Leaving the list
Island man has been waiting on liver transplant since March
An Island man who has been waiting months for a new liver has been admitted to hospital in Halifax, expecting to be taken into surgery for a transplant. Montrose resident, Kevin Clements was admitted to Queen Elizabeth II Health Centre Monday morning to await a liver transplant, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.
Kevin and Josephine Clements got the call Sunday afternoon that a donor liver was available. He has struggled with end stage liver disease for four years, before getting on the transplant list in March.
The couple was in Halifax by 10:30 p.m. Sunday, and Kevin was admitted to hospital at 8 a.m. Monday to undergo a battery of tests and assessments.
Just last month the Clementses were raising awareness of the need for Islanders to sign up to be on the electronic Prince Edward Island Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
Presently, donor stickers on drivers’ licences and health cards are being phased out in favour of the electronic registry. More than 32,000 Islanders have joined the registry since it was established in 2015, but Josephine said Monday she heard from five people, just last week, who were unaware of the registry’s existence.
For now, though, the Clementses are focused on the new reality that a liver is available.
“As long as no problems happen between today and tomorrow, he’s getting the liver [Tuesday],” Josephine said from her husband’s hospital room.
“They’re pretty sure,” Kevin, 52, called out.
“You know, for four years I waited for the phone call, and I always thought, what would be my first thoughts or first emotions,” said Kevin in recalling Sunday’s interaction when he received the news.
“We get the call and they say, ‘We have a liver for you,’ and that’s when all the emotions hit. Josephine and I had a big, big cry.”
Then they started calling relatives, starting with his father and, with each conversation the emotions spilled out all over again.
“He’s on the edge of tears right now again,” Josephine said into the phone.
Her mother is already on her way from Ontario to be with them in Halifax.
“[There are ] so many emotions and you can’t control which ones come out,” he continued.
The couple was able to get a few household chores completed and other arrangements made before hopping in their car Sunday.
They expressed appreciation for all the support they’ve been receiving during Kevin’s illness, including home modifications and getting firewood in. On Monday Josephine posted on social media that her garden still needs some tending this week. “That’s all I need right now,” she said.
Besides a series of blood tests and other procedures that Kevin is receiving, the couple is hearing from nurses what they might expect during and post-transplant.
Josephine said she will be keeping family and friends updated on her husband’s progress through a “Kevin Clements Health Journey” page on Facebook. “We can’t really do it any other way,” she said.