Lee, a 65-year-old from Calgary, Canada, is a seasoned entrepreneur and author. He is also a husband, a father, a grandfather, an athlete—and, most recently, a living donor who gave a portion of his liver to save a close family member’s life.
When Lee received the call that a family member had been told a liver transplant was their best option for survival, he immediately felt like he needed to do something to help. While he wasn’t initially sure if he would qualify, he wasted no time in connecting with the Living Liver Donor Transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital to start the evaluation process.
"They didn’t ask me to become their donor—I offered,” Lee says. “Today, they are alive. If I had to go back and do it again, I would. I have no regrets.”
In this Q&A, Lee shares more about his experience becoming a living liver donor.
Q. What concerned you about living donation?
I initially eliminated myself because of my age. I just assumed that I wouldn’t qualify as a living donor. Ultimately, I decided to let the people who know what they are doing make that determination. I felt like the least I could do was be assessed.
Following my interviews with the living donor transplant coordinator and the living donor advocate at the Mass General Transplant Center, I went ahead with the testing. During this process, I received confirmation that I met the qualifications to be a donor. Despite being 63 years old at the time, I was in excellent health. My surgeon took the time to underscore the importance of this surgery, particularly for someone in their 60s, and he left no doubt about the implications involved.
I really appreciated the team’s multidisciplinary approach. They thoroughly reviewed my emotional health and motivation to make sure that donating was something I really wanted to do. They emphasized that I was under no obligation and could change my mind at any point. This process gave me the confidence I needed in my decision.
Q. Were there any unexpected challenges or difficulties during your donation process?
Because of my good health, I sailed through the pre-operative process. My living donor transplant coordinator and my living donor advocate kept my feet firmly planted on the ground, not only by their words but also by communicating the evidence of my good health to me. Their assurance was not just anecdotal—it was backed by the data gained from my medical testing.
The opportunity to remain in constant touch with my team made a huge difference. I was astounded at how accessible the team was from the beginning. I could get answers to any question, any time.
Q. What was the actual donation procedure like? Can you describe the experience?
It felt surreal. I felt like I was going in for a standard primary care appointment, not a major surgery. I was given a mild sedative that took effect very quickly. I vaguely remember being wheeled into the operating room, but then I was out like a light.
When I woke up, I had pain in my elbows, of all places. It didn’t last long and was related to my positioning during the surgery. All my intensive care nurses were fantastic. The next day, I felt clear headed and strong; however, recovery in the intensive care unit wasn’t without its challenges. While I did not feel pain, I felt chills, disoriented, and out of balance. I could not get comfortable as I had to exclusively lay on my left side—this was normal but unpleasant. Every hour was a giant step forward. I was discharged after only five days.
I never felt the fatigue that the care team and previous living liver donors had warned me is common with this surgery. However, a few days later, I did feel very sick. I got on a video call with my surgeon and my living donor transplant coordinator right away, and they assured me that I should feel better within 48 hours. It took less than that for me to feel better.
Q. How long did it take to recover after the donation, and what was the recovery process like?
I was walking 15,000 steps a day within two weeks after surgery and using the staircase within three weeks. I diligently listened to my care team’s instructions, followed their restrictions, particularly for weightlifting, and submitted daily exercise reports. My living donor transplant coordinator would weigh in on every report with recommendations. It was fantastic communication. I followed lifting restrictions—I was instructed to lift no more than 20 pounds for three months and avoid any direct core work for six months.
I wanted to be the best patient I could be while also not sitting around and letting my body atrophy. I think it was critical to take their guidelines seriously to ensure that my recovery was on track. I also pushed myself to be as active as possible to strengthen my body. My routine involved unlimited walking, unlimited stair climbing, and using the prescribed weight limitations isolated repetitions of non-core muscle groups.
I did have to give myself time before going back to work. I remember that I tried to jump back into work quickly after my operation, partly because I felt so good and energized, but I quickly realized I was having trouble concentrating. My attention span, focus, and sense of presence wasn’t quite ready for it.
Q. Did you experience any long-term effects or changes in your health or lifestyle after the donation?
I previously assumed I would have to modify my lifestyle after donating a piece of my liver, but the truth is that I am back to where I started. I have always been an athlete and very strict with my exercise routine. I did have to ease back into it, especially with weightlifting and core exercises. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself swimming laps again after two months and climbing mountains (four mountains in the Canadian Rockies) a few months later. Today, I am back to my usual exercise routine—honestly, I am back to just about everything.
Q. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a living donor?
Start preparing your mental and physical well-being well in advance. Regardless of your current condition, up the ante. The better your pre-surgery shape, the smoother your recovery is likely to be.
Be realistic when planning for recovery. While you shouldn’t sit around and do nothing, you should be mindful about how quickly you return to daily activities. If your care team is anything like mine, they will expertly guide you through the planning process.
