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This part of my page will give you an idea of what I've gone
through since I was 5 years old.
My Dad was a very special person to me. He gave me the gift of life & now it's
my turn to give back by letting him know he will not be forgotten =)
I
| Mom & Dad's Anniversary |
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| Diana, Barbara,Me,Dad,Mom & ? |
| Mom & Dad |
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| Oh Daddy...what a romantic :) |
| Mom & Dad |
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| <> The happy couple sharing a passionate kiss :) <> |
| Mom, Me, Diana & Dad |
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| A fun day @ Keji on the teeter totter |
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| Mum, Diana, Me & Dad. Having loads of fun at Keji =) |
| Daddy going down the slide! |
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| Weeeee. I'm gunna catch you!!! |
| Dad, Me & Mom |
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| Canoeing @ Jake's Landing :) |
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| Mum, Dad & Me...with no teeth =) Daddy looks so handsome with his bushy beard! |
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| Me & my Dad before a friend's wedding |
| Just my Daddy & me :) |
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| Spending time together @ Keji |
| Dad, Diana, Me & Mom |
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| @ my grade 7 honors ceremony |
~THE STORY~
Written by: Diana Kleszczynski
-My sister wrote an article for the paper on my fathers condition when she
was in grade 5. This is it:
A Very Special Gift For My Dad- His Second Chance At Life
Hi, my name is
Diana Kleszczynski and I would like to tell you a story about my father, Richard. He is 43 years old and he just celebrated
his birthday at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. The reason of him being at the hospital is because he just had a
transplant of the liver. You probably would like to know why he needed it.
He has been sick for a few years without knowing what was happening
to him- the only thing he knew was that there had to be something wrong with him because of the way he felt all day long.
He was even tired in the mornings, when usually people feel rested after having a good night's sleep and, as the day progressed,
he felt even more tired, but he was determined not to give into the sickness. Before all of this, he was healthy, leading
a normal life. Enjoying everything that healthy people usually enjoy, including physical activities such as playing ball,
tennis, jogging, walking, playing with me or my sister, or just helping my mom with some housework, but about 3 years ago,
he started feeling too tired to do anything. He just didn't have the energy to do even simple things. Doctors were trying
to diagnose his illness for almost 2 years and finally they came up with the answer- hepatitis C.
It is an inflamation of the liver caused by a virus that can be spread
by blood transfusions or passed on by contact with the blood of another infected person. In a large percentage of cases it
is not known how the infection was aquired. The symptoms begin with fever, usually followed by weakness, loss of appetite,
digestive upsets & muscel pains. The upper abdomen may be painful & tender. Jaundice appears gradually, reaching maximum
intensity at 2 weeks. My father had all these symptoms and more.
All that time, while the doctors were trying to find out what was wrong
with my dad, the virus became very aggresive and damaged his liver so much that it caused cirrhosis. That means that the liver
became very small and scarred that it couldn't do its job properly. The liver is the largest single organ and gland in the
body, it weighs approximately 3 pounds & has over 500 functions to perform. It is the central chemical-processing plant
of the body (often called the 24 hour factory because it works non-stop) and unlike any other organ, the liver has 2 sources
of blood supply; one carries oxygenated blood from the heart and the other, carrying food substances from the stomach and
intestines. Blood passes through the liver at a rate of 1.4 litres (3 pints) per minute: at any instant, the liver contains
about 10 % of all the blood in your body. It also contains blood from the pancreas and spleen. The liver receives, processes
and re-distributes nearly 10 gallons of blood daily.
The liver cells help the blood to assimilate food substances and to
excrete waste materials and toxins, as well as products such as steroids, estrogen and other hormones. The liver stores sugar,
glycogen, iron, copper, vitamin A, many of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin D. It produces albumin and other proteins, including
many of those essential in normal blood clotting. It can manufacture many other substances, including carbohydrate from fat
or protein. From carbohydrate or protein the liver can also make fat
that it stores and later releases into the blood as free fatty acid which can be burned into energy. The liver also synthesizes
cholesteral and removes foreign substances and bacteria from the blood. It also detoxifies many drugs and acts as a center
for protection against potential poisons. It regulates the blood volume and is one of the primary sources of body heat.
Because of the complex work that the liver does, it is impossible to build machines that can replace the liver, as they
can for example, the kidneys or the heart. The most interesting thing about the liver is that when it is damaged or part of
it is removed, unlike any other organ it can regrow to a large extent to continue its work as before.
In my dad's case, the damage to the liver was too severe and still
progressing because of the virus that attacked the liver, that even treating him with the medication drug called "interferon-alfa"
didn't help him much, so the only chance for him to live was a liver transplant.
The was the beginning of March when my dad was put on the waiting
list and received a pager, which was to go off once they found a perfect match for him. So my dad was the next scheduled
patient for the operation.
Many people in the world are not yet aware of how much difference organ
donations can make- it is the difference of life and death. Many people had to die because there was no organ
available for transplant. Some people choose to become donors in case something happens to them. It is a sad part of this
procedure that someone has to die in order for someone else to live, but there is a bright side to it too because
thanks to somebody who decided to be a donor, another someone had a second chance at life. My dad was lucky that his disease
did not reach its final stage yet and there was somebody who signed the donors card and that person had a perfect matching
liver for my dad. It has to be the same size and the same blood type.
Once my dad was on the pager, he appeared calmer knowing that his life
span could be prolonged thanks to a liver transplant but on the other hand he seemed anxious and afraid of the
operation, wondering whether or not it would be successful. The first human liver transplant was performed in 1963 but it
was widely accepted in medical practise in the early 1980's. Liver transplantation is a life saving operation for patients
with certain liver diseases when no other treatment is available.
It is technically a very difficult surgery which requires removal
of the diseased liver and replacement of it by a liver of suitable size and blood type obtained from a donor. There
is no "backup" if the transplant ever fails to function. The risk of complications and death are higher than with any other
surgery but surviving patients can lead normal lives with medications to prevent rejection.
When my dad received the call from the hospital, he was nervous about
the transplant but also very happy. My mom packed everything needed for my dad and then she packed things for me and
my sister Dorothy, because we were going to be staying with our parents friends. That was on May 23rd '92 and it was a Sunday
afternoon. I was scared for my dad because I didn't know what was going to happen. Later I found out that the operation had
started Sunday night and my dad was out of the operating room by Monday afternoon. Usually it take 6-8 hours to transplant
the liver but in my dad's case, it took 14 hours, because the operation was very difficult- there was a lot of bleeding that
the doctors had to stop and they had to make an additional incision in his chest. The surgery was completed on Victoria Day
which we considered to be a good sign, it was a victory for my father. He won in his fight for life and received a second
chance. Now it is only a matter of time for him to get better. Of course he has his good days and his bad days. First the
doctor said there was a good chance that the liver would not work but it did on the 3rd day after the surgery. Then his other
organs started to fail one after another; kidneys, lungs, heart, and then the rejection of the liver started too but the doctors
treated my dad with the anti-rejection drugs for 10 days and the rejection finally stopped.
Everytime I think of my father, I get sad. It may seem weird but he
isn't better yet so anything can happen. I was crying when I found out my father had about 3 months to live if he didn't have
a liver transplant. His own liver was scarred and shrunken, weighing only 1/3 of its normal size. I can't thank the
person who donated the liver but if I could somehow communicate with the family of that person, I would be so happy. I am
very greatful to whoever gave my dad a second chance at life. He was doing worse
than the other people who had the transplant because his wound opened up and he had to go back into the operating room only
3 weeks after the operation. Then it was like it was happening all over again. Now, he is out of the ICU and we all hope he
will be better soon. He still has trouble holding things, sitting, walking and talking but it should only be a matetr
of time before he gets better.
Doctors said that my dad will have to be in the hospital for about 3
more weeks and after that, he should stay in Halifax for 8 weeks to continue blood tests and check ups. After that he will
be allowed to go home, but he will have to stay on 4 different medications for the rest of his life. These drugs are anti-rejection
drugs and anti-infection drugs and every transplant patient has to take them because both rejection and/or infection could occur
at any time.
I have changed my mind about not donating my organs. Before I thought
"I would never do that" but now I'm donating anything the doctors can take, because it makes me feel good to think that someday
it may save someone's life. Just like someone saved the life of my father. That is the most precious, priceless and beautiful
gift- The Gift Of Life.
This is an entry from my diary; Monday November 24/03
Dear Diary,
I woke up today & started getting ready
for school, then mom called me fro upstairs. so I ran up & she was in her room, holding dad up. Something was really wrong!
She asked me to help her get dad into the living room. He started speaking, slurring his words & being really stubborn,
saying he didn't need help to get to the livingroom. (Me & mom knew different) We told him to walk & then he said
he WAS walking, but he wasn't! He was just standing there. He said he wanted to sit down but we couldn't let him because once
he sat down, he wouldn't be getting back up for a while. He finally got exasperated & stomped off into the living room
saying that he wasn't a baby & to stop treating him like a child. He then sat down on the sofa & we tried talking
to him, asking him how he felt & other personal questions because it seemed like something was affecting his memory. I
said "Daddy" & he didn't react. Mom pulled me aside & said poisons were affecting him & we had to get him to the
hospital. Mom had to pack a few things & while she did that, I kept asking dad questions. By this time, he wasn't moving
or reacting to anything! I was getting really scared.
We got to the city & dad went straight into the emergency room
& the doctors gave us his case. They told us exactly what mom thought. Poisons were taking over his body. Because of the
kidney failure, the blood was not getting filtered, causing all the toxins to build up in his system.
It was in its' late stages but the doctors said they would do everything they could to revive him. Mom & I both started
crying. I sat down, thinking about everything that could happen (I tend to have an overactive imagination) Hours passed &
dad ended up in a coma. We got to see him. I felt so sad just seeing him there...helpless & in pain. He was hooked
up to a respirator & heart monitor. The respirator ran down his throat & I could tell it was uncomfortable. I was
still crying. I never saw anyone looking like he did. Mom & I were told to go into the Family Room so we could get another
update. The doctors said it didn't look good & he probably was not going to be a candidate for another liver transplant.
They said "At this point there isn't much we can do because it is the late stages of the poison affects & he is in
critical condition" That was all I could take! They were preparing us for my father to die today!
I went back to his room on my own. I sat with him & tried my best to keep him comfortable.
I even talked to him & begged him to hold on for me. For my graduation...he had to be there to walk me down the aisle
someday. I never thought I'd have to convince my father to keep breaths in his body. I stayed with him as long as I could.
Singing to him & telling him stories.
The doctor came in with my mother & did a check up on him. He said his condition was
getting worse & his heart beat was slowing down. He asked us "what would u like for me to do? we could continue the treatment
which could possibly be making him suffer OR we can pull the plug & let him go peacefully" Mom looked @ me & I just
held dad's hand, crying & shook my head. The doctor looked back @ mom & she shook her head as well & yelled
"fight for him!"
We were told to exit the room. An hour later, the doctor came to our room & said "he
is in stable condition"
Diana finally came & started crying as soon as she saw dad. Same reaction I
had. I didn't know what to do. @ any moment I could lose 1 of my parents.
Mom went back to talk to the doctor & asked about transplant possibilities.
He said "@ this point, it isn't an option" basically, there was a chance that they could lose dad on the operating table
which would be 'wasting' the liver & they did not want to waste an organ that could be transplanted into someone
who had a better chance of leading a longer, healthier life. So because they didn't want to "waste" a liver. I asked
about donating part of mine. They said it was against regulation because it is a 30% death possibility for the donator. I
didn't care. I wanted so badly to do it anyways! The doctor said "All we can do now, is pray & wait"
I couldn't sleep all night... I waited & waited. Crying...BEGGING for god to take
me instead.
He must have heard my plea because Thursday, Novemeber 27/03, my father awoke from his
coma & it made me the happiest 16 year old on the face of the earth :)
I was in grade 1 when my father was having his liver transplant
and like most children at that age, have no idea what a transplant is or what it involves for that matter.
Looking back on the times that I spent, giving my father grief because he wouldn't go
outside to play with me or do simple things, I completely regret acting the ways that I did or saything the things that I
said. It is a lesson learned to not take anything for granted, breathe each breath as if it is your last, and say things that
are on your mind because you may never get the chance to say them again. While my father was in the hospital before he passed
away, he was hooked up to a ventilator & could not speak. He was too weak to hold a pencil & could not write his thoughts.
He tried SO hard to tell me something. I tried guessing what it was that he wanted to say. Giving examples such as "do u want
to let me know that you're proud of me and that u love me?" "u want me to treat mom & Diana well?" "u want me to grow
up into a smart, responsible adult?" He nodded yes but also made hand gestures as if to say "but that isn't all I want
to tell u" I kept trying to guess things but nothing I said was correct. I asked him to PLEASE try to write his thoughts
but he just couldn't. And now...I will never know what it was that he so desperately wanted to tell me. It eats me alive everyday
of my life. What can I think? I can't assume what he wanted to tell me. It hurts. There is nothing I want more than to have
my daddy back. Nobody has any idea how much the saying is true "u never realize how much u miss someone until they are gone"
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