It was quite a difficult decision for Jennifer to make looking at the risky surgery and the possibility of her husband’s survival afterward.
Jennifer husband, Dan, was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called primary scherosing cholangitis when he was 15; and he knew he’d more 15 years to be alive except for a transplant. Dan and Jennifer met at a hostel in surfers paradise, Queensland and quickly found out that they share the same passion. Barely four years after, they tied the blissful knot in Fiji. It was such a glorious wedding, an unforgettable big shot in town.
Back home in Scotland with another grand party, it was discovered after 2 days that Dan’s white blood-cell count was already at zero. He needed a liver transplant.
Jennifer could not stand seeing her dear husband’s health deteriorating so terribly with this end-stage liver disease that only give him a chance of 12 months to get a donor or risk death. No hope of finding a donor was forthcoming until Dan became a shadow of himself – he couldn’t walk again except with a stick. “We need to talk about me being your donor,” Jennifer confidently recited. “I don’t want to put you at risk,” Dan replied. With strong determination, Jennifer considered, “this is our only chance. And you’d do it for me, wouldn’t you?” Then Dan nodded in acceptance.
The big gamble of life rolled in because only 60% of Jennifer’s liver could be donated and such a partial transplant could cause Dan another complications. A 30-strong team must participate in the operation with a liver specialist from Belgium. It was a moment of decision to risk life in order to save life. Fears ceased both families because of the risk of infection, or even death because 10% of organ recipients die during operation. However, there was slight glimpse of hope — if they both succeed, they’d both have full-sized livers eventually.
Dan and Jennifer, the love–will–cost–you couple, were both admitted to the same ward at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for their risk–it–all operation.
The result? “Nine hours later, when I woke up, my first thought was of Dan.I’d been given an epidural and could feel no pain at all, but he was still in surgery. It was another six hours before he came out, still unconscious. His doctors kept me updated until, the next night, I was allowed to see him at last,” Jennifer reported. Two days after that, Dan came out alive. It was such a great relief for Jennifer because they were both strong and healthy. In no distant time, they were discharged. Another big party hit the roof of the town after two weeks in celebration of love and life.
The life of Jennifer was an effigy of a heroine. “As I watched Dan singing karaoke, full of life, I felt so proud. We’d both come so far, and now we had a future,” She underscored. She’d donated a part of her to save her husband’s life. In her words, “I risked my life to save my husband.” She found a place to fit into Dan’s destiny, recognizing why she was in his life at that crucial moment of challenge, she chose to sacrifice all to save her beloved. “If l hadn’t met Dan, he could be dead by now. But thanks to a helping hand from fate, our lives crossed just at the right time,” she added. Jennifer was there when Dan needed her most. No wonder, Dan could not see other words to summarize everything than these: “Nothing could’ve made me love Jen more than I did before, but now I’m in total awe of her. She risked her life for me, and I can’t thank her enough. Through her courage, we’re able to plan our future.”
Will you be there when your partner need you most? What is it that you cannot sacrifice to save your husband or wife’s life? Behind every successful story of love, there is a painful sacrifice. Love will cost you a thing!
Thanks for reading!