However, today Marius is primarily happy to be alive. He can communicate with his family, wife, and children. Stories like Marius’s are not easy to tell, but he himself says he does it basically for a few reasons, as today he sees the world very differently. First of all, he wants to thank his family very much, without whom this journey would not have been possible, and the wonderful doctor Arida Buivydienė.
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Starting to tell his story, Marius mentions that his sister left this world due to genetic Wilson’s disease, for which treatment options were previously more limited. Transplants were performed even then, but often unsuccessfully. The parents, wanting to save their daughter and take her for treatment to Germany, were ready to sell both their apartment and garden, but still failed.
For a long time, Marius had no thoughts that this disease would catch him too, as he felt great. He underwent genetic testing only after the disease had significantly progressed – unfortunately, the result was positive.
The family doctor immediately said – you are going straight to the hospital.
Still, Marius says that until 2008, it seemed there were no signs of a disease that would seriously change his life. Gradually, he began to notice changes in his body – his legs started to swell. At that time, Marius was both working and going to the pool – he seemed to notice that his legs were becoming like blocks until he finally decided to see doctors.
“Then fluid started to accumulate in the abdomen, and when I went to the doctors, they realized something serious was happening. The family doctor immediately said – you are going straight to the hospital, then I was admitted,” Marius recounts.
At that time, the situation was stabilized – with appropriate treatment and medication, the fluids were “driven out” of the body, and Marius felt better.
After that, the disease showed no signs for fifteen years. Although, of course, the interviewee admits, there was anxiety and thoughts after that hospital admission about whether he would follow in his sister’s footsteps.
Today, the man thinks that the sudden health deterioration after those fifteen years could have been triggered by huge stress, as he had started a business with a friend, which did not turn out well.
Health deteriorated very quickly
When symptoms recurred, Marius says his health deteriorated very quickly – he kept returning to the hospital and leaving again. Then he met gastroenterologist Arida Buivydienė, who was surprised that Marius was not yet on the liver transplant waiting list. She immediately convened a council and did so. Then another stage began, Marius knew a serious operation awaited him.
The man’s health was already such that he had to stay in the hospital constantly, and one weekend his condition became critical – he was taken to intensive care. Marius was unresponsive, he was in a coma, but doctors brought him back to life, supported him in intensive care for several days, and returned him to the ward. Everyone knew that a transplant was urgently needed – waiting for a donor.
“Since the situation was already very serious, I was transplanted with zero blood type liver, although my own blood type is second. But this practice is normal, it is done and people accept it because zero blood type livers are considered universal. However, in my case, it was different – they did not take, everything was difficult, and finally – sepsis. Somehow the doctors controlled it, transfused blood, did everything… Everything,” Marius said.
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After the first transplant, Marius was recommended to undergo genetic testing, which confirmed that he had the same disease as his deceased sister. This is a rare Wilson’s disease, in which copper elimination is impaired in the body, and its excess accumulates in various organs. However, Marius received the answer only after the second transplant, which was needed to save his life.
Second chance
Marius’s condition after the first liver transplant was very poor, and it was clear that there was no hope for improvement. Doctors once again convened a council and decided – a second liver transplant was necessary because apparently the first transplanted liver was not functioning properly.
Marius was lucky not to have to wait very long; he says he fully understands what a gift life gave him – two chances. This time, the liver donor’s blood type was also second, so the chances of success were even greater.
There was a desire for everything to end faster – the suffering, the pain, and only a successful transplant could end it
“It appeared relatively quickly, really. I was really lucky. But since that first transplant, I have basically been in the hospital almost all the time. In total, I spent 7 months there. Now I think – my mother constantly cared, and my wife, having to go to work and take care of the children, visited and visited. My family supported me a lot, and I am very grateful for that,” Marius spoke emotionally.
Asked if he was afraid of both the first and second transplants, the man insists that there was anxiety, but a much stronger feeling was the desire for everything to end faster – the suffering, the pain, and only a successful transplant could end it. Therefore, according to the man, he thought about it himself and constantly hoped with his family and wife.
Long recovery process
Today Marius is happy to have finally returned home and is gradually recovering. One of the essential things, he says, is not to rush, as doctors warned that after a liver transplant, it takes up to five years for the body to recover as much as possible, considering the damage.
“I still walk with some pauses and speak, but I have been home for 9–10 months. The surgeon warned me that healing would not be short, after all, I underwent two serious operations,” Marius insists.
Still, the man insists he feels better: “Of course, immunosuppressive drugs await me for life, but that is not a problem. There are also a bunch of other medications for now to control enzymes, but likely, they will decrease.”
Marius emphasizes that these life experiences have completely changed his attitude towards life and people. The man stresses that it is very important to spread the message about organ donation in Lithuania because society’s attitude and mindset still differ significantly, say, from Scandinavians. It is a miracle that a person leaving this world can create with the hands of professional doctors: “And today I want to say only one thing – I am infinitely grateful to my family, wife, children for their support and to the wonderful doctor Arida Buivydienė for the difficult path we walked together.”
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