Doug the Transplant Trooper
Donation protected
My dad Doug Swinford is an incredibly strong, kind and funny guy. He is husband to Lynne, father to three daughters, and grandpa to five little ones (with one more on the way). On July 15, 2020, he received a MIRACULOUS combined kidney and liver transplant. This was his third transplant. The gift of organ donation has given him almost 30 years with his family so far!
A little background before we get to the extraordinary transplant story:
Doug was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive liver disease that affects the bile ducts, in his 20s. The disease progressed to liver failure and he became critically ill at the age of 30.
Doug received his first liver transplant in 1991. He recovered well and returned home to his three little girls and his job at a power company. Things went well for many years. Unfortunately, his PSC recurred and progressed to liver failure a second time, requiring another liver transplant in 2004. He recovered and returned to his job, where he worked for the next 15 years.
Doug had to retire in November 2019. He had developed kidney failure as a result of his transplant medications. He started dialysis in February 2020.
In April 2020, Doug’s health began to decline rapidly. He developed swelling, fatigue, confusion and jaundice. His liver disease had recurred yet again. In May, he developed life threatening internal bleeding. Fortunately, he was able to recover. He spent the next few months in and out of the hospital with more complications of liver failure. As if he didn’t have enough going on, he developed a detached retina and had to have surgery in early July to try to save his vision. It seemed as though he would never catch a break! Throughout all this, he never lost faith.
Doug was listed for combined liver and kidney transplant on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. One week later, on Tuesday, July 14, he got the call that there was a donor. This call could not have come soon enough. He was getting progressively ill and weak, and we knew he did not have much time.
Doug was admitted to Barnes Hospital that night and was in surgery at 5 am the next day (Wednesday, July 15) . The liver transplant was very complicated due to scar tissue from his previous transplants. By 3 pm, the surgeon had just gotten the liver sewn in when he decided that they needed to pause. Doug had massive bleeding and swelling that they needed to get under control. He went to ICU (with his belly still open) and received stabilizing care throughout the night. On Thursday morning at 4 am, he went back to the operating room. About 6 hours later, report came from the surgeon that the liver and kidney transplants were finished, and things had gone well. There is no doubt that this was a miracle of God's hand.
Doug, being the trooper that he is, was off of the ventilator the morning after surgery. He was up in a chair and talking to his family. He had a smile we had not seen for months. We are so thankful to God, the organ donors and their families, and the medical team for blessing us yet again. He still has a long way to go, but he is finally on the road to recovery.
His daughters decided to create this GoFundMe to help with his medical expenses. It has been a very difficult year, and the financial burden of his care will be great. His doctors anticipate he will be in hospital/rehab in St. Louis area for at least 1 month. After that, we hope he will be able to return home. He will have to travel back to St. Louis frequently over the next year for checkups.
Doug has always been one to help others, and now we have the opportunity to help him. We appreciate any and all contributions. If you cannot contribute at this time, we totally understand! Times are tough for everyone right now. We appreciate prayers, cards, texts, well wishes etc. just as much. We are eager for him to get home and start enjoying his retirement! He is so deserving.
Thank you so much for reading, and God bless you for helping in any way you can.
PS...DONATE YOUR ORGANS! You can't take them with you, and you will be giving the ultimate gift to someone who is in need!
A little background before we get to the extraordinary transplant story:
Doug was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive liver disease that affects the bile ducts, in his 20s. The disease progressed to liver failure and he became critically ill at the age of 30.
Doug received his first liver transplant in 1991. He recovered well and returned home to his three little girls and his job at a power company. Things went well for many years. Unfortunately, his PSC recurred and progressed to liver failure a second time, requiring another liver transplant in 2004. He recovered and returned to his job, where he worked for the next 15 years.
Doug had to retire in November 2019. He had developed kidney failure as a result of his transplant medications. He started dialysis in February 2020.
In April 2020, Doug’s health began to decline rapidly. He developed swelling, fatigue, confusion and jaundice. His liver disease had recurred yet again. In May, he developed life threatening internal bleeding. Fortunately, he was able to recover. He spent the next few months in and out of the hospital with more complications of liver failure. As if he didn’t have enough going on, he developed a detached retina and had to have surgery in early July to try to save his vision. It seemed as though he would never catch a break! Throughout all this, he never lost faith.
Doug was listed for combined liver and kidney transplant on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. One week later, on Tuesday, July 14, he got the call that there was a donor. This call could not have come soon enough. He was getting progressively ill and weak, and we knew he did not have much time.
Doug was admitted to Barnes Hospital that night and was in surgery at 5 am the next day (Wednesday, July 15) . The liver transplant was very complicated due to scar tissue from his previous transplants. By 3 pm, the surgeon had just gotten the liver sewn in when he decided that they needed to pause. Doug had massive bleeding and swelling that they needed to get under control. He went to ICU (with his belly still open) and received stabilizing care throughout the night. On Thursday morning at 4 am, he went back to the operating room. About 6 hours later, report came from the surgeon that the liver and kidney transplants were finished, and things had gone well. There is no doubt that this was a miracle of God's hand.
Doug, being the trooper that he is, was off of the ventilator the morning after surgery. He was up in a chair and talking to his family. He had a smile we had not seen for months. We are so thankful to God, the organ donors and their families, and the medical team for blessing us yet again. He still has a long way to go, but he is finally on the road to recovery.
His daughters decided to create this GoFundMe to help with his medical expenses. It has been a very difficult year, and the financial burden of his care will be great. His doctors anticipate he will be in hospital/rehab in St. Louis area for at least 1 month. After that, we hope he will be able to return home. He will have to travel back to St. Louis frequently over the next year for checkups.
Doug has always been one to help others, and now we have the opportunity to help him. We appreciate any and all contributions. If you cannot contribute at this time, we totally understand! Times are tough for everyone right now. We appreciate prayers, cards, texts, well wishes etc. just as much. We are eager for him to get home and start enjoying his retirement! He is so deserving.
Thank you so much for reading, and God bless you for helping in any way you can.
PS...DONATE YOUR ORGANS! You can't take them with you, and you will be giving the ultimate gift to someone who is in need!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Lucca
Organizer
Springfield, IL
Douglas Swinford
Beneficiary