Transplant patient loving life a year after surgery

by Rosa Studholme | 14th July 2010

Patience has become a virtue for
Hampden man John Shaw a year
on from landmark surgery that
saved his life.

"Every day is a bonus,'' he said,
speaking to The Oamaru Mail from
his home this week.

"Before, I used to be like a bull
at a gate. Everything had to be
done yesterday.

"Now I stand there and I think
about it and analyse it and it's all
for the better.''

Mr Shaw was the first in New
Zealand and sixth in the world to
have a double organ surgery _ a
transplant of the liver and a
mechanical valve installed in his
heart. The surgery was carried out
by the New Zealand Liver Trans
plant team in Auckland.

It was 5.30pm on July 14 last
year, after waiting at Transplant
House in Auckland, that he found
out a donor had been found and he
would receive the lifesaving sur
gery.

He underwent the marathon
surgery that night.

"It's just changed my whole
life,'' he said.

"I used to socialise quite a lot,
like drinking and doing all things I
shouldn't do.

"The whole lifestyle has
changed for the better.''

The surgeon who carried out
the ground-breaking surgery is
now based at Dunedin Hospital.

"It makes me feel quite safe
with him being down there. I can
have direct contact with him,'' Mr
Shaw said.

"Twelve months ago, if it wasn't
for the New Zealand Liver Trans
plant Unit, I wouldn't be here
today.''

Recovery has not come without
its stumbling blocks. Mr Shaw
developed a hernia ``the size of a
[pregnant stomach] carrying
triplets'' this year.

It got to the point where he
could barely walk and once again
he went under the knife to have
the hernia removed.

"After that operation I feel
absolutely great.''

Mr Shaw has approached
Alcoholics Anonymous, offering to
bring his badly damaged liver,
removed and kept in plastic pack
aging, to meetings. But the support
group declined.

"I didn't want to push the issue.
They've got their values ... [but] if
they had known what I've been
through I might have been able to
give them some advice.

"I've changed a lot of people's
lives ... through my experience.

"I could quite comfortably say
half a dozen people that I've talked
to that have pulled right out [of
drinking].''

His children have also reduced
their alcohol intake as a result.

``Which makes [me and my
wife] really happy.''

During Mr Shaw's recovery, his
stepson travelled regularly from
Dunedin to cut down trees and
carry out jobs at his property.

His younger son came over
from Australia for two months,
which was ``emotional'', he said.

The community had also
banded together to help out.

``The support of people in Palm
erston ... [has] been so good.''

He said his wife, Sharon, had
been especially supportive.

``When it's all boiled down, if it
wasn't for my wife, I wouldn't have
survived.

``She's absolutely brilliant.''

Mr Shaw is now back to walk

ing and exercising ``within reason''
and is recovering well.

He is still unable to do any
heavy lifting but reckons it's only a
matter of time.

``I've just got to wait,'' he said.
``It will get better. It'll take its time
 [but it's] getting better.''

The couple are now looking at
fostering children when Mr Shaw
has made a full recovery.