At just four years old, Smyrna, DE resident, Cathy Malay, began having intense stomach pain and was diagnosed with an enlarged liver. Fortunately, she was blessed with a healthy and active childhood despite her liver issues, and managed her condition through diet.
In her early 30s, Cathy’s health started to decline and she was faced with the beginning stages of liver failure. As the disease took hold, her ankles and legs began to swell and she was constantly exhausted. She continued to work more than 60 hours per week doing surgical scheduling, but was having a hard time staying awake. She also had difficulty walking due to the water retention in her lower body, and was no longer able to go up the stairs in her home.
Several years later when she was 40, her son, Jason, found her unresponsive in her home and called an ambulance. Doctors performed a liver biopsy while she was in the hospital and determined that she had cirrhosis of the liver. She was told that her only hope was to have a liver transplant. After testing, she was added to the organ transplant waitlist.
As her liver disease progressed, she developed encephalopathy, which caused her to have confusion and disorientation. “I don’t remember many of the conversations that I had with my family during that time because of the encephalopathy,” said Cathy. “My mom, husband and family were really there for me while I was in the hospital. It was a very hard time. I wasn’t able to work and we struggled financially. Between me not being able to work, the expense of COBRA insurance and everything else, we couldn’t keep up and lost our house.” she said.
After many financial and emotional obstacles, Cathy received the news that she had been desperately waiting for – there was a matching liver for her. She was so grateful that someone she didn’t even know said “yes” to donation, and that she would be given a second chance at life. Not everyone in her position has that opportunity. Currently in the United States, 21 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Cathy knew how fortunate she was.
Her transplant was a success, but she still had a long road to recovery ahead of her. “It was really tough after the transplant. I had been in the hospital for a long time. I was so sick by the time I got my new liver that all of my muscles had atrophied. I had to learn to walk again and it took months before I got my strength back. I had lost 40 pounds and had some ups and downs.” she said.
Although post-transplant wasn’t easy for Cathy, her health did significantly improve as she healed. Today, she works as an Administrative Specialist at the Delaware state prison and is able to be active. She is also a first time grandmother and loves to spend time with her grandson, Jaxson, who is seven. “I can work a double shift now and still have energy. My liver transplant has given me my life back. My husband, Bill, and I can travel now and it’s great. We go to Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City, MD. After my transplant, we got two Dachshunds. I never wanted dogs before my transplant, but now we love them and they are our babies.” said Cathy.
This Christmas, Cathy is looking forward to spending time with her family. She thinks of her donor and donor’s family every day, but especially during the holiday season. “I pray for my donor and his family every day. I don’t know what day my donor’s birthday was, but I celebrate both of our lives each year. My son and my donor would have been close in age, so every milestone that my son has reached – makes me think of my donor. Every holiday, every event – my donor is in my thoughts. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. He’s my hero. He may be gone from earth, but he lives on in me. I’m blessed to be alive.” said Cathy.
She said, “This holiday, I’m really looking forward to seeing my grandson’s face after he opens his Christmas present. He loves animals and farms, so my husband and I made him a wood, red barn and stable for him to play with his plastic farm animal toys. There’s a removable roof and windows. I know that he’s going to love it.”