Ellsworth ME – Jan Watson, a registered nurse at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, is accustomed to caring for others. She now finds herself waiting for a liver transplant due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) – a rare inherited disorder characterized by malformations of various blood vessels, usually resulting in excessive bleeding.
Jan first noticed nosebleeds before her first child was born but never thought much about it. After many tests and consultations with Maine Coast Memorial Hospital physician Sean Maloney, the diagnosis of HHT was established and confirmed through a referral to Yale Medical Center in New Haven, Connecticut.
Pictured L-R: Deb Hubbard (Donor), Sean Maloney,MD, (Physician) and Jan Watson, RN (Recipient)
Jan is presently suffering from heart failure, as her heart must work so hard to keep up with increased blood flow through the liver. In addition, the high flow state in Jan’s liver has resulted in an inability to provide enough blood supply to her digestive system. This lack of blood flow, called ischemia, causes pain for Jan whenever she eats. The only option for Jan is to eat small, frequent meals. Due to increasing pain both with and without eating, doctors have determined that a liver transplant was needed.
When an organ is needed, it is customary to test family members for a close match but since Jan was adopted and has no family history or known relatives, this was not an option.
Enter fellow Maine Coast Memorial Hospital employee Deb Hubbard who met Jan six years ago while both worked in the Breast Clinic. Deb has been found to be a close match. The final approval will come from the Transplant Board by February 27 but the medical team is so optimistic of the match that they have scheduled a tentative procedure date of March 16 at the Yale Medical Center.
Surgeons will remove 60% of Deb’s liver and all of Jan’s. Deb’s liver will regenerate and the transplanted part will grow to fill the spot vacated by Jan’s liver. Deb’s surgery will last 11 hours and Jan’s most likely 14 hours.
This past week Jan had a feeding tube inserted as she cannot eat adequately and has lost weight. She must remain healthy to be ready for the transplant. The doctors feel she will see immediate relief from both the pain and heart failure once the transplant is complete.
Godspeed to Jan, Deb and their families from their Maine Coast Memorial Hospital family!
