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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 6, 2015 | 22 by Kathy Yanchus Former Oakville man needs new liver to survive Metroland West Media If David Dadson is to survive, he needs a new liver, or at least part of one. Dadson, a 68-year-old retired elementary school teacher, who moved to Burlington from Oakville, is now officially on Ontario's liver transplant list. Although diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in 2010, he has not been a candidate for transplant until now due to the progression of his illness. PSC is a disease that causes bile ducts to become inflamed and scarred leading to liver failure. The disease progresses slowly and the only known cure is a liver transplant. Over the past several months, Dadson's symptoms have heightened, his fatigue has increased, his focus and short-term memory have diminished and he has lost a substantial amount of weight. His wait could be months, even years, said daughter Laura, 34, who recently posted a heart-wrenching Facebook message under the heading `My dad needs a liver transplant in order to survive'. In it, she highlighted a viable option for her dad, and others in the same situation, that of a living donor. Living organ donors are one of the most important sources of organs for transplantation according to the Trillium Gift of Life website, accounting for 255 transplants in Ontario in 2012. The Dadson family, from left, Sheila, Michael, David and Laura, are in a desperate search for a living donor in the hope of saving David's life. David is on the liver transplant waiting list but a living donor is a viable option for him if a match can be found. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "His doctors at Toronto General Hospital (TGH) are strongly recommending a living donor for better chances for his survival," posted Laura. "A living donor would be far better than waiting for a deceased donor. (My dad) is in better health at this stage." Living donors, who donate a part of their liver, must be between 18 and 60 years of age and have APRIL 26TH, 2015 # GetActiveOakville REGISTER TODAY AND SAVE! PRICE INCREASES ON MARCH 11TH MERCEDES-BENZ either O+ or O- blood. Potential donors undergo screening to confirm compatibility, usually including an ultrasound, blood work and CAT scan. The transplanted lobe regenerates itself as does the donor's liver, according to TGH's Living Donor Liver Program webpage. The program presents an "exciting option" for patients awaiting liver transplant. A donor's liver will regenerate in approximately six weeks while a donor's surgery might entail several days in hospital and potentially a month off work, states Laura's posting. Doctors marvel at Dadson's health status -- other than his liver illness -- which makes him a good candidate for surgery, said wife Sheila, a former ICU nurse at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). Although family was only too willing to be living donors, they were not suitable candidates. Sheila, 67, was turned down because of her age. The close-knit Dadson family is united in their effort to save their adored husband, dad and grandfather, and want to extend their message about living donors as far and wide as possible. "It was difficult for me (to go public) because you're asking somebody out there to do a pretty brave and generous thing," said David. "It's kind of a strange feeling." Through it all, even as his health worsens, his family is amazed at his courage. "I think it affects my family more than it affects me. I worry more about them with the chance of me kicking off. And I still think I've got something to offer them. I want to keep an eye on them," he joked. Since Laura's initial post, messages of support have come in and even complete strangers have posted they have had their blood tested. "We're hoping somebody will want to help and will be an eligible candidate," said Laura. "There are lots of people who need a new liver. We want more people to consider donating," said David. "It's a great stress on the family more than it is on me. You have a lot of things that you'd like to finish, but the other journey, maybe it will be an interesting journey.... some day. I'd just as soon it be later, but I don't go around from day to day worrying about it." For information on the TGH Living Donor Liver Transplant Program, visit http://bit. ly/1CjuCz1 or call 416-340-4800, ext. 6581. For information on the Trillium Gift of Life, Ontario's organ and tissue donation agency, visit www.giftoflife.on.ca/en/ There is a program for reimbursing expenses of living organ donors (PRELOD), which covers travel expenses for tests and surgery, as well as a potential loss of income after surgery. It was established by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which is administered by the Trillium Gift of Life Network. 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