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Giving thanks for life A father and daughter made S.C. history in the first live donor liver transplant by Cindy Abole Public Relations When Todd and Lori Walter sit down with family and friends this Thanksgiving, they'll not just be celebrating a meal together. They'll be joining a community of others in giving thanks to the blessings of family, faith and the wonder of life.   Four-year-old Elizabeth Walter is comforted by parents Todd and Lori Walter of Landrum, S.C.  On Nov. 6, Walter and his four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, underwent a lifesaving live liver transplant, the first successful transplant of its kind in the state.   “We're thankful for what God has given us—a chance at life,” said Walter, who is a family physician from Landrum, S.C.   “We're also thankful for a place like MUSC. Everyone from the transplant team—surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, intensive care staff all the way to the environmental services staff have helped in caring for Elizabeth and me. It was a huge undertaking among a lot of people and an amazing experience.”   Elizabeth's miraculous journey began a month ago. Her bright blue eyes, blonde hair and angelic features showed a healthy and playful four-year old until mid-October. Suddenly she would tire easily and was jaundice in color. By the end of the month, she was in the care of a Greenville pediatric gastroenterologist who confirmed the grave news.    “The diagnosis hit us like a train,” said Walter. “It was the first time we had heard the word, transplant, and its potential for true liver failure in describing Elizabeth's condition.”   Within hours, Elizabeth was placed on a transport plane headed towards MUSC and into the care of transplant surgeon Prabhakar Baliga, M.D., head of MUSC's Transplant Surgery, and surgeon Kenneth Chavin, M.D., Ph.D., and Ruthie Stockdell, MUSC liver transplant coordinator.    “There were a lot of emotions riding high among everyone,” said Stockdell, who worked as a transplant nurse for eight years. “It's our job to sit down with the parents and family and teach them about transplant under the most stressful and emotional moments imaginable. But we're here to provide for their needs and make sure that we have good communications throughout the whole process.”          Stockdell and the transplant team were able to take Elizabeth through a number of tests to confirm her status and prepare for transplant. What normally occurred in a two-day evaluation was completed in just two hours.   “We felt that MUSC really suited us best,” said Walter, whose transplant center choice included Emory, Duke and MUSC. “At the moment, we didn't have many options only to send her to a place that could perform the transplant procedure.”   Elizabeth and her father, Todd Walter share a playful moment with her grandmother, Patsy Walter. In less than three weeks, the Walters lived in a whirlwind of medical information, decisions, and other challenges. Once they arrived in Charleston, it was Baliga who calmly reminded Walter about the complexity of transplant medicine, the dangers and risks. Within that short time, the family learned to put their trust and faith with the transplant team and staff at MUSC.   “It's unfortunate how you can harbor a hope for someone to have a bad outcome so that my daughter can live,” said Walter. “I felt a little guilty. But Dr. Baliga helped me to understand and accept that people die everyday. It's a fact of life.” Soon Elizabeth's condition worsened. With little hope and precious time, the family turned to their only other option, a live donor liver transplant.  Elizabeth's father would donate a small section of his liver to her. Baliga was careful to explain the many risks to both father and  daughter.    As a father, Walter knew exactly what to do. He never felt worried about his part in the procedure. “It's something you do and you don't think about it any more,” Walter said. “At some point, I learned that I had to just step back as a physician and focus on being a parent. I just focused on Elizabeth and was anxious about her surgery and outcome.”   The 16-hour transplant procedure took place on Nov. 6. Walter remembers the patience and care displayed by everyone involved in the transplant. He was moved when one of his anesthesiologists, Napoleon Burt, M.D., eased his worries by reassuring him that his daughter was in good hands. “At the time, it was the best words that someone could share with me,” Walter said.     After five days, Walter was up and around. Today, he spends most of his time by his wife's and daughter's side on the seventh floor of the Children's Hospital.     The family has been especially touched by the immediate response from family and friends. Patients from his family practice have sent cards and well-wishes. Churches from Landrum and nearby Tryon, N.C., and other communities near  his practice have kept a vigil of prayers during the transplant and recovery.    For Walter it's easy to praise everyone from transplant surgeons, intensive care unit staff, anesthesiologists, social workers and psychiatrists to the financial coordinators and administrative staffs. He's grateful for the staff's extraordinary bedside manner, patience and compassion showed to his family.   “I was not expecting this,” he said. “It really surprised me. There's a belief out there that the more specialized the medicine, the less empathetic or care that is given. This certainly is not the case with any one of these transplant surgeons and their teams. I think MUSC should be grateful to have that brand of talent.”   And what has this family physician learned through this life-giving experience?   “I see myself as an empathetic physician,” Walter said. “I think I'll respect my patients more and they'll respect me more especially when we talk about fears with surgery and complications like numb fingers and other post-operative problems. I know what it means because I've been there.”