HARTFORD, Conn. — Amanda Werkle has been waiting for the phone to ring for two years. She, along with over 700 people around Connecticut, is on a transplant list. She's specifically waiting for a partial liver transplant match that could save her life.
"I'm young. I want to live and I want to do so much with my life, and I’m in this holding pattern because of this," Werkle said. "You’ve got to remain hopeful and vigilant."
Two years ago, Werkle started feeling unusually tired and nauseous and had yellow discoloration on her skin and in her eyes.
"I suddenly collapsed I went into full renal failure. My kidney liver and lungs shut down simultaneously," Werkle said.
She spent a week in a coma. Her doctors said complications from a previous gastric bypass surgery, along with undiagnosed underlining health issues, led to end-stage liver disease.
Now, she's on a list for a partial liver transplant.
"My chances of finding a donor are less than 10%," she said.
Across Connecticut, there are nearly 100 people in need of a liver donor and more than 600 people in need of a kidney donor.
It can be challenging to find a match, particularly for the liver. Doctors need to find someone healthy with no underlying conditions, similar height and weight to the recipient, and a compatible blood type and tissue type.
Living donors need to be between 18 and 60 years old, have no serious medical conditions and go through evaluation testing at Yale New Haven Hospital.
A donor's liver will fully regenerate in about six weeks after the procedure, giving the gift of life while continuing to live one's own.
Brian Johnson gave part of his liver to someone he never met. He's just shy of six weeks post-op.
"We can make a movement and affect people's lives around the world," Johnson said.
He said he hopes his act of kindness inspires others to save a life.
"I think human nature, we all want to come to the rescue of someone," Johnson said. "Just for the fact that there’s someone out there that really needed me was so awesome."
The Werkle family is still waiting for a match for Amanda, and their hope will continue to push them through in the search for their hero.
"Anyone can be a hero in different ways," said Kristen Stover, Amanda Werkle's sister.
"It doesn’t take just friends or family or a village or takes an entire community," Amanda Werkle added.
For more information about becoming an organ donor and possibly being a match for someone in need of a transplant, visit Yale New Haven Hospital's webpage regarding organ donation.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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