FEATURE STORY
Son Donates Liver to Save His Mom ’ s Life
When Carol Jaster needed a liver transplant , both of her adult children stepped up to help .
Removing a uterus , kidney or part of a liver for living donation is still a very large and complex operation . Amar Gupta , MD , surgical director of liver transplantation , said potential donors like the idea of a more cosmetically appealing operation that doesn ’ t require a large lifelong scar .
“ Patients have the perception that donor surgery with a robot means less surgery , and this has a positive impact on their recovery ,” Dr . Gupta said . “ The less trauma during the surgery , the better the patient is .” hen Carol Jaster needed a liver transplant due to her autoimmune condition , both of her adult children stepped up to help — including offering to be a donor . While both her son and daughter have busy careers and families , giving their mom a second chance at life took priority .
As a physician , Dr . Adam Jaster understood what would be involved in his mother ’ s transplant surgery , including the challenges that he would face with recovery while being the parent of a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old . Still , the siblings applied to be donors , and both came back as a match .
Living donor liver transplantation reduces the wait time for a new liver by allowing a person in need of a transplant to receive a portion of a healthy liver from a living family member , friend or other match .
“ Our blood types and anatomy were compatible for our mother ,” he said . “ But ultimately , my mom decided my sister would be the better caregiver during recovery . So , by default , I was the living donor .”
In the time leading up to the surgery , Dr . Jaster prepared to take time away from work and care for family responsibilities . Along with his mom , he also got the support and guidance he needed from the team at Baylor University Medical Center , helping him feel confident in his choice to become a living donor and his options for the surgery .
“ I had a lot of confidence in the transplant program at Baylor University Medical Center and the physicians who were taking care of my mother and me ,” he said . “ They explained all the risks . They answered all my questions in detail . I knew that a living donor liver was the best option for my mother , and the fact that my surgery would be done using a robotic device was also a plus .”
How robotic transplantation works Back to normal life
Baylor University Medical Center As for Dr . Jaster , his recovery has gone is a leader in robotic transplantation , well . At his one-year follow-up , he showed according to Giuliano Testa , MD , MBA , off his small scars and discussed how
FACS , chief of abdominal transplant for quickly he was able to get back into shape the Baylor Scott & White Annette C . and after the surgery . Harold C . Simmons Transplant Institute .
“ It ’ s like it never happened ,” he said .
“ Fewer than five transplant
He ’ s now back to toting around his centers in the US are doing living donor toddlers and was happy to learn his hepatectomies ,” Dr . Testa said . “ We ’ ve liver was back to its original size . Most done more than 20 to date . The more you importantly , he ’ s thankful for more use the robot for these complex surgeries , time with his mom , who is thriving since the better you get at it .” the transplant .
The robot is used for all living kidney donors at the Dallas facility and at Baylor
Carol ’ s story highlights the selflessness Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – of organ donors and the profound Fort Worth . Since early 2022 , living kidney impact of living donor transplantation . It transplant recipient operations are also also underscores the role of advanced benefiting from robotic technology , medical techniques , like robotic-assisted especially in higher BMI recipients . In surgeries , in improving the outcomes of addition , living donor operations in living organ transplantation . Philanthropy ’ s the uterus transplant program are all role in advancing research and care for done robotically . transplantation has been instrumental in
Through tiny incisions , robotic making these cutting-edge approaches technology provides improved accessible , ultimately fostering hope and visualization with enhanced precision , saving lives for countless individuals in which is critical . The minimally invasive need of organ transplants . organ retrieval technique allows surgeons to view the magnified procedure in 3D and To learn more about how you can results in smaller incisions , less scarring , support the lifesaving work of transplant , less pain and an overall faster recovery for contact Myka Boos at 214.820.2585 or living organ donors .
Myka . Boos @ BSWHealth . org .
Dr . Adam Jaster and his mom , Carol , before , during and after Carol ’ s successful liver transplant
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2023