Edmonton dad seeking liver donor as he fights rare disease
Posted August 2, 2022 3:17 pm.
An Edmonton father is hoping to raise awareness about a chronic liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) that he’s been fighting since he was 21 years old.
His condition has taken a turn for the worse in the past year.
“I was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis in 2007,” said Daniel Drummond. “I’ve had a lot of symptoms to show that my disease is progressing. I lost about 30 to 35 pounds just in February and we had a lot of unanswered questions.”
Now, Drummond struggles with being active or taking on daily tasks such as caring for his two young kids.
After meeting with specialists and undergoing several tests, Drummond was told his PSC progressed.
“I’m at end stage liver disease, so it’s a process of needing a new liver to save my life,” he said.
“It’s genetic and there’s no real cause, there’s no real understanding of what causes it.”
The two options for a liver transplant would come from either a deceased or living donor. Drummond is currently on the waiting list.
While he waits, he’s hoping to start a conversation about organ donation.
“Any healthy person can donate 67 per cent of their liver and it regenerates in between four to eight weeks, which is remarkable. I’m very lucky to have that as an option.”
His wife, Lindsay Drummond, says she’s hopeful her husband will find a match and can’t wait for the day they receive the call they’ve been waiting for.
“I’m so grateful and excited at this next step we get and this second chance of life to do things as a family again and for him to have energy,” said Lindsay.
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Drummond has also been leaning on a PSC survivor who underwent a liver transplant just two years ago. The two have become a support system for each other.
“I can just share with him my experience, give him tips I wish I knew and with this rare disease, you can imagine how emotional it is to hear stories only you’ve been through,” said Jonathan Ferguson.
Ferguson’s brother was his donor. Both have since fully healed.
Now, Ferguson is an advocate for organ donation, hoping his new friend Drummond will receive the same blessing he had.
“Coming so close to not making it… we have to celebrate being healthy and for the people that are healthy, we take that so much for granted,” said Ferguson. “It’s the least we can do to at least run out and donate blood or just give support to those who need it.”
Drummond is sharing his journey on Instagram and Facebook under the profile “Dano’s liver journey.”
