Winder Resident Undergoes Second Liver Transplant

Every day, people are given a second chance at life thanks to organ donors from all over. This month is National Donate Life Month, and one Winder resident isn’t just receiving a second chance at life, but her third.

Nicole Conwell, 28, received her second liver transplant on March 28 of this year. She suffers from autoimmune hepatitis — a chronic, acute liver disease. It involves inflammation of the liver resulting from immune cells that mistake the liver’s normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them.

The disease is most common in young women, and Conwell was first diagnosed at the age of 12. She was believed to be having liver fatigue and then broke out in lesions — both symptoms of the disease.

“My mom, she took me to our regular MD for some blood work,” Conwell said. “It came back that liver counts were high. They had to do more blood tests.”

Conwell’s first liver transplant was more than 13 years ago, back in November of 1998.

She said everything seemed fine during the first few days after the transplant. It wasn’t long, however, until it became clear the new liver wouldn’t suffice.

“I just was having problems and my liver counts were elevating,” Conwell said.

Not until more recently, however, has she been in and out of hospitals frequently.

She realized she would need a new liver this past December. After being placed on a waiting list, she was told she’d be receiving a second liver shortly.

“There was no doubt that I wouldn’t get, I guess, processed a second liver or anything like that,” Conwell said. “It was as long as I came into the hospital in early March, the doctors said that I wouldn’t leave until I had my next transplant.”

The second liver seems to be adapting better this go around, according to Conwell.

“It’s too early to tell right now, but the doctors said that they’re more certain now than they were back in 1998 about transplanting,” she said. “And I got a really good match.”

There was a little bobble in the ordeal, as Conwell returned home after the surgery just to have to head back to the hospital two days later due to complications. On April 21, she underwent emergency surgery to repair a hole in her small intestine.

The road to recovery will be months-long. Conwell, a special education teacher, is looking forward to getting her strength back more than anything.

“I can’t do any physical activity, but, I mean, pretty much just getting my strength back right now is most important,” she said.

Conwell is just one of the many people around the world who is celebrating National Donate Life Month. To help with this cause, there are a few simple ways to get involved:

• Spread the word about organ donation
• Sign up to be an organ donor