The Telephone as a Lifeline

As soon as a donor liver becomes available, the coordinator will call the recipient to get ready. Since this call could come at any time during the day or night, the transplant team should be able to reach the patient whether he is at home, at school, at work, or on vacation. If possible, the patient should invest in a telephone answering machine with remote control so he can check messages while away from home. Most transplant centers will also help him get a beeper (pager) that he can carry at all times. This way, the patient can be reached no matter where he is.

The patient should provide his team with the phone numbers of family members and close friends as well, and do everything he can to make sure that he can be contacted immediately.

When the Phone Call Comes

When that phone call comes, everything will seem like a blur. The coordinator will advise the patient when to be present at the transplant center. The patient must move quickly, getting to the transplant center without delay. When a liver becomes available, there is a time limit!