Bristol Woman Provides Much-Needed Liver Donation to Husband

The idea of attending his 8-year-old daughter’s school events and dance competitions has been nothing but a dream for Matt Ragaini, who has been ill for years and in need of a liver donation. On Tuesday, he will get the much much-needed surgery thanks to his wife, who is donating part of her liver to him.

Doctors at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Transplantation Center will be doing the surgery that’s meant to save Matt’s life.

Matt didn’t qualify for a deceased liver donor due to his low ranking on what's called the “MELD” score, which stands for Model for End Stage Liver Disease.

Matt has a rare disease of his bile ducts, called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, or “PSC.” Since Matt is sicker than his score reflects, he and his wife started their desperate search for a living liver donor in 2014.

When Jen was tested, they discovered she was a match. To get approval to become her husband’s liver donor, Jen has undergone extensive physical and psychological testing.

While doctors can be hesitant to allow one spouse to donate to another because of the risks the surgery poses, time was running out for Matt. He relies on a feeding tube for nutrition and calories while he sleeps at night. He’s also been in and out of the hospital and must regularly have fluid drained from his abdomen.

The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Jen’s scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., where doctors will take out 62 percent of her liver – the right lobe. Matt will go into an operating room next door two hours later.

“I’m saving my husband’s life” she said. “My emotions are everywhere right now, but he’ll be better after this. I keep saying, by summer he’s going to be like a new man.”

She will be in the hospital for up to a week and won’t be able to work for eight weeks.

The couple’s support system of friends and family will help them through this next step. Matt’s only brother, Nick, will not leave his side.

“When he comes out of surgery, I’ll be the one in the room hanging out with him and I’m sleeping in the room with him that night,” Nick said.

The couple’s 8-year-old daughter, Angela, will stay with relatives.

Angela said she is “happy and excited” that her father is finally getting help after years of poor health.

“I love them really much and I’m happy that they’re doing this,” she said.

Angela looks forward to having her Dad back to his old self.

“I can do more things with him that’s fun” Angela said.

The family set up a Facebook page called “Support for Ragz” to raise awareness.

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