A Lindsay, Ont., man whose appeal for a liver donor went viral last summer received a new organ on Monday night.
Adam Sweeney was diagnosed a decade ago with Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a long-term progressive disease of the liver and gallbladder which is characterized by bile duct inflammation and scarring.
Sweeney, a father of two, was in need of a new liver and was on an organ donor waiting list for more than two years.
Barbie Anne, who posted on a Facebook donor campaign, says Sweeney was recently diagnosed with liver cancer which moved him up the organ donation waiting list.
“The diagnosis of liver cancer catapulted him to the top of the list,” she wrote. “2 days after hearing this terrible news, Adam was called and told he had a donor and his surgery would be April 9.”
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Peterborough’s Tim Dalliday, who underwent a liver transplant in 2011, helped in the search of a donor for his friend.
The pair first met at a benefit concert in support of Dalliday following his surgery.
Dalliday tells CHEX News on Tuesday morning that a donor match was found and Sweeney underwent surgery.
“He had a successful living donor liver transplant,” Dalliday said. “I spoke to his dad this morning. Adam is recovering at Toronto General.”.
The liver is the only organ which can regenerate.
There are more than 200 people currently on the provincial waiting list for a liver donation.
Anne says the donation proves there are still “wonderful people” in the world.
“To every single one of you that read our posts, shared our stories, talked about Adam and of course put your name in to be a donor: thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said.
More to come.
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