Catherine Cremers Needs a Living Liver Donor, 585 University Avenue, Toronto, ON (2025)

10/09/2023

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Approximately nine days after Cathy’s campaign page launch and through people sharing the first post, Cathy's potential donor, Wade, saw it and submitted an application. Days later, Wade got a callback from UHN's living donor office to start testing to see if he could donate to Cathy. Once completed, Wade was officially deemed a donor match, beginning their journey together.
Cathy's transplant surgery lasted approximately 8-10 hours, while Wade’s took 6-8 hours, during which he selflessly donated 60% of his liver to Cathy. After surgery, they recovered in the hospital, relearning basic tasks like sitting in a chair, walking, eating solid foods, adjusting medication dosages, and undergoing various tests and treatments. Both Cathy and Wade faced these challenges with positivity, unwavering determination, and bravery. They also had difficulties, including infections, medication side effects, pain, and insomnia. Luckily, their medical team was on top of it to help overcome each challenge.
Cathy has already noticed a significant improvement in her pre- and post-transplant symptoms, particularly the extreme fatigue that had impacted her quality of life. After several days in the hospital, Cathy and Wade eagerly anticipated going home, showering, and sleeping comfortably in their own beds. Transplant patients (donors or recipients) typically recover in hospital for two or more weeks following surgery. Remarkably, Wade was discharged only 6 days post-surgery and is recovering exceptionally. Shortly after, Cathy was discharged on day 7, just one week after surgery. Cathy's loving husband, Ed, even took her for a drive by the beach to eat some birthday cake for Ed and to celebrate being discharged.
While Wade recovers at home, he has reflected on his journey as a living donor. When thinking about how it feels to be on the other side of donation, Wade states, “Cathy’s fight is far from over, but the battle can now be attacked with more energy! I am happy to have helped somebody with their quality of life. I am not one to just sit around, so this healing thing will be very challenging for me. Hopefully, in due time!”. We thank Margaret, Wade’s beautiful wife and caregiver, for her unwavering support!
Cathy is grateful for finding a donor and Wade’s selfless act, giving her the gift of life. She feels that her donor, Wade, “is like a big brother. He is so sincerely caring, and we text daily. One day at a time.”. She also found that her medical team was fantastic. The nurses who cared for her were kind and compassionate. Cathy acknowledges the dedication of nurses, recognizing that their profession is one that not many can do. Cathy deeply appreciates the support of everyone who shared her campaign page posts to help her find a donor.
Finally, Cathy thanks her campaign manager for their invaluable help in creating, maintaining, and updating her page to find a donor. She felt it was a spot-perfect job!

- Cathy, Wade, & Campaign Team

09/22/2023

*Update: Please Share*

Hi Everyone,

I am updating everyone today with some good news. I have been notified that a donor has been found for me, and the surgery has been booked! I will be undergoing a liver transplant in the next week or so!
My family and I are beyond happy and grateful that my team has found someone for me, but I cannot express my gratitude enough for the individual who will be my donor. I had the lovely opportunity of meeting my donor already. We talked for a while over coffee, as there was much to say. He is filled with such humour that I found myself with the widest grin and never stopped laughing with him. I know this is just the beginning of an amazing bond between us, and I cannot wait to start this journey into transplantation with him as my perfect match!
Reflecting back, I am still in awe of how amazing it is that someone as kind as my donor was willing to step forward to save my life without having met me yet! My donor and his wife were such a lovely couple; it really was such a privilege to meet them face-to-face.
With only a little while until my surgery, I feel much more optimistic about my health, but I’m overwhelmed with everything I have to get done in preparation for my hospital stay, including packing. After getting a donor match and surgery date booked, I can’t help but feel excited and lucky to be in this position. I’m also filled with gratitude for all the people in my life who supported me, who helped care for my horses in the past and future, my amazing husband, and my healthcare team. All people who made this possible. Most importantly, I can’t thank my donor enough for being so generous in giving me my life back.

Until next time,
Cathy & Campaign Team

08/22/2023

*Update: Please Share*

Hi Everyone,
Approximately one week ago, Cathy underwent a procedure for her annual check-up in Toronto of her intestines. The good news is that her intestines looked great! However, her doctor found a complication of end-stage liver failure called esophageal varices. These varices are enlarged veins due an increased blood pressure and flow that travels through the liver and toward other areas of the GI tract like the esophagus. Sometimes these veins can burst, becoming an emergency because a patient can bleed out internally. A few days before finding them, Cathy noticed some symptoms and was relieved she had a scope already booked. Cathy’s intuition was correct in that her symptoms aligned with her worries, but her doctor could intervene when they saw them during the procedure. Banding is an intervention for the varices to control the bleeding. Similarly to the function of an elastic rubber band, the doctor ties a band around the enlarged bleeding vein to constrict it. Eventually, the band will fall off, though, so it is not a permanent fix. Cathy got 6 bands and woke up with a very sore esophagus. Even though she was in so much pain, Cathy was quite the trooper and found creative ways to help herself through the following two to three days of recovery at home. She crushed Tylenol and dissolved it into a bit of water so she could swallow her meds for pain, though it was not the best tasting! She also used an ice pack instead of a heat pack to constrict the veins even more to reduce pain, to eat soups and oatmeal, and finally, to get lots of rest!
A week or so later, and looking back, Cathy dreads having to go back in September, so her doctor can check to see if her varices are stable or if more need to be banded. From now on, or until a donor match is found with a secured donation date, Cathy will have to go back every four weeks to check on her esophagus and do the same procedure. However, Cathy tries not to let the thought of having more medical procedures and pain bother her or stop her from doing her favourite things. Most recently, Cathy went to her local farmer's market to get some fresh veggies to make soup. When she makes the soup, she makes plenty to freeze for the days she is too sick or tired to cook. Cathy is often reminded of a quote that resonates with her, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” – Jane. Making the soup while recovering is just one example of Cathy’s will to live, her passions, and the little things in life she does to chase after that happiness.
Next month, we will post a more in-depth post, specifically an update on Cathy’s donor search. She will travel to Toronto in September to meet with her transplant team to get an update on her liver health and how the applications are going. In the meantime, thanks to everyone for the continued support and well wishes, especially those who filled out applications. As the search continues, we ask everyone to like, share, or fill out an application if interested in being Cathy’s donor!

Until next time, a very big thank you.

- Cathy & Campaign Team

07/14/2023

*Update: Please Share*

Hi Everyone,

Since our last post, I have been doing okay health-wise. There are side effects from some of the medications to manage, but for me, the fatigue has been the hardest to manage daily. I get so exhausted even though I haven’t done much. It is not only physical but mental fatigue as well.
In addition, I am still waiting on my MRI scan result from MRI I had to do last week at Princess Margaret Hospital, UHN. I get these scans done routinely to monitor my liver and keep an eye out for any cancerous signs in my abdomen. With my specific liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, I have a high risk of developing cancer in the bile ducts of my liver, hence why we monitor for any signs.
Sometimes, it feels like my health is a full-time job, keeping up with bloodwork and appointments, but I’m so grateful to be looked after, followed, and cared for by my many healthcare professionals, friends, and family.
I believe I might be experiencing the start of some mild hepatic encephalopathy, which is when the toxins from my liver build up and travel into the bloodstream to the brain. As a result, I experience sleep disturbance, memory issues, and brain fog. On the other hand, I joke that maybe I am just getting old!!
I am trying my best to keep up with what needs to get done and listen to my 91-year-old mom, who reminds me to take one day at a time. I am also accepting and dealing with this disease differently after taking such a big step by turning to social media for help.
I am feeling extremely grateful and positive for the whole experience, the responses, and for everyone’s kindness and willingness to help. I feel more confident than ever in moving forward toward transplantation. I am keeping this in mind and slowly preparing myself for all the post-transplant things that need to be arranged ahead of time, including how to deal with our big and beautiful, overreactive German Shepherd, Nala.
How do you tell a five-year-old dog that is used to sleeping right beside you that she has to sleep on the floor….it certainly won’t be forever!!

As for what I have been up to these past few days, I have quite the story to share. The other day I came across a lovely post from UHN Transplant about an origami-making nurse, Madeline.

https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/News/Pages/Honouring_liver_transplant_recipients_through_origami.aspx

In honour of Madeline, her idea, and in hope that one day Madeline will be making one of her cranes for me, I decided to make origami butterflies, which symbolize hope and bravery. The butterflies will act as a reminder of gratitude to everyone who read and shared my campaign page on Facebook. It is because of all of you that liked, shared and followed the page that raised awareness for my liver disease, which could potentially help me find a living donor who can give me the gift of life.

These butterflies I’ve begun to create have people's names on the back and are placed on my window bedside my scratchboard art and poem, “The Kindness of a Stranger.”. The butterflies will be for those in testing and who’ve offered to be a donor but were deemed unsuitable. There are quite a few, and I don’t want to forget any of them, so this is the perfect reminder! It will be nice to wake up in the morning and see all the butterflies on my window, reminding me that I am not alone and that there is hope. Just outside my origami butterfly window, a friend planted a butterfly garden a few weeks ago through the David Suzuki Foundation. Now I can be surrounded by loving energy, hope, and bravery, grounding and reminding me of my gratifying feelings. It feels like a continuous enveloping hug!

Until next time, a very big thank you.

- Cathy & Campaign Team

06/06/2023

*Update: Please Share*

Hi Everyone,
We wanted to provide an update about Cathy and her search for a living liver donor with blood type A+, A-, O+, or O-.

Cathy diligently undergoes regular medical tests to monitor her liver while simultaneously waiting and searching for a living donor who can provide her with a life-saving liver transplant. She will be doing her monthly bloodwork tests and an MRI in July, which have become routine for her due to the numerous times she has gone through them during her medical journey. Despite feeling extremely exhausted while doing simple daily tasks, the warm weather motivates Cathy to keep herself occupied with household chores and gardening. Sadly, Cathy's symptoms of liver disease have worsened over the past month, leading to increased abdominal pain and frequent visits to the Emergency Department. However, her determination remains unyielding, as she continues to visit her mother at a Long-Term Care Facility whenever she is not in the hospital. Additionally, Cathy takes care of her beloved horses, including Sonja. Recently, Sonja was unwell, and a veterinary visit revealed issues with her esophagus. Cathy swiftly learned about a new technique to prepare and feed Sonja, significantly improving her well-being.

It has now been over a year since Cathy's name was added to the organ waitlist, a significant milestone that nobody should have to accept when it comes to their health. Nevertheless, Cathy, with her strength and positive outlook, has gradually come to terms with her current position in this health journey. She feels more prepared and willing to move forward, bolstered by the hope of finding a living donor who can provide her with a liver transplant. The launch of her campaign has overwhelmed and deeply touched Cathy as she witnessed an outpouring of love and support from her community. This tremendous display of unity and encouragement reinforces her hope, strength, and determination to persevere through this devastating disease until a living donor is found.

Last August, when Cathy was newly listed, she had a potential donor who ultimately was deemed unfit for donation. After receiving the news of an offer from someone she has never met to be her potential living donor, it inspired her to commission a piece of artwork that would embody her emotions and gratitude toward such a gift. Working with a scratchboard artist who is also a friend, they collaborated on designing a piece of artwork titled "The Gift of Life." This artwork, complemented by a poem Cathy wrote titled "The Kindness of a Stranger," symbolizes the immense generosity and compassion displayed by an anonymous person.

The Kindness of a Stranger
(poem)

Like an unexpected kiss
Or an enveloping hug
A kindred spirit
Turning the storm into a gentle rain
Courageous, selfless and brave
A gesture free and pure
The flower gives nectar to the butterfly
And offers life.
C.C.

The Gift of Life
(14 x 11 scratchboard)
Lori Dunn, 2022

Each element was chosen for the symbolism that it represents.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the wood element is associated with the energy of the liver. This element contains the power and pleasure of springtime, of new beginnings, of tackling and shaping visions of the future. The position of the hand is known as the Apan mudra in Hindu philosophy and is associated with detoxification and helps stimulate the wood element.
While this piece is not coloured, the bluebell flowers (Mertensia virginica) were chosen as the colour of the endless sky and oceans, the colour of compassion and the symbol of kindness and gratitude. When given as a gift, bluebells are a sign of appreciation for someone who has shown you kindness and generosity. The bottom leaves of the bluebells in this piece were designed to represent a human liver showing the left and right lobes. If you trace the outline, the liver is clearly defined.
Seeing a fly may represent fear. Fear is an instinct to protect ourselves. When we come across a situation that makes us fearful, we feel a sense of dread come over us. Whether the fear is something physical, emotional or social, it permeates in the back of our thoughts.
The butterfly symbolizes rebirth, hope and bravery. Seeing one is a sign that positive change is transpiring, and brave forces are watching over you and ensuring graceful transitions. The butterfly encourages you to flow through a transformation with confidence. Embracing such change means that your journey will unfold just as it should. I chose a native Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus) to fill this role.
Together, my client and I worked on creating a composition based on her initial sketch that would blend all the elements and symbols into one artwork. It really was her vision, and I tried to use minimal artistic license in coming up with a pleasing design. It was a challenging piece for me, delving outside my comfort zone, and that’s always a good thing. For my client, receiving a hopeful and unexpected gift from a living organ donor will hopefully “turn the storm to a gentle rain, offering life.”.

Today, when Cathy reflects on this artwork, it brings back cherished memories of collaborating with a friend to create something truly meaningful. She realizes that the emotions she poured into this piece remain relevant, even though she no longer has that potential donor. Cathy still deeply appreciates and feels gratitude for every application the donor office receives for her, knowing that her turn will come one day and a match will be found. That’s why Cathy wanted to share the artwork with all of you today in an attempt to convey her feelings of gratitude toward everyone who has viewed, liked, and shared her posts on this campaign page. She also wants to acknowledge those who have submitted applications for testing to be potential donors for her, though she struggles to find words that adequately express her emotions towards them. All she can say now is, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

As Cathy's search for a living liver donor with blood type A+, A-, O+, or O- continues, she kindly requests that everyone continues to read, like, and share her campaign posts here to help spread the word about her urgent need for a new liver.

Thank you,
- Cathy and her Campaign Team

05/15/2023

*Please Share*

Catherine Cremer from Peterborough, ON, also known as Cathy, is a friend, neighbour, loving wife, and horse lover. Cathy was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare autoimmune liver disease. Her liver is so sick that she’s now on the transplant list. She needs a liver from a living or deceased donor. Unfortunately, there are not enough organs for everyone who needs them. Cathy’s medical team is encouraging her to find a living liver donor with blood type O+, O-, A+ or A- to donate at Toronto General Hospital.

A healthy person can donate a piece of their liver and save Cathy’s life. The liver is incredible and will grow back in 2-3 months! This surgery is more common than you might think—more than 900 living liver donor surgeries have been performed in Ontario alone.

A donor doesn’t need to be a relative or of the same ethnic background, just a healthy person aged 16-60 with A+, A-, O+ or O- blood type.

About Cathy:
Cathy is 64 years old, married, and a retired family business owner with an immense passion for horse-related things. She loves spending her free time caring for and riding her horse, Sonja. Cathy has had Sonja since she was a baby, for approximately 16 years. In addition to her big, warm-heart love and care for Sonja, Cathy finds a sense of calmness and relaxation in yoga and art activities. She can spend endless hours painting and drawing, including real-life paintings and sketches of Sonja. Cathy also enjoys hanging out with friends, whether that be a hike, nature walks, or riding together. She finds her friends always put a smile on her face, uplifting her spirits in tough times. Cathy’s siblings also do the same for her, being such a family-oriented person.

When Cathy got sick, it was a slow progression from minimal symptoms to now needing a transplant to live. Her disease had progressed over the years, impacting her daily life more and more each day. Cathy can no longer engage in her hobbies for long because they cause a great deal of exhaustion. She also can’t travel as much anymore with her condition being so severe now, which has greatly saddened her. Cathy's world completely changed when her medical team told her she needed a transplant and would be listed on the organ waitlist. Through extensive testing, she finally got listed over a year ago now. She has not been able to find a donor so far but is hopeful that she still has a chance at a healthy life if she is able to be matched with a living donor. Cathy continues to hold onto this hope, along with her hope of taking back the reins from her debilitating disease, so she can live her life again. She envisions an endless list of things she wants to do in her future healthy life, like travelling with her husband, doing yoga again, hiking with her friends again, riding Sonja more often, and so much more.
We encourage everyone to spread the word about Cathy’s call for help through her urgent public appeal for a donor. As she awaits a living liver donor match, Cathy finds herself thinking, “For now, I will put one foot in front of the other, stay positive and do my best”.

Please consider the “gift of life” by getting tested to see if you are a suitable candidate to donate a piece of your liver.

Learn more and apply to be Cathy’s Donor:
Liver transplants are performed at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital. To learn more about living liver donation and how to apply to be Cathy’s donor, please visit:
https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

Potential donors can apply by completing the 11-page health history form below. The form asks for the recipient’s full name and date of birth. It's Catherine Cremer, born on March 6th, 1959. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to Toronto General Hospital by email, mail, or fax, located on the last page of the form for your convenience.
https://www.uhnlivingdonor.ca

The Living Liver Donor Program will contact applicants about the next steps. Donor testing is typically done in Toronto, but potential donors can do much of the testing at local labs in your hometown upon request. Cathy’s OHIP covers the donor's medical testing, surgery, and hospital stay. For expenses like travel, food, accommodation and income replacement, there is a reimbursement program through Trillium Gift of Life for up to $5,500.

If you’d like to ask the experts questions about becoming a living liver donor, contact the University Health Network Centre for Living Donation in Toronto at #416-340-4800 ext. 6581 or by email at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The UHN Centre for Living Donation hosts a monthly online information session for Potential Living Liver Donors. The next one is on Tuesday, May 23rd, 12-1 p.m. and again on June 27th, 12-1 pm. To register for the virtual event, please visit:
http://www.eventbrite.ca/.../the-centre-for-living-organ....

Please forward and share this message with anyone and everyone you know who might be willing to help. We seek someone willing, brave, and, most importantly, generous in volunteering to give the gift of life. Thank you so much to anyone who applies and spreads the word. We are all profoundly grateful to you.

- Cathy and her Living Donor Search Campaign Team

Catherine Cremers Needs a Living Liver Donor

10/09/2023

09/22/2023

08/22/2023

07/14/2023

06/06/2023

05/15/2023

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