By KENNEDY GORDON/Examiner Staff Writer
Candidate No. 7 turned out to be a match in the search for a new liver for Tim Dalliday.
The Peterborough man will undergo transplant surgery in July to replace his damaged, dying liver with the better part of another man's healthy liver.
"We're building a family bond," said Dalliday as he explained the donor's liver will grow back. "It's the only organ that does that."
The donor wishes to remain anonymous before the surgery, but told The Examiner he was glad to help Dalliday, a fellow athlete and longtime friend.
Dalliday, 46, son of retired sportscaster Gary Dalliday and brother of broadcaster Pete Dalliday, turned to his family first after he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
The rare liver disease attacks the bile ducts, leaving bile in the liver and causing permanent damage.
"In time, the liver will fail," Dalliday said. "And that's it."
He was diagnosed with the condition in February 2010 and went public with a search for a donor last summer. Family members were tested first, but couldn't donate due to other medical issues. Friends came forward; same answer. In some cases, previously unknown conditions were uncovered, although nothing serious.
"The joke with us is if you want to find out what's wrong with you, volunteer for the Tim Dalliday liver donor club," Dalliday said.
He kept on searching, though, thinking the whole time of his children, Rachel and Jack.
His employers at Peterborough Volkswagen, he said, were more than generous in accommodating his time off for tests and occasional "bad days." He has kept on selling cars during the search.
Six candidates were rejected before a friend offered to see if he was a match. And he was.
Potential donors first have their blood tested to see if they match Dalliday's. Then there's an extensive series of tests to determine whether the donor liver is a match — size can be an issue, Dalliday said — and whether the donor's health is up to the ordeal.
The Peterborough man will undergo transplant surgery in July to replace his damaged, dying liver with the better part of another man's healthy liver.
"We're building a family bond," said Dalliday as he explained the donor's liver will grow back. "It's the only organ that does that."
The donor wishes to remain anonymous before the surgery, but told The Examiner he was glad to help Dalliday, a fellow athlete and longtime friend.
Dalliday, 46, son of retired sportscaster Gary Dalliday and brother of broadcaster Pete Dalliday, turned to his family first after he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
The rare liver disease attacks the bile ducts, leaving bile in the liver and causing permanent damage.
"In time, the liver will fail," Dalliday said. "And that's it."
He was diagnosed with the condition in February 2010 and went public with a search for a donor last summer. Family members were tested first, but couldn't donate due to other medical issues. Friends came forward; same answer. In some cases, previously unknown conditions were uncovered, although nothing serious.
"The joke with us is if you want to find out what's wrong with you, volunteer for the Tim Dalliday liver donor club," Dalliday said.
He kept on searching, though, thinking the whole time of his children, Rachel and Jack.
His employers at Peterborough Volkswagen, he said, were more than generous in accommodating his time off for tests and occasional "bad days." He has kept on selling cars during the search.
Six candidates were rejected before a friend offered to see if he was a match. And he was.
Potential donors first have their blood tested to see if they match Dalliday's. Then there's an extensive series of tests to determine whether the donor liver is a match — size can be an issue, Dalliday said — and whether the donor's health is up to the ordeal.
"It's major surgery," Dalliday said.
He and his donor will travel to Toronto General Hospital for the July 20 operation.
"I'm just in a state of excitement," Dalliday said. "I knew this would happen, but I didn't believe it until I heard the news."
Live donation is different from transplants from donors who have died, Dalliday explained. That's more of a gamble, as doctors don't know when a liver will be available and if it will be a match.
This process gives both donor and patient a chance to prepare, and is only possible because livers regenerate. In time, both Dalliday and the donor should have close to fully functioning healthy livers.
"The best part is, he's about 10 years younger than I am," Dalliday said. "So I'll be younger, too."
Dalliday's surgery won't begin until the donor has had 65% of his liver removed, as doctors won't know for sure if the transplant can proceed until they see the organ.
Then Dalliday's abdomen will be opened, his liver and gall bladder removed and the new organ section put in place.
After that, it's months of recovery for Dalliday and weeks for the donor. Both hope to be enjoying their favourite pastimes, including running and other sports, by mid-fall. although Dalliday said the nature of his operation will mean extensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation before he's back to peak strength. When he is, he intends to try speed-skating.
Dalliday said his health played a role. He has had Crohn's disease since the early 1990s, but has always managed it well, he said. When the liver disease struck, he was ready to fight.
"I've been an athlete all my life — I've never been out of shape," he said. "The fitter you are going into this, the faster you come out of it."
The same goes for the donor.
"He's in perfect health," Dalliday said.
Both Dalliday and the donor said they intend to become more outspoken about the need for organ donation once they recover from their transplant surgery.
He and his donor will travel to Toronto General Hospital for the July 20 operation.
"I'm just in a state of excitement," Dalliday said. "I knew this would happen, but I didn't believe it until I heard the news."
Live donation is different from transplants from donors who have died, Dalliday explained. That's more of a gamble, as doctors don't know when a liver will be available and if it will be a match.
This process gives both donor and patient a chance to prepare, and is only possible because livers regenerate. In time, both Dalliday and the donor should have close to fully functioning healthy livers.
"The best part is, he's about 10 years younger than I am," Dalliday said. "So I'll be younger, too."
Dalliday's surgery won't begin until the donor has had 65% of his liver removed, as doctors won't know for sure if the transplant can proceed until they see the organ.
Then Dalliday's abdomen will be opened, his liver and gall bladder removed and the new organ section put in place.
After that, it's months of recovery for Dalliday and weeks for the donor. Both hope to be enjoying their favourite pastimes, including running and other sports, by mid-fall. although Dalliday said the nature of his operation will mean extensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation before he's back to peak strength. When he is, he intends to try speed-skating.
Dalliday said his health played a role. He has had Crohn's disease since the early 1990s, but has always managed it well, he said. When the liver disease struck, he was ready to fight.
"I've been an athlete all my life — I've never been out of shape," he said. "The fitter you are going into this, the faster you come out of it."
The same goes for the donor.
"He's in perfect health," Dalliday said.
Both Dalliday and the donor said they intend to become more outspoken about the need for organ donation once they recover from their transplant surgery.
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