Sisters rejoice in successful liver transplant; need great for donors

Rome Sentinel

THE GANG’S ALL HERE — Rome resident Tiffany Seoane, in bed, celebrates the beginning of her recovery of a partial liver transplant from her sister, Tara Salerno, to her right. Joining them are Tara’s husband Jacob, far right, and a family friend. The transplant will keep Tiffany alive while doctors research a cure for the bile duct disease which has afflicted her liver. (Photos submitted)

NEW YORK CITY — Rome resident Tiffany Seoane and her sister, Tara Salerno, are waiting to head home after a successful liver transplant at NY Presbyterian Hospital on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Salerno donated the right lobe of her liver to help Seoane in her battle with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an auto-immune disorder that scars the liver’s bile ducts and leads to liver disorders including liver failure and liver cancer.

Salerno was in surgery for six-and-a-half hours while Seoane, who started an hour after her, was under the knife for nine hours.

Seoane will have to wait in New York for about a month while doctors keep her under observation. Salerno is already back resting at her home in Kingston.

“They want us both up and moving around,” Salerno said. “But no lifting or heavy exercise for me, and they want to be sure Tiffany’s body is not rejecting the liver.”

The goal of the procedure was to replace part of Seoane’s liver that had been damaged by bile fluid build up. Bile is normally secreted into the small intestine from the liver and is used to break down fats and fat-based vitamins for digestion.

Scarring on the bile ducts prevents bile from reaching the small intestine and its buildup in the liver causes the complications associated with PSC. Continue reading

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