Kevin Cotnoir is undergoing a potentially life-saving operation today at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts, but the life he hopes to save is not his own.
A Belmont resident, husband and father, Cotnoir, 31, will donate up to 60 percent of his liver to a family member whose own liver has nearly stopped functioning and whose only chance of survival is a procedure known as a living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
In addition to saving the life of his family member — who asked not to be identified — Cotnoir, who works in the Information Technology department at Laconia Savings Bank, hopes to raise awareness about the need for live liver donation and the fact that if he can do it, so can others.
According to Wikipedia, LDLT "is a well accepted treatment option for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure" and its use is based on the "remarkable regenerative capacities of the human liver" as well as the lack of livers from cadavers.
Both the donor and recipient should regain full liver function in several months after the LDLT, but the procedure does carry risks for both the donor and recipient. Cotnoir said there is under a one percent chance that he may die but he quickly points out that without the surgery, his family member undoubtedly will perish.
Cotnoir became a potential liver donor after testing determined that none of his family member's immediate biological relatives has a compatible blood type.
After several batteries of examinations — including psychological as well as medical — Cotnoir was cleared by Lahey for the LDLT.
Recently, Cotnoir — surrounded by his family, including wife Patty; daughters Riley and Madison; stepdaughters Gabby and Katie; his parents Mike and Martha Cotnoir; and his brother, Marc Cotnoir — spoke with The Citizenabout the transplant which will be the first surgery in Kevin's life.
It will take Lahey doctors between four to six hours to remove a portion of Cotnoir's liver and then several more hours to transplant it in the recipient. Both Cotnoir and the recipient each have their own specialized team of care providers at Lahey, which on its website at www.lahey.org, boasts that "Our transplant surgeons are among the most experienced in the nation at performing live donor liver transplant (LDLT) surgeries."
Cotnoir, who will spend up to a week recovering at Lahey, has the distinction of being its 210th live-liver donor.
"My mind was made up when I found out that I was the right blood type," said Cotnoir who admitted, however, that "I am a chicken when it comes to hospitals." Nonetheless, "I feel honored that I'm asked to do this because most people never have this opportunity in a whole life time."
LDLT "is an amazing technology," Cotnoir continued. "Doctor's can actually remove an organ and let someone else live. Why would people say 'no?' It's a gift."
Also a gift is the overwhelming support that Cotnoir said he has gotten and is getting from his family and also from his employer. He said LSB will keep his job open as he recuperates for up to 12 weeks following the surgery.
Patty Cotnoir said the prospective recipient of her husband's liver was "really psyched and excited" and has named the organ "George."
"We're proud, we're concerned," said Mike Cotnoir of his son's decision to donate his liver. Marc Cotnoir added, "'proud' isn't even the word. This is a rare opportunity to save someone's life." Mike Cotnoir said Kevin has been a stand-up guy all his life.
"He's always been there, no matter what kind of help is needed."
Kevin Cotnoir gave kudos to the donor and recipient teams at Lahey, saying "They have been very great and easy to work with. They have a tremendous amount of compassion for both sides and do not put any pressure on the individual to donate. They seem to bend over backward to make sure things go as easy and as smoothly as possible."
Apart from a completely successful LDLT today, "I would personally like for the reader of this story to feel as if being a potential live liver donor is something possible for them, too, and encourage them to research it," said Cotnoir.
Information about living-donor liver transplantation is available atwww.lahey.org/Medical/LiverTransplant/LiveDonor.
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