Television actor Shih Ying (石英) was discharged from the hospital yesterday after receiving a liver transplant from his son last month.
Shih, 59, said the operation has taught him to appreciate life more.
The actor made the comments yesterday at a press conference held at National Taiwan University Hospital, where Shih underwent the operation. Shih's family and friends as well as several people who have received liver transplants also attended.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
According to Wu Yao-ming (吳耀銘), convener of the hospital's liver transplant task force, the youngest of its liver transplant patients was a 6-month-old girl. Shih is the oldest.
A hepatitis B sufferer, Shih condition's deteriorated after he fell into comma on June 6.
"The doctor told us that a liver transplant was the one and only option to save his life," said Wu Ling (吳靈), Shih's wife.
Lin I-shan (林義山), Shih's 30-year-old son, donated part of his liver for the June 8 operation. Lin gave 58 percent of his liver, weighing 700g.
"It was more than a surprise to wake up from a 16-hour surgery to realize that I am alive because my son donated his liver to me," Shih said. "I was really moved."
Shih's wife said she was greatly worried during the operation, "because, firstly, my husband is undergoing a liver transplant and, secondly, my son is donating his liver."
According to Wu, the Taiwan University Hospital has performed 76 liver transplants. Of that number, 31 involved living donors while the others involved deceased donors.
Citing Shih's case as an example, Wu encouraged the public to become organ donors.
In cases like Shih's -- whose liver deteriorated rapidly over a short period of time -- the chances of survival if a transplant is not performed is less than 10 percent, Wu said.
"But patients who undergo a liver transplant enjoy a 90-percent chance of survival," the doctor said.
Because organ donation is rare in Taiwan, many patients who suffer from failing livers often die before a suitable liver becomes available.
"At the moment, we still have hundreds of patients waiting for suitable livers to be donated," Wu said. "Thus, we would like to call on the public to become an organ donor or be a living donor to help those in need."
Last month, restrictions on organ donations by living donors were relaxed to allow people to donate organs to blood relatives within the fifth degree of kinship or to a spouse to whom they have been married for at least two years.
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