LAURIE WEIR
Perth’s radio personality, Grant Deme, has found a living donor and will be undergoing a organ transplant on Monday in Toronto – if the testing done over the weekend shows that the organ is a perfect match.
“We found out this morning that Grant has found a living liver donor match, and is scheduled for his transplant on Monday morning. It’s short notice with lots of stuff to organize beforehand, but we are not complaining,” reads a post on the Facebook page that has been dedicated to finding Grant a living donor.
“We’ll be heading down to Toronto on Saturday, before Grant checks into hospital Sunday for a day full of testing, and then if all goes according to plan, it’s lights, camera, action (on) Monday!
Words cannot express how exciting, scary, and thrilling of a day this has been. Our family will forever be grateful to the donor and their family for saving Grant’s life. We’re incredibly fortunate to receive this donation as we’re well aware there’s many others who unfortunately did not.”
The post went on to thank everyone for sharing posts, sending words of encouragement and for applying to be Grant’s donor.
“This journey has shown a little window into just how much kindness there is left in the world.
We will continue to update this page throughout his recovery journey, so make sure to stick around.”
Grant was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a condition that scars and destroys the bile ducts. After three years of fighting the disease, his liver is now failing.
“My journey with PSC began three years ago. It’s a very rare disease of the bile ducts where they become so scarred and inflamed, they prevent the liver from filtering out toxins properly, leading to liver failure,” Deme wrote in his Facebook post. “Researchers have no idea what causes PSC. It’s not from substance abuse or anything of the sort. Quite honestly, it’s just bad luck. I woke up sick one day and I haven’t been healthy since.”
Living liver donation involves a living person donating a portion of their liver, which regenerates within approximately six weeks. If Deme finds a living donor, he will be removed from the deceased donor list, which means others awaiting a liver will move up the list.
Since 1990, more than 1,000 living liver transplants have been performed at Toronto General Hospital, and all donors have returned to their regular lifestyle without restrictions.
Deme, an avid sports fan, calls local Junior B hockey games on Friday nights and has continued to work at myFM radio station in Perth.
