2019 Colleen Reed

Name:                                     Colleen Reed

Type of Donation:             Organ recipient

Age and Location:             Age 49 – Denver, CO

Transplant Date:                 8/25/2016

Sponsor:                               Honored by Donor Alliance

COLLEEN’S STORY

On New Year’s Day 2016, the Kaiser doctor said that her liver was full of tumors.  Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) a rare, and in her case aggressive, sarcoma took hold of her liver and her life. Colleen learned that HEHE does not respond to the traditional cancer treatment options of chemotherapy and radiation. The singular evidence-based treatment option is a liver transplant.

“We will LIVE while we live” are the words Colleen and her spouse Jennifer said to one another each day of this journey; buoyed by love and support from family and friends. She then joined the nearly 115,000 individuals waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. Colleen received amazing comprehensive care from the Transplant Program at UC Health. With living liver donation being possible, nine heroic friends volunteered to save her life.

On August 25, 2016, with roughly 70% of her liver comprised solely of tumors, Colleen received a lifesaving liver transplant. This amazing gift of life was shared generously by her organ donor. In the midst of tragedy and loss, the donor’s family supported the donation process and saved Colleen’s life and the lives of others. Each day, Colleen thinks of her donor and donor’s family; hoping to live in ways that bring honor to her donor’s life.

She is forever grateful for the gift of life from her donor and donor’s family; for the love of her wonderful spouse, family, and friends; for the excellent care from UCH and Kaiser Permanente; and for the lifesaving work of Donor Alliance and Organ Procurement Organizations across the country.

Colleen’s motto: I am a liver recipient and a “LIVEer” of life because my hero said yes!