I didn't know it would help me too 💚 Maureen Carrig's living liver donation

🎙️In this episode of Transplant Talks, living liver donor Maureen Carrig shares the deeply personal story behind her decision to donate. After hearing about the critical need for pediatric liver transplants at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Maureen felt moved to act—and made her decision within just a few days. She describes the nerves of telling people, the weight of choosing something so life-altering, and the quiet certainty that kept her moving forward.

Maureen ended up donating to an adult and was one of the first donors at her center to undergo robotic right lobe donation using the Da Vinci system—resulting in tiny incisions that “look almost like pinpricks,” in stark contrast to the full midline incision co-host Rachel Davis experienced during her own donation. Together, Rachel and Maureen compare their recoveries: the upper back and shoulder pain from laparoscopic gas inflation versus the intense incisional pain of open surgery, and the shared challenge of overwhelming fatigue as their livers regenerated. Early recovery was difficult for both—walking even half a block was initially exhausting.

They discuss the emotional impact of donation, the importance of strong caregivers, and the unexpected ways the experience reshaped their lives. Rachel talks about feeling empowered by what her body could do, eventually running five half-marathons. Maureen reflects on how she has exchanged letters with her recipient, while Rachel has met hers in New Mexico. Both donors say without hesitation that they would do it again.

As Maureen puts it: “I thought I was doing something positive for someone else. I didn’t realize how much it would benefit me as well.”

For more information on organ transplantation:

https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org 

https://www.livingliverdonation.com

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💚If you are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to Rachel.Davis@CUAnschutz.edu