Maddox Cove woman gets new lease on life after liver transplant

After being told by doctors she wouldn't live another year without a live liver transplant, Janet Hong is now recovering after a successful surgery.

Janet Hong of Maddox Cove says she was blown away by the people who wanted to help her — and that her donor is now considered family.

"There's an incredible compassion in the human race and I've seen it all this year. All the goodness, it makes me cry almost daily," Hong, who is now recovering in Edmonton, told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.

Hong has lived with autoimmune liver disease for years and needed a live liver donor. 

Carlene Paquette of Ottawa stepped in to help.

"It's a new life," said Hong. "Now, because of Carlene's liver, I'm getting all these opportunities to walk and to exercise and to lift weights."

Paquette reached out to Hong in July, asking if she could submit an application to be a donor. Hong said they were both part of a mutual friend's online community where they share uplifting stories.

She said Paquette was also a source of encouragement when Hong was nervous about the transplant that took place in September.

"I couldn't have asked for a better donor," said Hong.

She said her one-month medical follow-up with hepatologist Dr. Mamatha Bhat took place on her 57th birthday in October.

A friend in need

Hong was diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis at 29 years old, an autoimmune disease of the liver where bile ducts are inflamed and destroyed. Doctors told her she had two years to live.

Then at 56, she was told she needed a live liver transplant or she would not survive another year. The disease also progressed, and she had developed an additional pulmonary complication, which required the full-time use of oxygen.

Hong initially spoke with CBC News this summer about her need of a liver transplant. She said after the story was shared, hundreds of people reached out to Toronto's Ajmera Transplant Centre to be her donor. Ultimately, 48 people were on the shortlist.

In August she left the province to receive further medical care in Toronto and said she needed a lot of support to board the plane. She estimated she had used three or four oxygen cylinders for the flight's duration.

"It was time for me to go there. I knew that if I didn't leave Newfoundland at that time, I wasn't going to get to Toronto. So we lucked out," said Hong.

When in Toronto, she said she stayed on oxygen and hoped a match would be found.

Hong said she was staying positive that a donor would be found. Then, Paquette reached out with some life-saving news.

"It happened incredibly fast," said Hong.

"It was incredible. And you know, I cried a lot with the magnitude of love and compassion and caring and everything that was showered on myself and my family."

Travel plans ahead

Two days after the surgery, Hong said, the hospital staff had her up and walking. She said she has new medication and that she stays in regular contact with Paquette every few days.

"She'll always be part of my family, obviously. And what a kind soul," said Hong. "She's a beautiful person."

For now, Hong is staying in Edmonton under medical orders not to travel while she recovers. She said she wants to get back to Newfoundland soon and has a few other places on her itinerary once she has a clean bill of health.

"I'd love to go back down to my property in Florida. That would be wonderful," she said.

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