HALIFAX, N.S. - Montrose, P.E.I. resident, Kevin Clements was admitted to Queen Elizabeth II Health Centre in Halifax Monday morning to await a liver transplant, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.
Kevin and Josephine Clements got the call Sunday afternoon that a donor liver was available. Kevin struggled with end stage liver disease for four years before getting on the transplant list in March.
The couple was in Halifax by 10:30 p.m. Sunday, and Kevin was admitted to hospital at 8 a.m. Monday to undergo a battery of tests and assessments.
Just last month the Clementses were raising awareness to the need for Islanders to sign up to be on the electronic Prince Edward Island Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. The donor stickers on drivers licenses and health cards are being phased out in favour of the electronic registry. More than 32,000 Islanders have joined the registry since it was established in 2015, but Josephine Clements said Monday she heard from five people just last week who were unaware of the registry’s existence.
“We get the call and they say, ‘We have a liver for you,’ and that’s when all the emotions hit. Josephine and I had a big, big cry.”
-Kevin Clements
For now, though, the Clementses are focused on the new reality that a liver is available.
“As long as no problems happen between today and tomorrow, he’s getting the liver tomorrow,” Josephine said from her husband’s hospital room.
“They’re pretty sure,” Kevin, 52, called out from across the room.
“You know, for four years I waited for the phone call, and I always thought, what would be my first thoughts or first emotions,” said Kevin in recalling Sunday’s call.
“We get the call and they say, ‘We have a liver for you,’ and that’s when all the emotions hit. Josephine and I had a big, big cry.”
Then they started calling relatives, starting with his father and, with each call the emotions spilled out all over again.
“He’s on the edge of tears right now again,” Josephine called into the phone. Her mother is already on her way from Ontario to be with them in Halifax.
“So many emotions and you can’t control which ones come out and how long they are,” Kevin continued.
The couple was able to get a few household chores completed and other arrangements made before hopping in their car Sunday. They expressed appreciation for all the support they’ve been receiving during Kevin’s illness, including home modifications and getting firewood in. On Monday Josephine posted on social media that her garden still needs some tending this week. “That’s all I need right now,” she said.
Besides a series of blood tests and other procedures that Kevin is receiving, the couple is hearing from nurses on what they might expect during and post-transplant.
Josephine said she will be keeping family and friends updated on her husband’s progress through a “Kevin Clements Health Journey” page on Facebook.
“We can’t really do it any other way,” she said.
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