My Liver, My Love Kelven Yu In mid 1996, I was at the end stage of Hepatitis B disease.□ My only hope was a liver transplant.
In March of 1996, I suddenly had a severe esophageal-bleeding episode at work. I vomited a lot of fresh blood, nothing but fresh blood.□ This was the result of cirrhosis, hardening of liver tissues as the disease progressed, such that blood was not able to pass through and filtered by the liver.□ Since then, I had been admitted into the Stanford Medical Center several times.□ During this period, I was depressed, frustrated, and felt hopeless.□ I wondered about my life, my family, and my destiny. At last, at His will, my long awaited liver arrived and I had my liver transplant operation on July 14, 1996.□ With Lord’s love and guidance along the way, treatments by professional medical staff, care and support from families and friends, I was re-born and healed.
During my stay at the hospital, families and friends had given me tremendous love, strength and care.□ My wife was there to take care of me and support me at my bedside from morning to night.□ Often, we just held each other’s hands. No words needed, yet we felt a great love flowing between us.□ Love and support from our parents, children, sisters and brothers as well as friends were plentiful.□ I felt so fortunate, so loved.
In addition, our Lord’s blessings were of abundance through church’s pastors, ministers, brothers and sisters. Gradually, I was not depressed, not frustrated, instead, I was full of strength and hope.□ At the moment of entering the Operation Room, I was fearless, I believed in Him and trusted my doctors. I knew that my operation would be successful and I would be saved.
As I was slowly recovering from my operation the next morning in the ICU, I heard my transplant surgeon said to his team, “Let’s all pray for Mr. Yu, and wish him a speedy recovery”, while they were entering the ICU.□ At that moment, I felt so touched, loved, and relived. I knew that it’s He who had sent the best doctors and the team to take good care of me.
In September 1996, another critical moment had arisen.□ I was informed that there were cancer cells in the “old” liver, the one they had removed.□ Fortunately, the cancer cells did not spread.□ I was recommended to undertake chemotherapy as a precaution to whip out any possible cancer cells in my body. Once again, I was depressed and worried, worry about the side effects and worry about the worst to come. A few days later, I finally understood the true meaning of life.□ I knew that the only way to overcome fear was to have a positive attitude. I faced the chemotherapy treatment with courage, and with hope. Praise the Lord.
I like to share my story, especially with liver patients, to ease their mind, to bring them comfort, and to show them hope. I attended the Liver Transplant Support Group at Stanford, to share my transplant experience with the patients on the transplant waiting list. I would provide the support that I was hoping for during my illness, I believe my story would give them tremendous encouragement, strength and hope.
As always, I am so thankful to the donor and his family whom had given me such a precious gift. Without their gracious love, I would not be here today.□ During my three years tenure as a member of the board of directors at the California Transplant Donor Network (CTDN), we had conducted several seminars in the Asian community to promote the awareness of organ donation.□ Based on CTDN’s study, between 2005 and 2006, there were more than a thousand Asian organ recipients.□ Unfortunately, there were only sixty Asian donors. The ratio of Asian recipient to donor was eighteen to one. We also conducted seminars to educate people on Hepatitis B.□ Hepatitis B has been known as a silent killer.□ Most likely, patients were already at their end stage of the illness when the disease was discovered. Therefore, it’s important to have your liver checked and examined early, including taking a liver panel blood test.□ If you are free from Hepatitis B, you should be immunized immediately, three shots would free you and possibly your family from the disease.□ However, if you are identified as Hepatitis B positive, don’t be discouraged.□ Lately, a few new Hepatitis B drugs have been developed, such as Lamivudine and Hepsera, they have been proven to be effective in controlling the virus.
Before I was seriously ill, I did not understand the true meaning of life, I did not slow down to really enjoy the passage of life.□ Now, everyday is a new day, a day full of hope, a day that deserves my full attention and love, and a day that I will truly enjoy.□ Every morning, I wake up with a big smile, to welcome another great day of my life.
Dear friends, are you facing a situation that seems hopeless? There is a God who cares about you and what you are going through. You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of woman you want me to be.
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you'll experience life to the fullest.
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