Audrée Descheneaux was only 19 years old when she received the liver of an octogenarian to stay alive. As a mother of three and an athlete, she hopes to keep this 108-year-old organ for a long time.
“It’s surprising,” says the woman from Saint-Robert in Montérégie, laughing as she talks about the age of her liver. But it’s a great way to talk about organ donation and remind people that there is no age limit for organ donation. »
“At 88 years old [mon donneur] helped me have three daughters that I wouldn’t have had without him. And 7,395 days to live,” breathes Ms. Descheneaux, 39 years old and still counting the days since her transplant.
Audrée Descheneaux with her husband Martin Blyth and their three daughters aged 13, 15 and 16. Photo from Facebook
With her new liver, Audrée Descheneaux even took part in the World Transplant Games in athletics. This summer she ran 500 km from Toronto to Montreal to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her transplant.
An organ that renews itself
She hopes her organ will have decades to come. “We hope so,” says transplant surgeon Dr. Prosanto Chaudhury, adding that with a healthy lifestyle, nothing would prevent the liver from living to 150 years. For example.
“The unique thing about the liver is that it can renew itself,” emphasizes Wendy Sherry, organ and tissue donation clinical nurse at McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
A 92-year-old person has already donated her liver, she said of the Quebec record. It all depends on the organ and the donor’s lifestyle.
“That’s what we want, for people to become donors late in life. It’s extraordinary,” says Ms. Descheneaux.
Fear of being fragile
But at the time, she made no secret of the fact that she was scared when she found out her donor’s age.
“I was afraid of being weak or more fragile, but I feel strong and alive,” she says happily. The only medications she takes are anti-rejection medications for her transplant.
To mark the 20th anniversary of her transplant, Audrée Descheneaux walked from the Toronto hospital where she was being treated to the MUHC. Photo from Facebook
She was traveling in Toronto when she came down with fulminant hepatitis, a virus that attacked her liver. Although she felt fine the day before, she vomited and collapsed the next day.
It was Martin Blyth, now her husband and father of her three daughters, who found her and took her to hospital. Their paths had crossed the day before and they quickly fell in love.
Audrée Descheneaux, who is also a gymnastics coach, arriving in Montreal after 500 km on foot. Photo from Facebook
► In 2022, a total of 19 people aged 71 and older donated organs, according to Transplant Québec. October 17th is World Organ Donation Day.
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