TRIO Youth Circle: Our Stories
Holly Werlein
Read our stories of hope and inspiration, and if you are willing, write us with your own story to add here . . .
(e-mail your story for consideration to: info@trioweb.org and put "Youth Story" in the subject line)
Liver transplant recipient, age: 25, Holly Werlein:
I never
thought in a million years that I
would go through something like this. My story isn't like most peoples
who
unfortunately had to wait. I am one of the rare few that went through
acute
fulminate liver failure. I just happened to be in the right place at
the right
time. I was at the Cleveland Clinic for a totally unrelated appt and my
mom
noticed my eyes were yellow. I hadn't been feeling all the best, upset
stomach,
fatigue and just figured it was nothing. Well my doctor had my liver
enzymes
tested and they were in the thousands, so she immediately admitted me.
I
thought this was crazy! They tested me for everything possible and
couldn't
find anything wrong.
Our 2 day
trip turned into an unexpected
month long stay at the hospital. I remember 3-4 days in the hospital
and the
rest is vague memories, until I woke up! I had no idea I had a liver
transplant! Apparently, my parents told me, I was telling docs I was in
Florida. They thought my liver was going to regenerate since I was so
young,
but the toxins continued to build up and finally docs realized that
after a
liver biopsy. I was immediately put on the list 1st in the nation for a
liver.
Miraculously, they found one in 8 hours and I was transplanted with no
time to
spare. It's amazing how quickly this all happened and they never
figured out
the cause of my liver failure, which is scary. They said it had shrunk
to 1 lb
and had brown spots on it, which is weird.
My
recovery was quick at first, but I went
through good old rejection about 2-3 weeks after. I had to be airlifted
from
Michigan back to Cleveland. They put me on high dose IV steroids for 2
weeks
and by then I was ready to get out of there. Ever since that episode,
I've been
doing well and have participated in the US and world transplant games.
My
family has been my rock and I'm so thankful for them and each day that
I am
alive! However, the realization process for me has been hard at times.
I feel like
I'm dreaming. It was a completely unexpected change of life for me and
it still
feels surreal that it even happened.
The Gift
of Life is so amazing and we are
all true miracles! I’m so happy to be alive and so thankful for my
donor! I'm
really into being a donor advocate and like to share my experience with
others.
I feel I'm alive to help do as much as I can to promote organ donation.
And now, what is your story?
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