Oklahoma Man ‘Trusts the Process’ for a Second Chance at Life
LifeShare Encourages Oklahomans to Register as Donors
Roman Holden, of Edmond, has had a clear goal the past few years: feel good and live life to the fullest. He was born with a rare liver disease, and at almost three years old, he received a liver transplant through a living donor. As Roman grew, he was frequently in and out of the hospital. There were months where he wasn’t sick and could attend school, play basketball and be with friends – but he never truly felt well. Five years after his transplant, Roman began going through chronic rejection. He was on several medications which slowed down the damage to his donated liver, but at 18 years old, he learned he would need another transplant to survive. Upon learning this news, Roman clung to his faith and he adopted the motto, “Trust the Process”, adapted from a verse from 2 Timothy in the Bible, which brought him comfort. His community rallied around him, and Roman printed shirts with the words “Trust the Process” on the front for family and friends signifying the journey. |
Through the last two years, his health deteriorated quickly and he was relisted for a transplant. This new transplant process was much different than his prior health journey. For the first time, he was in an adult hospital instead of a children’s hospital – and during a pandemic, it slowed the process down. The evaluation for his transplant took two and a half months, and when he was officially cleared to be listed, he was very sick.
For four months, he waited without a single call from the transplant center. Finally, he received a long-awaited call which he hoped would save his life. He and his family headed to the hospital, only to learn 15 hours later the new liver was not viable for transplant. He had a total of six more offers, which were also called off at the last minute. Roman was becoming sicker and sicker by the day.
On March 3, 2021, he was admitted to the hospital for breathing issues. That evening, he received a call from the transplant center that they had the liver that would save his life. He received his transplant and is very thankful for this new chance at life by way of his donor hero. Today, Roman is living life to the fullest. He feels better than ever and is enjoying going to baseball games with friends.
More than 107,000 individuals are waiting on an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 30,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting on a lifesaving gift.
LifeShare encourages all Oklahomans to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor and share the decision with your family. You can give the gift of life by registering on your Oklahoma License or Real ID or at LifeShareRegistry.org.
For four months, he waited without a single call from the transplant center. Finally, he received a long-awaited call which he hoped would save his life. He and his family headed to the hospital, only to learn 15 hours later the new liver was not viable for transplant. He had a total of six more offers, which were also called off at the last minute. Roman was becoming sicker and sicker by the day.
On March 3, 2021, he was admitted to the hospital for breathing issues. That evening, he received a call from the transplant center that they had the liver that would save his life. He received his transplant and is very thankful for this new chance at life by way of his donor hero. Today, Roman is living life to the fullest. He feels better than ever and is enjoying going to baseball games with friends.
More than 107,000 individuals are waiting on an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 30,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting on a lifesaving gift.
LifeShare encourages all Oklahomans to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor and share the decision with your family. You can give the gift of life by registering on your Oklahoma License or Real ID or at LifeShareRegistry.org.