Facebook Page, “Find Grant a Living Donor.” Just click that title and hit share.
He reiterates, its not just for him.
Even if you’re not a match, you could be for someone just like Grant Deme – someone young with their whole lives ahead of them.
If that donor is found.