General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I can't believe this: To get on Heart Transplant list, one needs to be nicotine free 6 months. [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,072 posts)A friend died about 2 months ago - he was listed at two different sites and was at the top of the list on both. But by the third (or perhaps 4th) time he was called (the first 2 or three were not viable), his body was too weak to recover. He takes excellent care of his body, and was a resource for many others with the disease - and leaves behind a wife and three small children. He was still well enough that they though it was worth risking the liver - but he ultimately didn't make it.
A second friend died about a month ago. Again, impeccable care for her body and a resource for others with the disease - and she died waiting to get well enough (after a horrendous medical mistake) to go back on the list (after at least 2 false starts - again with non-viable organs). She was taken off the transplant list because medical malpractice made her too weak to be expected to recover.
It really isn't a matter of blame - it is a matter of the hard reality of very scarce resources and making the best predictions about who will be most able to fully utilize the precious gift. And, the reality is - because smoking makes your body less able to recover in the short run - and because a short time off of cigarettes (when your life is immediately at risk to motivate you) is not a good indicator that you will be able to stay off the cigarettes (no matter how good or strong your intentions). And it is not a forever ban - just as alcohol is not a forever ban for liver recipients. Six months is a reasonable time to prove you may be able to remain abstinent (and to let your body recover).
Unfortunately, if you wake up too late to the need to abstain, that may mean you die before you are eligible to be listed.