Comox Valley Nurse's Heartfelt Journey: A Grateful Liver Transplant Survivor

In the picturesque Comox Valley, Sara Cherewaty, a dedicated nurse, has experienced the profound impact of organ donation from both sides. As a student nurse, then an operating room (OR) nurse, and now working in the pre-admission and booking office at North Island Hospital, her career has come full circle in understanding the invaluable gift of life through organ transplants.

Cherewaty reflects, “In nursing school, I learned about organ donation and transplants. During my time as an OR nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, I was part of an organ retrieval surgery that was both touching and traumatic. At that moment, I didn’t anticipate that I would one day need a transplant myself.”

Her journey took a harrowing turn in 2001 when she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PCKD), a genetic disorder characterized by fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. While PCKD typically doesn’t affect the liver, Cherewaty was one of the rare cases where it did. Despite her nephrologist’s best efforts to maintain her kidney function through a healthy lifestyle, the situation grew dire as the cysts spread to her liver, leading to severe discomfort and impacting her daily life.

“I had to leave my job as an OR nurse,” she shared. “Simple moments, like playing with my daughter, became excruciating.” After undergoing two surgeries to alleviate swelling in her liver, heartbreakingly, she was informed that a liver transplant would be her only option to treat Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD).

This life-altering news thrust her into a waiting game. “I couldn’t go anywhere without my cellphone, always anticipating ‘the call’ that would change everything,” she recollected. After an agonizing 18-month wait, Cherewaty finally received the life-saving call announcing that a donor liver was available.

“I am immensely thankful for my healthcare team, from lab technicians to the surgical team,” she said with emotion. “I was supported by an incredible community, and I’m eternally grateful to my donor for this extraordinary gift.”

With her three-year anniversary of the transplant approaching, Cherewaty is thriving. “I wouldn’t be here today without the unwavering support of friends, family, and this amazing community,” she added. “I urge everyone to consider organ donation seriously!”

As part of an initiative called Operation Popcorn, BC Transplant volunteers visit healthcare facilities every December to thank providers like Cherewaty who uphold the importance of organ donation.

Did you know that British Columbia has maintained an online organ donor registry for over 25 years? However, awareness around the necessity of registering an organ donor status remains low. “Many believe their consent is automatically registered because it's on their driver’s license, but they are mistaken,” Cherewaty mentioned. “You need to register officially with BC Transplant.”

David Torney, an organ donation coordinator with BC Transplant in Nanaimo, emphasizes the urgency: “It takes just two minutes to register with your Personal Health Number – you could save up to eight lives.”

In 2023 alone, 563 individuals in British Columbia received transplants thanks to the generosity of 160 deceased donors along with 77 living kidney donors. Yet, only 32% of the population has registered as organ donors, revealing a significant opportunity for growth.

Cherewaty passionately advocates, “Let’s do better! I encourage everyone to consider the legacy they could leave behind by registering to be an organ donor. You too can provide the gift of life!”

For those interested in becoming organ donors, more information can be found here: [http://www.transplant.bc.ca/organ donation/register-as-an-organ-donor](http://www.transplant.bc.ca/organ donation/register-as-an-organ-donor). Don't wait—your decision today could save lives tomorrow!