https://www.pembinavalleyonline.com/articles/19-year-old-prepares-to-donate-part-of-his-liver-to-his-grandfather

19-year-old prepares to donate part of his liver to his grandfather

Jayme Giesbrecht, PembinaValleyOnline.com

For years, Saturday mornings meant a bike ride to his grandpa's house, a cup of coffee and hours of conversation.
Now, at 19, Dawson Penner is preparing to give his grandfather something far greater: part of his liver, and a chance at a healthier future.
Dawson is set to become a living liver donor for his 69-year-old grandfather, Ray Wieler, who has been dealing with serious health problems after being diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver in 2023.
For Dawson, the decision to step forward wasn't about being a hero.
It was about his grandfather.
"Everything outweighs the risks." Dawson said. 
A relationship built over coffee and conversation
Dawson and Ray have shared a close relationship for years.
Dawson says he regularly visits his grandpa for coffee and conversation. When he was about 12, he would bike to Ray's house on Saturdays to spend time with him.
Kerri Penner, Dawson's mother and Ray & Dorothy Wieler's daughter, says those visits have continued as Dawson has grown older.
"When I say he goes there for coffee, he goes there for coffee, like, hours on end multiple times a week," she said.
"They sit together and talk, and I think it's just a really cool relationship that not a lot of grandparents have with their grandkids."
That relationship is now at the heart of a major medical journey for the family.
A race against time
Ray was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis in 2023. Kerri says her Dad's liver problems have affected many aspects of his health.
"If your liver is not functioning, your body is not absorbing nutrients," she said. "Your liver is just connected to everything."
The family eventually began looking at a living-donor transplant as an option.
Kerri says her dad's age was also a factor in the urgency surrounding the decision.
"In Canada, once you're 70, you're not really considered a great candidate for a liver transplant," she said.
With Ray at 69, the family was facing a limited window.
Dawson was ultimately determined to be a suitable donor.
The 19-year-old says he initially didn't know much about what the surgery would involve, including the fact that the liver can regenerate.
After going through extensive testing, he says the reality of the surgery has become less intimidating.
He expects recovery to be difficult but says he's hopeful he can be walking within a week.
Two major surgeries, one long day
The surgeries are scheduled for Oct. 26th in Toronto.
Dawson's operation is expected to begin at 6 a.m. and last six to eight hours. The surgical team will first open him up and assess whether they can proceed.
If everything looks right, they will continue with the procedure before taking Ray into a separate operating room for his transplant.
Kerri says the family could be facing a 10- to 16-hour hospital day.
The risks are greater for Ray, including the possibility that his body could reject the donated liver. Kerri says he will also require anti-rejection medication essentially for the rest of his life.
Despite those risks, Dawson says his concern is primarily for his grandfather.
"Hopefully for him it'll be better than I expect," he said. "But yeah."
His mother admits the situation is frightening.
"I mean, my dad and my son in one day are both in a major surgery," Kerri said. "So it is definitely nerve-wracking."
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