NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With record-breaking numbers of lives saved in 2023, Tennessee is making strides in organ donation — but behind every life saved is a complex journey that doesn't end with the transplant.
Patients like Reginald Porter know recovery can last a lifetime.
Porter received a new liver last year after cancer took his old one. Doctors also found cancer in his abdomen and took that out, too.
"I've been getting better. I'm at like 50% as far as me feeling healthy," he said, calling what happened a blessing.
His doctor, Martin Montenovo, the Chief of Liver Transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, agreed, saying over 3,000 liver transplants have been performed at VUMC to date. But he adds there's a lot more to this story.
After surgery, about 40% of patients get minor complications, like bleeding or infections. Down the road, about 5% face even more serious issues, like heart attack, cancer or death.
"I always tell them, look, transplant is not an operation. Transplant is a journey," explained Montenovo. "These patients, they are part of Vanderbilt for the rest of their life. So they have a follow-up for the rest of their life...because they have to take care and try to mitigate all these other risk factors that can cause problems."
Even with the follow-ups, Montenovo says the team that guides patients through surgery and recovery uses the best strategies and technology to mitigate the risks. He explains the preparation leading up to the surgery, as well as the way the surgery is handled, all contribute to reducing complications afterwards.
"It's definitely a long journey. A daily journey, because every day is different," concluded Porter, who is grateful to God and his medical team for his life.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at nikki.hauser@newschannel5.com.
Happy Birthday to the YMCA of Middle TN. They just celebrated their 150th anniversary! A lot has changed with the Y over the years. I have personally seen some of that firsthand when I was a long-time board member at the Northwest Family Y and part of their Black Achievers Program. Forrest Sanders has a look back.
- Lelan Statom
