Living donor needed for Lewes man
For more than a year, Matt Barry has been seeking a live donor for a liver transplant, and things are looking grim, said his father Rick Barry.
“He’s failing,” Rick said. “He’s in and out of the hospital. He’s constantly vomiting and he has no appetite. Our only hope is for a live donor.”
Matt learned he had non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver as a Cape High senior in 2018. The Barrys have no family history of the disease.
Since then, Matt has been on the national liver transplant waiting list at the University of Pennsylvania. A large gap exists between available organs and the number of people on the list, so patients are prioritized by the severity of their illness on what is known as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, or MELD score.
The MELD score is calculated on several factors, including how effectively the liver excretes bile and produces blood-clotting factors, current kidney function, and an electrolyte that is a marker for significant liver disease.
MELD scores range from 6 to 40. Generally, the sicker the patient, the higher the score, and patients with higher scores move up higher on the waiting list.
“Matt’s scores keep fluctuating,” Rick said.
Because his liver is scarred and not functioning properly, fluid builds up in his stomach that must be removed.
“Within the last six weeks, he’s had 18 liters of fluid taken out,” Rick said.
Doctors said the best option for Matt is to receive a transplant from a living donor who gives a portion of their liver to him. A few months after surgery, the donor’s remaining liver and the portion Matt receives will regrow.
Candidates need to have O+ blood type, be 18 to 50 years old, and be in good health.
“We just need that one person to help, and all this will go away,” Rick said.
For information, potential candidates can call the Living Donor Transplant line at 215-349-8220 or go to the University of Pennsylvania screening intake portal at penntransplant.donorscreen.org. To learn more about Matt, go to mattneedsaliver.com.
