Nail technician Sara Joseph, 50, donated nearly two-thirds of her liver to James Conradi, 39, in Turkey in March, a decision made after Conradi was deemed ineligible for a transplant on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) waiting list.
Conradi was diagnosed in 2013 with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition that causes bile to build up in the liver, leading to its gradual destruction. By February of this year, his condition had worsened significantly, marked by a stone's weight loss and jaundice. A subsequent scan revealed two tumors in his liver, a known complication of his illness. Under NHS guidelines, the presence of more than one tumor disqualified him from the transplant list.
"Without Sara I would not be here now," Conradi said. His consultant advised him to explore international options for a transplant. Turkey is one of several countries with less stringent criteria for transplants. Varuna Aluvihare, transplant hepatology lead at King's College Hospital in London, noted that these countries may accept cases that the NHS would consider to have a less satisfactory chance of survival, often for a fee.
Joseph, who lives in Bushey, Hertfordshire, saw a Facebook appeal from Conradi's wife, Laura, whom she had known for 20 years through work. Despite facing months of recovery and permanent scarring, Joseph felt compelled to help, especially as she was grieving the loss of her own mother to cancer.
"If you have the opportunity to save a life, why wouldn’t you?" Joseph stated. After a quick match was confirmed by a private clinic, she met with Conradi and his family, which solidified her decision. The couple had to fundraise £250,000 for the operation and travel, a sum they raised within a week.
Joseph and Conradi, along with other potential donors, flew to Istanbul in March. While she initially thought she might not be the most suitable match, scans and a biopsy proved her liver to be the best option. The surgery involved removing Conradi's diseased liver and transplanting the right lobe of Joseph's liver, an eight-hour procedure for Conradi and a five-hour surgery for Joseph.
Following the operation, Conradi's jaundice disappeared, and his energy levels improved. Joseph returned to the UK a week later, but experienced complications including a bile leak from the surgical site, requiring hospitalization and intensive antibiotics. "I thought I was going to die," she recalled, describing the post-operative infection as significantly more difficult than the surgery itself.
Despite her recovery challenges, Joseph does not regret her decision. "The point is, James would be dead without my liver," she said. She noted that healthy adults can safely donate up to 65% of their liver, as the organ has a remarkable ability to regenerate. The couples now maintain a close relationship, with Joseph stating, "a part of me lives in James."
Conradi, who takes medication to prevent rejection of the donated liver, plans to return to the gym and is committed to living as long as possible. Joseph acknowledges her scar but finds a new sense of purpose in having saved a life.