A Friend in Need
Looking Out for Me
Road to Recovery
ROAD RUNNING
Meeting the moms before the big transplant surgery
social media post . It was a “ Waiting Wednesday ’ post - we shared stories about people waiting for organ transplants , and TELL shared my story …
A Friend in Need
Morgan Kloes and I met in 2005 through rowing . We were both participating for our respective schools and got to know each other whilst waiting at the start line for our races . After school , we both went to study at the University of Pretoria , where we would chat when we were training , or when the whole rowing club was on tours or camps together . He graduated at the end of 2011 , me at the end of 2012 , and the last conversation I recall with him was in 2012 . Our relationship was only ever based around rowing , and we didn ’ t socialise or spend time with each other outside of the sport .
Shortly after sharing that “ Waiting Wednesday ” post on my social media , I opened up Instagram and there was a message in my Inbox from Morgan . He asked me then and there what blood type I was . I told him I was O-Positive , and he said : “ I ’ m not sure how to say it , but yeah , I ’ m also O-Positive , and I am happy to be a donor if you want to do the tests . I ’ m not promising anything , but we can check .”
Morgan works overseas , so it made it quite a bit more complicated than I anticipated , but he moved mountains to get the testing done to see if he would be a match for me . He flew back to South Africa , went for blood tests ( which is the first round of the testing process ), and his results were golden ! He then went for more physical tests to check out his liver and his body , to make sure he would manage if he were to be my donor .
After all of the testing that Morgan did , he was a match , but because he is not an immediate family member of mine , all of our documentation needed to be sent to the Department of Health . We both had to sign documentation stating that I wasn ’ t forcing Morgan into the surgery , nor was he receiving any monetary donations or payments from me . In August 2021 , I popped into my transplant coordinator ’ s office , after another hospital stint , to ask her how things were going . Whilst sitting there an e-mail came through to her from the Department of Health to say that we had approval for Morgan to be my donor . My transplant duly was booked for Tuesday the 5th of October 2021 .
Looking Out for Me
Morgan and I had to be at Donald Gordon the day before the surgery , to get prepped and ready for a very early start the next day . That Monday morning , I walked into the hospital reception with my parents ,
Up and about again less than 24 hours after surgery
and Morgan was standing at the desk with his mom . It was the first time that my parents had met Morgan , and I met his mom for the first time . It was the most special and surreal moment to witness . Morgan and I were both incredibly nervous , but when I saw him , I felt incredibly calm and a little more relaxed , and he said he felt the same way when he saw me .
My Dad was chatting to Morgan , and asked him , “ Why are you doing this for Coreen ?” I wish I had filmed his response , because he said , “ Coreen has always been so kind and looked out for everyone around her . My liver will regrow , and the fact that I can do this means I can look out for her , too .” This memory is ingrained in my mind , as my relationship with Morgan before that day was all rowing-based , and we didn ’ t spend much time with each other outside of rowing . It was one of the few times that I have seen my Dad get teary-eyed as he thanked Morgan .
Tuesday morning rolled around quite quickly . Morgan was wheeled into the theatre at 6:30am , while I waited until 8:30am to go in . My sister and I had both been awake and chatting since about 3:30 that morning , because neither of us could sleep , and we were on a video call when the porter arrived to fetch me . Prior to the surgery , I had started seeing one of the psychologists that works at Donald Gordon , because the thought of death was something that I grappled with quite a lot prior to the surgery . She taught me coping mechanisms , things to focus on , and how to control the panic attacks that rushed through me in the time leading up to the surgery .
During our phone calls with each other prior to the surgery , Morgan would often say to me , “ Cors , you are getting a Spartan piece of liver ,” because he worked in Greece , and was referring to the legendary Spartan warriors of ancient times . In the theatre , Morgan ’ s anaesthetist came over to my surgical room – we were in surgical rooms next to each other – and told me that I was getting an incredible piece of liver ! Still , waiting to be put under anaesthesia was scary , exciting , nerve-wracking and frightening . It was a range of emotions , fear for the safety of both Morgan and I to come out the other side ... but I woke up several hours later , with a brand new liver ! And less than 24 hours after surgery , I was up and walking around , and the whites of my eyes were white , not the tainted yellow that I was used to . I could not believe that I was seeing changes so soon .
Road to Recovery
I had quite a few complications after my transplant , and I was in and out of hospital three times in the weeks that followed . I had fluid in the lining of my right lung , an abscess that formed in between my liver and lungs , and the bile ducts on my liver had shrunk , so I had three different drains coming out of my side . I looked like an Octopus ! It was really tough during this time , and I struggled with serious weight-loss while battling with the idea of being in hospital still . I thought that after my transplant , I would be A for away and ready to go home . My Dad just kept saying to me , “ You have to focus on the positives . It ’ s hard now , but one day you are going to look back and this will all just be a memory .”
Taking Dad ’ s advice and focusing on the positives
Coreen and family out for a walk three weeks after surgery
20 ISSUE 174 | www . modernathlete . co . za