John Bresnahan

LIVING Liver DONOR NEEDED

After five years of searching, a liver transplant is an opportunity to live the life we love, unencumbered by end stage liver disease.

I am John Bresnahan, I live in Providence RI with my partner, Joey and our shaggy dog, Finch. We are both elementary school teachers and have been together ten years. I was six years old when I was first diagnosed with PSC, the gradual scarring of the liver. This is an autoimmune disease with no cure, or even accommodating treatments, save a liver transplant.

Growing up I played piano and guitar, and when I went to college I hiked, skied, climbed, surfed and biked every day. I was 23 the first time I was hospitalized for symptoms related to liver failure. Seven years later, I have been hospitalized many more times, undergone multiple therapies to remove tumors after being diagnosed with Liver Cancer, and am still waiting for a liver transplant. I’ve taken a break from nearly every hobby I had due to muscle loss and fatigue. Alcohol, dairy, meat, and high sodium foods are things I haven’t had for years. This past year I was unable to stay healthy enough to keep up with the demands of a full time teaching position, and was only able to substitute part time.

Finding a matching donor after spending nearly my entire twenties being sick, would enable me to commit to my students and teach full time. A transplant would let me exercise and enjoy sports again, as well as the energy to practice music and enjoy life.

Thank you for reading, please share my story and consider becoming an organ donor. With Yale New Haven Health, your inquiries are completely confidential. And while you may not be a match for myself, there are many other patients in need of a transplant. We are all suffering the effects of a critical supply and demand situation. Your selfless act in sharing this story, and becoming an organ donor helps saves lives! Thank you for all that you do.
Love,
Jack Bresnahan

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