North Shore Towers in need of liver transplant donor
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.20 COM | NOV. 13-NOV. 19, 2020
man, the donor’s remaining
liver will re-grow and
return to its normal size
and capacity shortly after
the surgery and the transplanted
version will grow
and restore normal function
in the recipient.
“A living donor is better
because there’s no
trauma,” Schwartzman
said. “Some people go to
other states, and if I want
to try to get a deceased
donor, I’d have to think
about probably going to
Arizona.”
Schwartzman’s diagnosis
took a deep turn for
the worst in the last year
or so, he said. His symptoms
include unbearable
itching unable to sleep at
night, fatigue and bloating
of the belly.
“I’m up every hour or
two every night scratching
my arms and legs.
When the bile backs up in
my system, the bile salts
cause itching and it’s in
the skin,” Schwartzman
said. “I’ve lost a lot of
weight and muscle mass.”
Schwartzman’s schedule
includes seeing a list
of doctors. He goes to NYU
Langone Hospital twice a
week for plasma infusions
to drain the bile and filter
his blood, which helps
to relieve the itching. He
also goes twice a week to
a dermatologist for UV
light treatment followed
by a regular checkup with
other doctors.
When Schwartzman
found out he was diagnosed
with the disease,
he was terrified of the
thought of having to do a
liver transplant.
“My doctor had said,
‘When it’s time for a transplant,
you’re going to tell
me you want it before I tell
you,’” Schwartzman said.
“I told my doctor I can’t
wait to get this done. They
told me if I find a living donor,
it should be successful
and I can live a normal
life.”
For Schwartzman, a
liver transplant will help
save his life and the ability
to continue caring for
his 27-year-old son, Robby,
who has autism.
“My wife passed away
10 years ago and it was
pretty traumatic for my
children, and my son
is upset now seeing me
sick,” Schwartzman said.
“I believe I have a lot
more things to do in this
world.”
Between his doctor’s
appointments, Schwartzman
keeps busy by doing
consulting work from
home and is the treasurer
of North Shore Towers.
Schwartzman is in
relatively good health, but
he’s desperate to find a living
donor (male or female)
with Type O Blood.
A thorough exam
and meeting will be conducted,
and anyone who
wants to get tested will
be covered by Schwartzman’s
medical insurance
— including surgery and
a follow up. There will be
no out-of-pocket cost for
the entire process.
If you or someone you
know is willing to help or
would like additional information
about being a
living donor, email Marty
Schwartzman at Liver4-
marty@gmail.com. For
more information on
liver transplants and living
donors, click here.
For video visits for living
donor evaluations, call
212-263-3621 to schedule
an appointment, or email
nyutrlivingdonor@nyulangone.
org.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
North Shore Towers
resident Martin Schwartzman
is fighting an internal
battle against an
autoimmune disease that
has prompted him to seek
a partial liver transplant
from a living donor.
Schwartzman, 63, was
diagnosed in 2016 with
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
(PSC), which is a
disease of the bile ducts
that carries digestive liquid
bile from the liver to
the small intestines.
According to WebMD,
in PSC, inflammation
causes scars within the
bile ducts. The scars make
the ducts hard and narrow
and gradually cause
serious liver damage.
In most people, the
disease progresses slowly.
It can eventually lead to
liver failure, repeated
infections, and tumors
of the bile ducts or liver.
According to WebMD, a
liver transplant is the only
known cure for advanced
PSC.
Schwartzman has been
searching for a living donor
with Type O Blood
since June, he said. His
condition has progressed
to the point where his
liver is permanently damaged
and his only hope for
long-term survival is a living
donor.
“I’ve had a few people
and most have been women,
but with women the
liver isn’t big enough or in
some cases, their liver is
too vascular,” Schwartzman
said.
A living-donor transplant
is a surgical procedure
in which a portion
of the liver from a healthy
person is placed into
someone whose liver is no
longer working properly.
According to Schwartz-
Martin Schwartzman Martin Schwartzman.
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