Amy Baghdadi | Patient Stories

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js" lang="en">  <head> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href=/assets/ucsf/main.css?v=40182074ecb56dad04debd94fedfc468 />  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/consent/15542477-8150-45a3-9953-e94fa799e80a/OtAutoBlock.js" ></script> <script src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="15542477-8150-45a3-9953-e94fa799e80a" ></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { // Check if banner div is available if (document.getElementById('onetrust-banner-sdk')) { // Get the buttons and container var acceptBtn = document.getElementById("onetrust-accept-btn-handler"); var declineBtn = document.getElementById("onetrust-reject-all-handler"); var cookieSettingsBtn = document.getElementById("onetrust-pc-btn-handler"); var btnContainer = document.getElementById("onetrust-button-group"); // Set the order you want below... btnContainer.append(acceptBtn, cookieSettingsBtn, declineBtn) } } </script>   <script src="https://datalayer.ucsfhealth.org/ucsf-data-layer.js" defer></script>  <script src="https://datalayer.ucsfhealth.org/ucsfhealth-marketing-data-layer.js" defer></script>  <script type="text/plain" class="optanon-category-C0007" src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/db5f13cb240b/b1130ce1ceae/launch-db8f55f3e131.min.js" defer></script> <title>Amy Baghdadi | Patient Stories | UCSF Health</title> <link href="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/header/favicon-32x32.png?rev=e809a21b00b748a3abf7a90f0667e530" rel="shortcut icon" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/patient-stories/amy-baghdadi" /> <meta content="Why Choose Us?" name="mainNavName" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1162986667203299" /><meta property="og:description" content="When aggressive chemotherapy didn't work, a living donor was her last hope. See how she found a willing donor, the miracle of liver regeneration and more." /><meta property="og:type" content="article" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="ucsfhealth.org" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/patient-story/hero/patient-amy-baghdadi-2x.jpg?rev=9408cbac4e0d4011bac9188bf49264e5" /><meta property="og:title" content="Amy Baghdadi | UCSF Health" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/patient-stories/amy-baghdadi" /> <meta name="description" content="When aggressive chemotherapy didn't work, a living donor was her last hope. See how she found a willing donor, the miracle of liver regeneration and more." /> <meta property="twitter:site" content="@UCSFHospitals" /><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/patient-story/hero/patient-amy-baghdadi-2x.jpg?rev=9408cbac4e0d4011bac9188bf49264e5" /><meta property="twitter:description" content="When aggressive chemotherapy didn't work, a living donor was her last hope. See how she found a willing donor, the miracle of liver regeneration and more." /><meta property="twitter:creator" content="@UCSFHospitals" /><meta property="twitter:title" content="Amy Baghdadi | UCSF Health" /><meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json" /> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","description":"When aggressive chemotherapy didn't work, a living donor was her last hope. See how she found a willing donor, the miracle of liver regeneration and more.","image":"https://www.ucsfhealth.org/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/patient-story/hero/patient-amy-baghdadi-2x.jpg?rev=9408cbac4e0d4011bac9188bf49264e5","url":"https://www.ucsfhealth.org/patient-stories/amy-baghdadi","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kim Wong"},"dateCreated":"2019-01-24T18:26:11+00:00","dateModified":"2020-10-06T22:23:08+00:00","datePublished":"2012-05-01T00:00:00+00:00","headline":"Cancer Patient Receives the Gift of a Lifetime","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UCSF Health","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.ucsfhealth.org/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/ezgifcom-gif-maker.png?rev=b49aee14cf934fb086632358c341cf97"}},"articleBody":"Amy Baghdadi was living a perfectly normal life – working as a lawyer and raising two young kids with her husband in San Francisco. While she was training for a half-marathon, her side would ache after long runs. She figured it was just a pulled muscle, but one evening the pain was so excruciating that her husband convinced her to go to the emergency room. An ultrasound revealed that her liver was full of tumors, which were quickly diagnosed as cancer.","articleSection":"Patient Story"} </script> </head> <body class="default-device bodyclass"> <a href="#content" class="skip-to-content">Skip to Main Content</a> <div id="wrapper">  <header> <div id="header" class="container-fluid"> <div class="component rich-text paragraph1 ie-warning-banner"> <div class="component-content"> <p> Looks like you’re visiting UCSF Health on Internet Explorer. For the best experience, try <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.google.com/chrome/" target="_blank">Chrome </a>or <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/" target="_blank">Firefox</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="component"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="component"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="nav-search-overlay"> <div class="search-content"> <div class="search-header"> <img src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/logos/logo.png?h=76&iar=0&w=626&rev=d583395ce9c04ec6a83dff0c67ef2e4c&hash=661B5B6BDD2F563F400E662FE64AFB1B" alt="UCSF Health" width="626" height="76" /> <div class="search-close"></div> </div> <div class="search-form-wrapper"> <form data-autocomplete="/ucsfapi/search/getsuggestions" class="search-form display1" action="/search"> <div> <input aria-label="search text" type="text" name="searchterms" placeholder="What can we help you find?" autocomplete="off" /> <button aria-label="search" type="submit" class="icon-ui-search"></button> </div> </form> <div class="popular-searches autocomplete-results font-larger"> <div class="eyebrow">Popular Searches</div> <form action="/search"> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value="Find a Doctor">Find a Doctor</button> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value=" Refer a Patient"> Refer a Patient</button> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value=" Clinics"> Clinics</button> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value=" Conditions"> Conditions</button> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value=" Treatments"> Treatments</button> <button class="paragraph1" name="searchterms" value=" Locations & Directions"> Locations & Directions</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav-wrapper"> <div class="top-nav-wrapper"> <div class="top-nav"> <div class="title"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" title="University of California San Francisco" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank">University of California San Francisco</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-nav-wrapper"> <div class="main-nav container"> <input type="checkbox" id="mobile_nav_toggle" class="mobile-nav-check" aria-label="mobile_nav_toggle" /> <label class="mobile-nav-toggle" for="mobile_nav_toggle" aria-label="mobile_nav_toggle_label"> <div></div> </label> <div class="logo"> <a title="UCSF Home" href="/"><img src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/ezgifcom-gif-maker.png?h=27&iar=0&w=150&rev=b49aee14cf934fb086632358c341cf97&hash=1AC27DE6EDF5C0B6D348A6BD0A43F39F" alt="" width="150" height="27" /></a> </div> <span aria-label="search" class="nav-search "><span class="icon-ui-search"></span></span> <div class="menu-content-wrapper"> <ul class="menu"> <li data-main-nav-name="Conditions & Treatments"> <a>Conditions & Treatments</a> <div class="sub-nav container"> <a href="#" class="sub-nav-close">Conditions & Treatments</a> <div> <a href="/treatments/responsive-neurostimulation" target="_self"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/navigation/responsive-neurostimulation-376x188-2x.jpg?h=376&iar=0&w=752&rev=7bc0bac0377344428084efa41ab4e936&hash=A66A813384EF7C69793C8691B939DA7C" alt="" width="752" height="376" /> <span class="eyebrow">EPILEPSY BREAKTHROUGH</span> <div class="paragraph1"> <p><span>Stopping Seizures Before They Start</span></p> </div> </a> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/conditions">Find Conditions</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/treatments">Find Treatments</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu" target="_blank">Clinical Trials</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/education">Patient Education</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/medical-tests">Medical Tests</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li data-main-nav-name="Doctors"> <a>Doctors</a> <div class="sub-nav container"> <a href="#" class="sub-nav-close">Doctors</a> <div> <a href="/doctor-stories/jasleen-kukreja" target="_self"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/navigation/jasleen-kukreja-376x188-2x.jpg?h=376&iar=0&w=752&rev=4c99176bf937490b84533ea4639c34a3&hash=A0AE58BF1530A6B90620551336B15D91" alt="" width="752" height="376" /> <span class="eyebrow">MEET OUR DOCTORS</span> <div class="paragraph1">Dr. Jasleen Kukreja and the Life-Saving Gift of Breath</div> </a> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/find-a-doctor">Find a Doctor</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/doctor-stories">Doctor Stories</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/second-opinion">Get a Second Opinion</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li data-main-nav-name="Clinics & Locations"> <a>Clinics & Locations</a> <div class="sub-nav container"> <a href="#" class="sub-nav-close">Clinics & Locations</a> <div> <a href="/lp/precision-cancer-medicine-building" target="_self"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/navigation/pcmb-376x188-2x.jpg?h=376&iar=0&w=752&rev=22258558633e46a99e3c385cbd9a55c5&hash=05AAC46BF10ED201FACE98AB601B0F90" alt="" width="752" height="376" /> <span class="eyebrow">BAKAR PRECISION CANCER MEDICINE BUILDING</span> <div class="paragraph1">Care, Convenience and Support at New Cancer Facility</div> </a> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/clinics">Find a Clinic</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/locations">Locations & Directions</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/list-of-clinics/urgent-care">Urgent Care</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/clinics/emergency-department">Emergency Care</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/about/our-affiliates">Partners & Affiliates</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/" target="_blank">UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li data-main-nav-name="Patients & Visitors"> <a>Patients & Visitors</a> <div class="sub-nav container"> <a href="#" class="sub-nav-close">Patients & Visitors</a> <div> <a href="/your-hospital-stay/10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-ucsf-doctor-appointment" target="_self"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/navigation/10-ways-to-get-the-most-from-doctor-visit-376x188-2x.jpg?h=376&iar=0&w=752&rev=1199bec48a1f436e89d93f92a605fdae&hash=37D3E3AF37E3D449EC8779910E4D3D0A" alt="" width="752" height="376" /> <span class="eyebrow">KNOW BEFORE YOU GO</span> <div class="paragraph1"> 10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit</div> </a> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/your-hospital-stay">Your Hospital Stay</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/for-visitors">For Visitors</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/services/international-services">International Services</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/education/self-care-for-caregivers">For Caregivers</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/services">Support, Services & Groups</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/billing-and-insurance">Billing & Insurance</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/billing-and-insurance/help-paying-your-bill">Help Paying Your Bill</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/about/pricing-transparency">Pricing Transparency</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/about/our-340b-story">340B Drug Pricing Program</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/medical-records">Medical Records</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/services/patient-relations">Patient Relations</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li data-main-nav-name="Why Choose Us?"> <a>Why Choose Us?</a> <div class="sub-nav container"> <a href="#" class="sub-nav-close">Why Choose Us?</a> <div> <a href="" target="_self"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/navigation/usnews-376x188-2x.jpg?h=376&iar=0&w=752&rev=ceea5c834962474892a11e0877a76c60&hash=5FDAA3936F2E054CC1408DDD1B92EB2B" alt="" width="752" height="376" /> <span class="eyebrow">U.S. News Best Hospital Rankings</span> <div class="paragraph1">UCSF Health Ranked Among Nation's Top 10 Hospitals</div> </a> </div> <div class="meta-links"> <div class="component-content"> <ul class="use-arrow-icon"> <li> <p><a href="/about/our-mission">Our Mission</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a title="Quality of Patient Care" href="/about/quality-of-patient-care">Quality of Patient Care</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/patient-stories">Patient Stories</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/about/diversity-at-ucsf-health">Embracing Diversity</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="/about/our-leadership">Our Leadership</a></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="top-menu"> <li><a href="/refer-a-patient">Refer a Patient</a></li> <li><a href="/mychart">MyChart</a></li> <li><a href="/request-an-appointment">Request Appointment</a></li> <li><a href="/second-opinion">Get a Second Opinion</a></li> <li><a class="call-us">Call us: (888) 689-8273</a></li> </ul> <div class="mobile-nav-footer"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" title="University of California San Francisco" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank">University of California San Francisco</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header>   <main> <div id="content" class="container"> <div class="component article-hero basic-hero"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="hero-image"> <img src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/patient-story/hero/patient-amy-baghdadi-2x.jpg?h=1112&iar=0&w=2880&rev=9408cbac4e0d4011bac9188bf49264e5&hash=727F418E115D26AFCDF8478DF4B06E50" alt="" width="2880" height="1112" /> </div> <div class="hero-content"> <div class="eyebrow hero-breadcrumb"> <div class="component ucsf-breadcrumb"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow article-breadcrumb"> <a href="/patient-stories">Patient Stories </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-badge-hero"> </div> <h1 class="hero-title display1"> Cancer Patient Receives the Gift of a Lifetime </h1> </div> </div> </div><div class="component share-print-email container clinic-share"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="share-component"> <a aria-label="Print Page" href="#" rel="nofollow" class="icon-ui-print" title="Print"></a> <a aria-label="Share Page" data-email-body="Thought you might want to see this:" class="icon-ui-share" data-email-body="Thought you might want to see this:" data-email-subject="Take a look at this link from UCSF"></a> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div><div class="component article-intro column-layout col-2-66-33 container"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="article-content left-col"> <div class="article-info-top"> <div class="article-authors"> <div class="eyebrow">Written By Kim Wong</div> </div> <div class="article-published"> <div class="eyebrow">Published May 2012</div> </div> </div> <div class="font-larger article-text rich-text"> <p>Amy Baghdadi was living a perfectly normal life – working as a lawyer and raising two young kids with her husband in San Francisco. While she was training for a half-marathon, her side would ache after long runs. She figured it was just a pulled muscle, but one evening the pain was so excruciating that her husband convinced her to go to the emergency room. An ultrasound revealed that her liver was full of tumors, which were quickly diagnosed as cancer.</p> </div> </div> <div class="article-info right-col"> <div class="article-related-conditions"> <div class="eyebrow">Related Conditions</div> <div class="condition"> <div class="condition-name"> <a href="/conditions/liver-cancer"> Liver Cancer </a> </div> </div> <div class="condition"> <div class="condition-name"> Liver Transplant </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component content container"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="page-content"> <div class="component column-layout col-2-66-33 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="left-col"> <div class="component rich-text paragraph1 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <p>After an aggressive chemotherapy regimen failed, Baghdadi was running out of treatment options. Liver transplant was a possibility, but most medical centers don't consider cancer patients for transplants.</p> <p>With the clock ticking and her cancer possibly spreading, Dr. John Roberts and Dr. Nancy Ascher, a UCSF husband-and-wife transplant team, performed a <a href="/treatments/living-donor-liver-transplant">living donor liver transplant</a> on Baghdadi. The transplant was a success. Baghdadi and her donor, Olivia Lemen, have fully recovered, and the experience has created an enduring bond between them.</p> <p><strong>Why were you turned down at other hospitals for a transplant?</strong></p> <p>I think because my cancer was very aggressive and I had some nodules in my lungs that may or may not be cancerous – we still don't really know. If cancer has metastasized, people generally aren't candidates for the transplant, so there was a lot of concern that my cancer had already spread and therefore I wasn't a viable candidate. It was too high a risk.</p> <p><strong>How much did you know about liver transplants before?</strong></p> <p>Before I became ill, I knew very little about the process of organ donation other than filling out the form at the DMV. I didn't know that the liver can regenerate, that a living donor can give you part of their liver, and that their liver can grow back and the transplant liver will grow to full size within the recipient.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="right-col"> <div class="component doctor-results col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <h2 class="heading1 title-anchor"> Meet Amy's care team </h2> <div class="doctor-results-wrapper custom-scrollbar-container"> <ul> <li> <a href="/providers/dr-nancy-ascher"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/doctor/card/dr-nancy-ascher-md-320x320-2x.jpg?h=526&w=526&rev=3e999840d82b4148b03dfa68749ff4eb&hash=46DEBE8C3AA8AA9CAB93654958DD84C6" alt="" width="640" height="640"> <div> <h3 class="doctor-name"> Nancy L. Ascher </h3> <p class="font-larger doctor-class"> MD, PhD </p> <span class="doctor-simple-title"> Organ transplant surgeon </span> </div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/providers/dr-andrew-posselt"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/doctor/card/dr-andrew-posselt-md-5952-320x320-2x.jpg?h=526&w=526&rev=6259c50f5e244cb08517b24d48339ea4&hash=08F986029A3C0884B7CB0E792FAB6C92" alt="" width="640" height="640"> <div> <h3 class="doctor-name"> Andrew Posselt </h3> <p class="font-larger doctor-class"> MD, PhD </p> <span class="doctor-simple-title"> Bariatric and transplant surgeon </span> </div> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/providers/dr-john-roberts"> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/doctor/card/dr-john-roberts-md-108-320x320-2x.jpg?h=526&w=526&rev=f82753f7d4cd4522b42a21636067fda0&hash=17A1E19AC82DAA06519E5686AD79B3FE" alt="" width="640" height="640"> <div> <h3 class="doctor-name"> John P. Roberts </h3> <p class="font-larger doctor-class"> MD </p> <span class="doctor-simple-title"> Organ transplant surgeon </span> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component vimeo-video col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="video-292225720"> <div class="video-overlay"></div> <div class="video-details"> <span class="svg-ui-play_NoGradient"></span> The Gift </div> </div> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/292225720?dnt=1" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen allow="autoplay" title="The Gift"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component column-layout col-2-66-33 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="left-col"> <div class="component rich-text paragraph1 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <p><strong>Why was UCSF willing to perform a transplant on you?</strong></p> <p>I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Roberts about the surgery and the potential for success. One of the concerns, of course, was that someone in my situation has the potential for recurrence of cancer; you don't want to waste a good organ on a person who is just going to get the cancer again. Dr. Roberts said to me, "Even if we can only buy you five years, we are giving you five more years when advances in medical science are so great that, who knows, we could have a cure." It was incredibly heartwarming that he would take that risk on me and give me that time.</p> <p>In the year since my transplant, they have found the genetic markers that they believe is the cause of the very rare type of cancer that I have, which is the first step toward finding a cure. If my cancer were ever to come back, which hopefully it won't, there is a possibility that by that time, I will be in a much better place.</p> <p><strong>How did you look for a living donor?</strong></p> <p>It was a real struggle to contemplate asking loved ones to potentially put their own lives at risk to save mine.</p> <p>I had been writing an email every week or so, explaining my situation and what was going on with treatment. Everyone knew at that point that I was looking at transplants. So I wrote in an email that a living donor was a possibility for me and sort of tongue-in-cheek said, "If you are Type 0, under the age of 55, you are healthy, and you want to get rid of half of your liver, think about it." Crying copiously over my keyboard I thought, "How can I do this?" It was really hard but if I don't send it, I'm going to die. I looked at my kids and I had to at least try. So I hit Send.</p> <p><strong>How many responses did you get to that email?</strong></p> <p>We were overwhelmed at the responses we got from people who said they would do it or wished they could do it. I think we had eight people ask about the application packet, which is the first step in being considered to be a donor.</p> <p><strong>Were you floored by the generosity?</strong></p> <p>Absolutely; it was unbelievable. It was really hard to think about any of the people who stepped forward going into surgery and putting their life at risk. But I was also so incredibly grateful and felt proud to know these amazing people who would step up to help someone in such an unselfish way. It made me feel very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.</p> <p><strong>How did Olivia become your donor?</strong></p> <p>When Olivia heard about my situation and we talked, something clicked. It was absolutely like this was what is meant to be. Olivia met all the criteria – she was healthy, she was taller than me, she was young and perfect in every way. Plus, knowing her as a person, I knew that this is someone I could do this with. You can't say that about everybody because it is such an emotional process. You have to be so incredibly close. I think that was something that felt right immediately. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="right-col"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component quote heading1 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="quote-icon"><div><div class="quote-bubble" style="background-color:#052049"></div></div><span><span class="icon-decorative-quote"></span></span></div><div class="field-quote-text field-quote-text">Olivia and I say we are "liver sisters." It's funny but true – we truly feel that we are family. I have a part of her in me.</div> </div> </div> <div class="component column-layout col-2-66-33 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="left-col"> <div class="component rich-text paragraph1 col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <p><strong>How did you know Olivia?</strong></p> <p>My mother is a retired public school teacher and so is Olivia's mother. They taught together for over 25 years in Santa Rosa.</p> <p><strong>Describe the day of the surgery.</strong></p> <p>We spent the night at the hospital, got up very early in the morning and were taken to be prepped for surgery. In the prep room I could hear Olivia's voice on the other side of the curtain, so we asked if we could open the curtain. We held hands as they were getting us both ready.</p> <p>I went down first – we knew it was going to be about a 12-hour procedure for me, slightly less for her, and that I would start. Also, no one knew if we were actually going to go through with the transplant until they had opened me up and determined the cancer hadn't spread.</p> <p>We joke that our families had it the hardest on that day because they were the ones sitting in the waiting room for 12 hours, waiting for news. First, waiting to hear whether it was even going to happen, and then that each of us were coming out and it was successful.</p> <p>From the very first moment it was all great news. Everything just went as well as it could.</p> <p><strong>When did you first see Olivia after the surgery?</strong></p> <p>I was only in the intensive care unit for about 24 hours. Then I was taken to my room, which was two doors down from Olivia's. They told me it was important to get up and walk as soon as possible, so my first steps were to her room to check on her.</p> <p>My first thoughts when I woke up were, "I hope she is OK. Please don't let anything happen to her." I had my issues, but as long as she was going to be OK, it was all right. So I just had to see her and make sure she was OK and she was. She looked great.</p> <p><strong>What went through your mind after the surgery?</strong></p> <p>Obviously it was a big surgery and I knew that it would be a long, slow healing process, but it was a healing process through which I would eventually be better. I was going to be well again. So I looked at every day as a gift.</p> <p><strong>How do you feel now?</strong></p> <p>Since the surgery I feel as good as I ever have. It is a miracle to me every day that that could be possible.</p> <p>My perspective on life and everything in it changed dramatically. I don't think you can go through an experience like this and go back to life as usual. It really helped me see what is important in life and I know that being with my family and my loved ones is everything. I am so grateful to be here.</p> <p><strong>What was your experience like at UCSF?</strong></p> <p>Living here, I always knew that UCSF does amazing work. But having gone through the system with such a rare illness, needing such dramatic treatment and care, I gained an appreciation for the talent and dedication of the people who work there. All these people are giving so much of themselves to save other people's lives, to make a difference.</p> <p><strong>Can you explain the relationship that developed between you and Olivia after the transplant?</strong></p> <p>Olivia and I say we are "liver sisters." It's funny but true – we truly feel that we are family. I have a part of her in me. My hair grew back a little bit curly after chemo, and she likes to joke that it wasn't the chemo, it was her that gave me some curl to my hair.</p> <p>We're in contact all the time. I don't know how else to explain it, but I do feel like she is a part of me, not just literally, but in that she is somebody I can't imagine not having in my life.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="right-col"> <div class="component article-cards cards-component col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div> <h2 class="heading1 title-anchor"> Key treatments </h2> <div class="view-all"> </div> </div> <div class="cards"> <div class="card"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="card-content"> <a href="/treatments/living-donor-liver-transplant" class="phantom-link" title="Living Donor Liver Transplant"></a> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/treatment/hero/living-liver-donor-transplant-2x.jpg?h=376&w=974&rev=2dc9361004c8476ba1d9d889174cab50&hash=5A803C56C6026AB326F9B2121E7DA485" alt="" width="2880" height="1112" /> <p class="font-larger"> Living Donor Liver Transplant </p> <p> In living donor liver transplantation, a piece of liver is removed from a living donor and transplanted into a recipient. Find more treatment information here. </p> <span class="field-read-more-link"> <span class="include-ucsf-arrow"></span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component clinic-cards cards-component col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content twoOrLess"> <div> <h2 class="heading1 title-anchor"> Related clinics </h2> <div class="view-all"> </div> </div> <div class="cards"> <div class="card"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="card-content"> <a href="/clinics/liver-transplant-program" target="_self" class="phantom-link" title="Liver Transplant Program"></a> <img loading="lazy" src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/clinic/street/400-parnassus-avenue-2x.jpg?h=376&w=974&rev=96b1b4e7a30e4ac3b2a91cb4321513de&hash=2D6C2DC82E28F9A67477991A33B70B32" alt="" width="2880" height="1112"/> <div class="field-icon"> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/400 Parnassus Ave.+San Francisco+CA+94143" target="_blank"> <span class="icon-ui-location"></span> </a> </div> <p class="font-larger"> Liver Transplant Program </p> <p> 400 Parnassus Ave., Seventh Floor, Room A701 <br> San Francisco, CA 94143 </p> <div class="field-read-more-link"> <div class="font-smaller"> <span class="icon-ui-phone"></span>(415) 353-1888 </div> <div class="font-smaller"> <span class="icon-decorative-hours"></span>M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </main>   <footer> <div id="footer" class="container"> <div class="component footer-values col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div> <div class="component ucsf-values col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="container"><div class="title eyebrow field-eyebrow-text">Did you know?</div><h2 class="heading1 field-quote-text">UCSF designed its new state-of-the-art Precision Cancer Medicine Building to support patients through every step of their cancer journey. The building houses a centralized check-in, dedicated acute care clinic, support center and comfortable spaces for pop-up services, such as nutrition classes and art therapy.</h2><a href="/lp/precision-cancer-medicine-building" data-variantitemid="{640FF0A5-C439-497C-884F-329A8DC6EF22}" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="|Custom">Learn more</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component footer-content col-xs-12"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="container"><div class="top-row"> <div class="component image file-type-icon-media-link logo"> <div class="component-content"> <img src="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/images/logos/logowhite.png?h=26&iar=0&w=141&rev=7a07669440bb454d9c7c3ef29f025f8b&hash=F3B696610C78F98E03B340A55F44AC06" alt="UCSF Health" width="141" height="26" data-variantitemid="{43F4CA98-D35D-4B36-8558-CADA034604A7}" data-variantfieldname="Image" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> <div class="top-social-row"> <div class="component link-list social-footer"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Follow UCSF Health:</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UCSFMedicalCenter/" target="_blank" title="Facebook"><span class="icon-social-facebook"></span></a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="https://x.com/ucsfhospitals" target="_blank" title="X"><span class="icon-social-twitter"></span></a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UCSFMedicalCenter" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/user/UCSFMedicalCenter"><span class="icon-social-youtube"></span></a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ucsfhealth/" target="_blank" title="Instagram"><span class="icon-social-instagram"></span></a> </li> <li class="item4 odd last"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ucsfhealth" target="_blank" title="Linkedin"><span class="icon-social-linkedin"></span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="component row-splitter"> <div class=" footer-nav container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="component link-list col-md-6 col-lg"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Getting Care</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="/find-a-doctor" data-variantitemid="{1AC773C8-F17A-4A0B-9496-DE34B3FDA596}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Find a Doctor</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="/clinics/emergency-department" data-variantitemid="{9AF6DB09-5E16-4E8F-AE94-621AFDFC7840}" title="Emergency Care" data-variantfieldname="Link">Emergency Care</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="/list-of-clinics/primary-care" data-variantitemid="{B7B3FA6B-B1BD-4342-8EAF-4B60DB4294CD}" title="Primary Care" data-variantfieldname="Link">Primary Care</a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="/clinics" data-variantitemid="{5A958CEB-5CC1-4ACA-9A21-8AD13E8349DD}" data-variantfieldname="Link">All Medical Services</a> </li> <li class="item4 odd"> <a href="/services/international-services" data-variantitemid="{BF8BF095-A11D-46C5-95FF-AC0B07430B42}" data-variantfieldname="Link">International Services</a> </li> <li class="item5 even"> <a href="/about/pricing-transparency" data-variantitemid="{3FD4811E-789A-4F66-8CBD-63505BDFC762}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Price Transparency</a> </li> <li class="item6 odd last"> <a href="/billing-and-insurance/help-paying-your-bill" data-variantitemid="{508725AA-61CE-4A59-92B6-7E494C6C8EB2}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Help Paying Your Bill</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="component link-list col-md-6 col-lg"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Getting Involved</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{29C54385-66F4-48A6-A7D3-905A0308F392}" title="Donate" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">Donate</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="https://ucsfhealth.samaritan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{C534900F-91C6-4E07-85A7-2772BA5A67CB}" title="Volunteer" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">Volunteer</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd last"> <a href="/about/career-information" data-variantitemid="{509A4FEF-0D26-4AF6-9B81-9D3B10415AF4}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Join Our Team</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="component link-list col-md-6 col-lg"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">About Us</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="/locations" data-variantitemid="{F506296B-B7C2-4932-AA79-8ADBD7A5171F}" title="Locations & Directions" data-variantfieldname="Link">Locations & Directions</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="/contact-us" data-variantitemid="{D776CD8C-2EF9-4B7F-AED1-394868315243}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="/services/patient-relations" data-variantitemid="{9466A4FF-EEAE-47C6-8C3E-4486C4DEB05B}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Contact Patient Relations</a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists " rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{E2BC6CAA-8F60-46D7-9AFC-BD58E1D88C66}" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">Media Resources</a> </li> <li class="item4 odd"> <a href="/services/accessibility-resources" data-variantitemid="{77A35480-B0AA-4719-807B-9342DB1F5184}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Accessibility Resources</a> </li> <li class="item5 even"> <a href="/about/sexual-harassment-reporting-and-nondiscrimination-notice" data-variantitemid="{F15D3356-2084-49E7-BBB2-C93F06E7ABC1}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Report Misconduct</a> </li> <li class="item6 odd"> <a href="/website-privacy-policy" data-variantitemid="{2BBA9C94-27D8-4C7D-BCFC-BFCF044153B4}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Website Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li class="item7 even"> <a href="/about/quality-of-patient-care" data-variantitemid="{4FB09E1E-BF44-4F5C-8A02-D4FB43FB5626}" title="Quality of Patient Care" data-variantfieldname="Link">Quality of Patient Care</a> </li> <li class="item8 odd"> <a href="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/pdf/crisis-standards-of-care.pdf?rev=0d122f1cc1f5437aada5361d5f3ca7dc&hash=6759377BF7908544EA7B188ADDC68A08" data-variantitemid="{90D74519-0779-4B00-BA3F-4AFB696BB4FC}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Crisis Standards of Care</a> </li> <li class="item9 even"> <a href="/about" data-variantitemid="{F3E86A44-0143-4054-87F5-BE4D58DD4999}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Our Organization</a> </li> <li class="item10 odd"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{5BC38D88-AC25-4465-9A7E-4333EC72E4AC}" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">UCSF News</a> </li> <li class="item11 even last"> <a href="/-/media/project/ucsf/ucsf-health/pdf/ucsfhipaa-072021.pdf?rev=1ba3b481dc4a41fa9dbabb24299f34bb&hash=0E63FF00C4BDCB9C50A33177E30FC62F" data-variantitemid="{CCEAAE80-5B3C-4FCF-95AF-C9874F0DB3D8}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Notice of Privacy Practices</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="component link-list col-md-6 col-lg"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Research and Education</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{6CBDBDFF-26BD-45A3-8F4B-6C7183A10749}" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">Clinical Trials</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{341E340D-5DEF-45BA-8E48-A5EE829E219B}" title="UC San Francisco" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">UC San Francisco</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{00E9070A-B2F5-44EF-B191-C7FBB0AD38B2}" title="UCSF School of Medicine" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">UCSF School of Medicine</a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{8DD32DF1-839D-4E91-9D76-4D67402FDBCB}" title="UCSF School of Nursing" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">UCSF School of Nursing</a> </li> <li class="item4 odd last"> <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{81ED1BDE-45E1-4CD5-AB43-EC570F877DB9}" title="UCSF School of Pharmacy" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">UCSF School of Pharmacy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="component link-list col-md-6 col-lg"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Referring Physicians</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="/refer-a-patient" data-variantitemid="{2215C675-3589-49C1-8DB2-D9357C299CD1}" title="Refer a Patient" data-variantfieldname="Link">Refer a Patient</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="/for-health-professionals/transfer-a-patient" data-variantitemid="{2CF89CF3-857D-4293-A6C3-AEACDFEE9F9F}" title="Transfer a Patient" data-variantfieldname="Link">Transfer a Patient</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="/mdlink" data-variantitemid="{F216922D-7B96-45DF-A6F2-29AB25B350F2}" data-variantfieldname="Link">MDLink</a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="/for-health-professionals/request-a-consultation" data-variantitemid="{9235B0AA-89B0-4E51-9C51-50388F4A46A5}" title="Request a Consultation" data-variantfieldname="Link">Request a Consultation</a> </li> <li class="item4 odd last"> <a href="https://medconnection.ucsfhealth.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-variantitemid="{1EE9F372-4A58-4089-A473-B4D3A89B1820}" data-variantfieldname="Link" target="_blank">Physician Channel</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=" bottom-social-row container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="component link-list social-footer"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow">Follow UCSF Health:</div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UCSFMedicalCenter/" target="_blank" title="Facebook"><span class="icon-social-facebook"></span></a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="https://x.com/ucsfhospitals" target="_blank" title="X"><span class="icon-social-twitter"></span></a> </li> <li class="item2 odd"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UCSFMedicalCenter" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/user/UCSFMedicalCenter"><span class="icon-social-youtube"></span></a> </li> <li class="item3 even"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ucsfhealth/" target="_blank" title="Instagram"><span class="icon-social-instagram"></span></a> </li> <li class="item4 odd last"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ucsfhealth" target="_blank" title="Linkedin"><span class="icon-social-linkedin"></span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component rich-text copyright"> <div class="component-content"> <span>© 2002 - </span><span>2025</span><span>. </span>The Regents of The University of California. </div> </div> <div class="component link-list footer-secondary-nav"> <div class="component-content"> <div class="eyebrow"></div> <ul> <li class="item0 odd first"> <a href="/website-privacy-policy" data-variantitemid="{EE28BB0F-74F0-4D51-8EBE-B6C670E33A04}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li class="item1 even"> <a href="/about/terms-of-use" data-variantitemid="{42863EE4-B140-4240-A7E0-A26699F458DC}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Terms and Conditions</a> </li> <li class="item2 odd last"> <a data-variantitemid="{7AC8FA1E-4CD5-4BAE-A3B4-F9722170203D}" data-variantfieldname="Link">Some stock photos, posed by model.</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer>  </div> <script src=/assets/ucsf/main.js?v=fc3da29fef15f42892385817411ce1b2></script> <div class="share-menu"> <span class="icon-ui-close"></span> <h4>Share</h4> <ul> <li class="email-link"> <a href="#"><span class="icon-ui-mail"></span> Email Link</a> </li> <li class="copy-link"> <span class="icon-ui-share"></span> Copy Link <span class="svg-ui-checkmark"></span> </li> <li class="facebook-share"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook" onclick="window.open('https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=' + encodeURIComponent(document.URL) + '&quote=' + encodeURIComponent(document.URL)); return false;"><span class="icon-social-facebook"></span> Share on Facebook</a> </li> <li class="linkedin-share"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=" target="_blank" title="Share on LinkedIn"><span class="icon-social-linkedin"></span> Share on LinkedIn</a> </li> <li class="twitter-share"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=" target="_blank" title="Share on X"><span class="icon-social-twitter"></span> Share on X</a> </li> </ul> </div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Amy Baghdadi | Patient Stories | UCSF Health