Employee Feature: Richardson’s living donation gives sister a ‘second chance at life’

When Paul Richardson learned that his sister Rosie McGuire needed a liver transplant, he’d already made up his mind to step forward as a living donor.

“Rosie was in the hospital being treated for an unrelated condition when doctors noticed abnormalities with her liver,” said Richardson, an IT software developer for the Finance, Faculty, and Research team in University Support Services’ Engineering unit. “Further investigation revealed it was riddled with tumors. They were benign but had the potential to become cancerous, and there were too many to remove surgically. Eventually, doctors determined a transplant was the only viable option.”

McGuire’s diagnosis unfolded over time — from October 2022 until the surgery in February 2023 — giving Richardson time to prepare.

“It gave me enough time to research liver donation on my own — just in case it came to that,” he said. “So, when she was put on the donation list, I had already made my decision.”

When a living person volunteers all or part of an organ or body part to someone waiting for a transplant, it helps reduce waiting time for patients who might spend years waiting for an organ from a deceased donor.

“A lot of people are in desperate need of a replacement organ for a wide variety of reasons. The waiting list is long and unpredictable,” Richardson said. “Living organ donation allows a recipient to not only get a new lease on life but also removes a person from that list, giving everyone a better chance.”

Living donor transplants generally have better outcomes than those from deceased donors because the organ tends to be healthier and surgery can be scheduled in advance. More than 100,000 Americans are currently awaiting an organ transplant. As of July 2024, 910 patients in Utah were on organ waitlists, 767 of whom were waiting for a kidney, the most commonly donated organ, with 81 waiting for a liver.

Because McGuire lived in Colorado at the time, the transplant was performed through the University of Colorado’s program. Richardson said the screening process consisted of “some of the most thorough medical exams I’ve ever had — CT scans, MRIs, blood tests. They produced detailed 3D images of my liver and documented exactly how part of it would be removed and where it would go in my sister.”

The surgery itself was surprisingly swift but also surreal.

“I checked into the hospital feeling perfectly healthy and woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck,” Richardson laughed. “Luckily, the staff were amazing and gave me the best possible care for my recovery.”

The liver is such a good candidate for donation because the parts removed surgically can quickly regenerate and return to normal size.

Many factors contribute to a successful living organ donation.

“Being a direct relative can decrease the chances that the organ will be rejected, but overall, it’s not a major factor,” said Richardson, whose other sister Carrie was also a potential donor. “I was surprised to learn that for liver donation blood type matters but not the Rh factor. For example, an O positive person can donate a liver to an O negative person.”

Richardson donated his right lobe — about two-thirds of his liver.

“It takes about six weeks to regenerate for both the donor and recipient, after which the liver is back to full functionality,” he said.

McGuire’s full recovery took about three months. Today, she’s thriving.

“She’ll always have to take antirejection medication and is immunocompromised, but overall, her health and lifestyle are back to normal,” Richardson said. “The reality is that living organ donation gives someone a second chance at life, and that’s something truly extraordinary.”

As for Richardson’s health? The donation hasn’t slowed him down a bit.

“My recovery is 100%, and I feel better than ever,” said Richardson.

The experience changed him in profound ways.

“[I have] more empathy. I’ve been relatively healthy my entire life, and this gave me insight into what it’s like to be critically ill,” said Richardson, who, prior to the transplant, competed in nine marathons. “It also created a strong bond between my sister and me that is unique and indescribable, and it gave me even greater respect for medical professionals who save lives every day.” 

Utah consistently ranks among the top states for registered donors, with 78% of Utahns aged 16+ registered as organ donors, and historically, living donors make up a significant portion of Utah’s transplant activity.

Richardson’s advice for potential living organ donors?

“Go into things with eyes wide open. Ask questions. Do research. Talk to others who have donated if you can — the hospital arranged this for me, and it was extremely helpful,” Richardson said. “Know that this is major surgery and there are risks, even if those risks are low. Make sure you can be out of commission for several weeks, mentally and physically.”

“Living organ donation is not for everyone. It’s a huge undertaking. But there are things we can all do — make sure you’re marked as an organ donor on your driver’s license. Consider donating blood, plasma, or bone marrow. All of these things can make a big difference in somebody else’s life.”

 

Node 4 Search