[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/12\/upmc-living-donor-champion-program\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/12\/upmc-living-donor-champion-program\/","headline":"One Patient’s Experience with the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program","name":"One Patient’s Experience with the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program","description":"In 1995, Karen Molisee was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a disease of the liver caused by inflammatory bowel disease. PSC damages the bile ducts that carry digestive waste from the liver to the small intestine, which can cause scarring of the liver.","datePublished":"2020-12-14","dateModified":"2025-01-16","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","name":"Transplant Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/transplant-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/iStock-1221628769-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/iStock-1221628769-1.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/12\/upmc-living-donor-champion-program\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Transplant","UPMC Stories"],"wordCount":702,"articleBody":"In 1995, Karen Molisee was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a disease of the liver caused by inflammatory bowel disease. PSC damages the bile ducts that carry digestive waste from the liver to the small intestine, which can cause scarring of the liver.Karen and her doctor were able to medically manage her disease for years, but by January 2018, her disease had progressed to the point that she needed to put on the liver transplant waiting list at UPMC. During her transplant evaluation, she learned that her chances of finding a match through deceased donation were low.She also learned about the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program, which offers patients resources to help them find a living donor.My First Living Donor Champion WorkshopIn May 2018, Karen attended her first Living Donor Champion Workshop at UPMC.\u201cI didn’t know exactly what to expect,” Karen says. \u201cBut I was looking for ways to better share my story.”At the workshop, she learned about an important but often-overlooked role in the transplant journey: The Champion. UPMC recommends that every transplant patient begin their living donation journey by identifying a Champion\u2014a friend or loved one who can be the patient’s advocate and help them to find a living donor.\u201cThe workshop was informative and interesting,” she says. “I learned a lot about where and how to share my story and I left feeling motivated to try new things.”Karen and her Champion shared her story far and wide. They spoke with:Family membersNeighborsCoworkersWindow decal advertisements in their car windowsAn article in the local newspaperA few people signed up to be evaluated. No one was a match. That was hard news to take \u2013 but Karen knew that she had a long journey ahead of her. One year later and she was back to the drawing board.\u201cI couldn’t give up. I was too sick,” she says.My Second Living Donor Champion Workshop\u201cWhen the invitation for the second Champion Workshop came, I thought it would be a great chance to get some new ideas and see how other people were sharing their story,” Karen says.At the workshop, she met 13 other people, patients and Champions, including a Champion at the end of her journey \u2013 Tasha Livingston. Her husband had received his lifesaving transplant and had returned to a healthy, active life. It was Tasha who gave Karen the extra boost she needed to keep searching.\u201cTasha was wonderful,” Karen says. \u201cWe spoke after the workshop and she was always full of ideas and energy. Meeting her was a huge help to me.”After the second workshop, Karen and her Champion continued to search. They shared Karen’s story in a few other ways:A Facebook page updated every few days with pictures of Karen at homeLocal fire fighters and first responders\u201cThe Champion Program is a great for way to learn how to share your need for a donor and to meet people who understand what you are going through, because they are on a similar journey,” Karen adds. “I found that kind of support very helpful.”The Solution: A Stranger Donates Their LiverA few months after attending her second workshop, Karen finally received her lifesaving liver transplant.She often thinks about everything she and her Champion did to find a donor. She’s not sure what finally \u201cworked” because she still doesn’t know who ended up being her living donor.\u201cMy donor was anonymous, and we’ve never met,” Karen says, \u201cI don’t know who they are.”Her donor might be a family member, a friend, or a community member who saw the story in the newspaper, or even a stranger who discovered the Facebook page. Her living donor could have come from anywhere. And that’s true for everyone searching for a living donor \u2013 where you find your donor might surprise you.The search for a living donor is a journey. At UPMC, you have access to resources to help you on your search.Please note that UPMC Living Donor Champion Program workshops are currently virtual.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 14, 2020, and was last reviewed on January 16, 2025."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"One Patient’s Experience with the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/12\/upmc-living-donor-champion-program\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]