In 2019 Theodore, or Ted as he likes to be called, was diagnosed with cirrhosis. His liver was badly scarred and unable to perform its vital functions of producing proteins, including blood-clotting
factors, and filtering toxins from his blood. A further diagnosis revealed that he had hepatitis C and a fatty liver. At that time, Ted was put on a list for a liver transplant. On March 9, 2024, he was admitted to Toronto General Hospital for a transplant.
Early in his life, Ted had an accident that resulted in his spine being broken in eleven places. While his spine healed, he was left with chronic lower back pain. “As long as I can remember,” says Ted, “I’ve had problems with my lower back. I could sneeze, and I would throw my back out.”
Ted worked for over twenty-two years in food services at Casino Rama before retiring in 2019. His job involved a great deal of physical exertion. This aggravated his condition. To help him cope with his chronic back pain, he was prescribed Percocet; he also took Tylenol and Ibuprofen to help him manage the pain. If taken regularly over an extended period, these drugs can cause liver damage. “I make no excuses,” says Ted, “I needed a liver transplant because I regularly used medications for a number of years.” In an effort to break his addiction to the painkillers, he began taking methadone. He now is working hard to stop using methadone. “It’s not easy,” admits Ted. “The pain I suffer in my lower back is still intense.”
Before Ted could be put on the liver transplant list, a number of tests and procedures needed to be performed. The tests, such as those of his blood and urine, were done to assess the health of his organs, including his lungs and cardiovascular system. For Ted to qualify for a transplant, it was necessary to ensure that he did not have any untreatable diseases or suffer from any conditions that might make it unlikely that he would survive the transplant surgery.
Ted’s transplant operation, which lasted seven hours, was very successful. Following it, he was admitted to Toronto Grace on March 20, 2024, for rehabilitation. His healthcare team worked with
him every day to prepare him for his return home, having him practise everyday activities such as stepping in and out of a bathtub. As well, he was taught exercise strategies (designed not to strain
his back) on how to protect his stitches and the surgical area from infection. To help with this, Ted was given an abdominal binder to support his core muscles.
An assessment of his home was performed to determine what equipment he would need. Since Ted lives on the second-floor of a duplex, the rehab team worked with him on stair climbing.
They also helped him with walking and bike exercises. Ted was eligible to receive one of Toronto Grace’s Remote Care Monitoring (RCM) program pendants. He declined because his
partner will be at home with him. She has taken caretaker leave from work so she can be available to help him following his return home. Ted comments that while his floor at the Grace was
really busy, this didn’t prevent the healthcare staff from delivering exceptional care. “From the time I was admitted,” Ted says, “I knew I was in a good place.”
Ted was discharged on April 12, 2024.