Thread: Man dies after donating piece of liver to keep brother alive, get your hanky ready......

http://www.aolnews.com/article/color...edy%2F19593822

Transplant Tragedy Leads to Hospital Review

(Aug. 14) -- A Colorado hospital said it has suspended liver donations from people who are still alive following the death of a man who donated a chunk of his liver to save his brother's life.

Ryan Arnold, 34, of Watertown, S.D., died four days after 60 percent of his liver was removed to be transplanted into his brother Chad, who is suffering from an incurable liver disease.

The University of Colorado Hospital says it is "taking a step back" from the procedure, which is relatively rare.

"Ryan went to be with Jesus this afternoon," an entry in the family's online journal says on Aug. 2, the day of his death. "Our prayer is that his life and his story of selfless love will be a testimony to many, now and in the years to come."



"I'll miss you, little bro," another entry reads.

Chad, 38, is now recovering from the transplant. He was briefly discharged from hospital Monday, and watched his brother's funeral via webcam. He returned to the hospital on Tuesday.

He is still recovering form the effects of the major procedure, with his stomach bloated and distended.

"I think the fact that a lot of people are asking about how I'm doing says a lot of people are paying attention to the story and it actually helps me recover better because that means they're paying attention to Ryan's story," Chad told local Fox affiliate, KDVR-TV.

The hospital has launched an internal investigation into how Ryan died, The Associated Press reported. It has also asked physicians from the American Society of Transplant Surgeons to review the case.

"Everybody at the hospital is very distraught, anybody who had anything to do with this wonderful family," hospital spokeswoman Erika Matich told the AP.

The procedure is performed relatively rarely -- only 4,126 have been carried out in the U.S. since 1989.

Ryan went to cardiac arrest early on Aug. 1, then fell into coma.

Shortly before the operation, he told KDVR-TV that he was making the donation to help his brother live a long life.

Rod Arnold, a third brother, told the AP that shortly before the operation, Ryan went into his brother's hospital room and said, "I love you, bro; you're worth it. I believe it."

"Ryan was a godly man, a loving husband, an amazing father and a great friend," an entry in the family's journal says.

The family has set up a fund to pay for the education of Ryan's three sons, aged 1, 4 and 6. A portion of the money will also go towards building a well for an African village in his name, according to the fund's website.

Now Chad faces the long road to recovery, knowing that his brother gave his life for him to go on.

"He was a man of uncommon character and someone I looked up to," Rod Arnold said. "What he did for Chad was really just an extension of how he lived his life."

Thats sad. He must have really loved his brother a lot.