TABLE 3.
Survey responses from two individuals who completed ALLD
Survey question | Donor responses 1 | Donor responses 2 |
---|---|---|
Did you experience any medical, psychological, or social barriers in your recovery process after donation? | “I had to stay in hospital an extra few days. It was hard being patient with giving myself time to heal and getting back to activities, but no regrets with donating.” | “Nausea and constipation.” |
What was the biggest challenge you experienced throughout the entire donation process? | “Having to be patient with test results [throughout the evaluation] and then patience with the recovery.” | “Discovery of and treatment of TB exposure. COVID restricting spouse from visiting was emotional.” |
What benefits, if any, have you experienced from donating a portion of your liver? (eg, psychological, social) | “Don’t think received much social benefits except through church, family, and family friends. Also psychologically benefited from knowing someone else had another chance at life.” | “Knowing that a family out there gets to have their loved one a little longer is most gratifying.” |
Why did you or why did you not choose to meet with your liver recipient after the procedure was completed? | “I wanted to put a face and name to person who shares a body part. I would’ve been ok not knowing, too, but I wanted to see face to face.” | “My initial decision to donate was for a particular person, but due to a rapid decline in her health, she received another liver…it was a very stressful, emotional time for me, and I made the decision to just help someone without the emotions that come from “knowing” them.” |
After having completed the living liver donation process and having had time to reflect on the process, would you donate again if you could? | “Yes” | “Yes” |
The individuals responded to inquiries about barriers, challenges, benefits, postdonation decision making, and reflections from their ALLD experience. Define ALLD, COVID, and TB in Table 3.