WELLS, Maine — A hero saved Jodi DeMuth's life last week, ending her worst fears and reinvigorating her hope.
Her son, Mischa DeMuth Winters, who last week donated 60 percent of his liver to his mother, is that hero. And she's not the only one who sees it that way; her loving family, which extends beyond her three children, siblings and partner to a community of families the midwife has touched over 20 years, all agree.
"It is a miracle," DeMuth said, days after the transplant. "It's a total miracle."
It's been a long road for DeMuth, 58, of Wells, who was diagnosed 23 years ago with the degenerative autoimmune disease primary biliary cirrhosis, which irreversibly scarred her liver. The disease is chronic, progressive and has no cure.
Four months ago, DeMuth began the process of finding a donor, first turning to eight family members who were tested to determine whether they were a match. From that initial test emerged DeMuth Winters, 33, whom doctors determined was strong and healthy enough to handle the donation.
On May 8, the two went into surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and DeMuth's scarred liver was replaced with 60 percent of her son's healthy organ. Now they are on the other side, looking forward to enjoying the gift of life this son gave to his mother.
'I don't feel any fear'
DeMuth went into the five-hour-plus surgery with the words of coach Eric Taylor on the television show "Friday Night Lights" ringing in her head: "Clear eyes, full heart, can't lose."
Read more: http://m.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20120517/NEWS/205170412&template=wapart
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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