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My Story of a Liver Transplant
By
Margaret Sherrard, Moira
Member of the Northern Ireland Transplant Association
Oscar and me
I had just celebrated my 40th birthday. All of the cards and presents suggested that "life begins at 40"! Little did I know that mine was nearly to end and begin again in a short space of time.
Christmas 1995 came and went and everything was as normal. I was a very healthy woman who had never had any major operations and, in fact, led a very active life.
 Christmas 1995 came and went and everything was as normal. I was a very healthy woman who had never had any major operations and, in fact, led a very active life. I was the manager of a busy retail store and I also travelled to trade shows regularly. My two children were aged 15 and 18. I kept fit and was doing a part-time degree course. Those of you who are parents will understand the amount of energy that would take!
By early January 1996 I was feeling nauseated and weak periodically. Some days were better than others. I now did not feel like taking my little dog Oscar (a present for my birthday) out for his much loved walks. I had patches of a rash on my chest and one of my hands. I could not drink cups of tea and the smell of certain foods made me feel ill.
I decided to visit my GP who looked at me and laughed and sent me home. I became worse and thankfully saw another GP who had some tests done which revealed I had a touch of jaundice. My family and I waited patiently and I was in and out of hospital only to be told that I should go home and it would go away!
 I became more and more yellow and then a horrible shade of brown. People thought I had a sun tan! I was so weak I fell asleep in the bath. Trips to the Casualty Department and to my GP did not help. We tried to get a private appointment with a liver specialist but while waiting for this on 8th May 1996 I experienced severe back pain. My husband, Michael, called a Doctor, then an ambulance. My son, Michael, who was in the midst of doing his "A levels" sat in the ambulance with
This is all I can remember. I focused on the fact that at least I was getting to the hospital. Apparently I went into a coma and while I was in my local hospital the medical staff told my husband and family that I had liver failure. You can imagine what was going through their heads. My mum fainted, my son shook uncontrollably and my husband just stared at the doctor and asked, "What can be done"? He was told he had half an hour to get ready as I was going to King's College Hospital in London for a liver transplant.
 On 7th May 1996 we were air-lifted to Heathrow Airport in London and then taken by ambulance to "King's" which is in south London. When I arrived apparently I rang my children and told them I was going to be okay! This is all I remember until I awoke after my transplant which was on 8th of May 1996. I had been told I had only a 30% chance of surviving the operation. My husband sat by my bed throughout this ordeal. When I was told I had received "The Gift of Life" from a 17 year old boy I just cried. It was too much to comprehend as I was a mother and appreciated this was the ultimate sacrifice. I marvelled at this and I still do. In the depths of such grief and sorrow someone did this for me! This is something I will never forget.
I returned home to Northern Ireland after about 6 weeks. I was quite weak and was in a wheelchair for a while but was determined to get fit and went for endless walks and eventually went to the gym. I even did more exams from my armchair!
Due to this "Gift of Life" I have seen my son graduate from Queen's University and my daughter married (I didn't cry once!). Most of all I feel tremendously well; so well, in fact, I have to remind myself that I was ill. I lead an active life. I am back at work and I study on a part-time basis. However, one thing sticks in my mind. My husband took me to the park beside "King's" and I remember looking at the grass and the sky and making a mental note to appreciate the entire beauty of them. I have changed. I don't worry about silly things. I make the most of each day and cherish each and every hour with my family. This whole experience has put things into a different perspective for me.
I have nothing but praise for the doctors, nurses and staff of King's College Hospital. They pulled out all the stops for me. They are truly dedicated and their talent and expertise is God given. My ultimate thanks goes to the family who donated their loved one’s organ to save my life and every day I pray for them.
I am now a member of The Northern Ireland Transplant Association so I can help others going through a similar experience.
Margaret is now A PROUD GRANDMOTHER since 2004
I will be eternally grateful for
" The Gift of Life"
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