A Gift of Half a Liver: The Living Donor Journey, Step by Step
Follow one family from the first question at the kitchen table to the day father and daughter walk out of hospital – and learn what each step really involves.
Meera and Suresh are an illustrative family, drawn from common experiences. Every patient's path is different.
“Can I give him part of mine?”
Suresh is 58, a retired bank manager from Thane. For three years his fatty liver quietly turned into cirrhosis. Now there is fluid in his abdomen, his skin has a yellow tint, and his hepatologist has used the word transplant for the first time.
The waiting list for a deceased-donor liver can be long. That evening his daughter Meera, 29, asks the question that starts almost every living-donor story: “Can I give him part of mine?”
Two patients, one team
Meera expected a blood test. Instead she found herself with a full schedule: blood work, a CT scan that measures the exact volume of each part of her liver, an MRI of her bile ducts, a heart check, and a long conversation with a psychologist and an independent donor advocate.
“At first I felt they were looking for reasons to say no,” she says. “Later I understood – they were making sure I would be fine too.”
We plan for two patients from the very first day – the one who needs a liver, and the one brave enough to give it.— The transplant team's first principle
The longest day
On the morning of surgery, Meera goes into theatre first. Once the team confirms her liver is exactly as the scans predicted, Suresh is taken into the next theatre.
Their mother waits outside with a flask of tea she never drinks. Late that evening a surgeon comes out to say two words she will remember for the rest of her life: “Both stable.”
Walking the corridor, together
Day two: Meera is sitting up and complaining about hospital food – a good sign. Day four: she walks to the window of her father's ICU room. By the end of the first week she is walking the corridor, and soon after, so is he.
Suresh's jaundice fades week by week. Meera goes home first. Her father follows, with a folder of medicines and a calendar full of blood tests.
The living donor pathway at a glance
Timings vary with each patient and hospital. This is the usual order of steps.
First consultation
Review of the recipient's diagnosis, severity of liver disease and whether a transplant is the right option.
Recipient & donor evaluation
Blood tests, imaging, CT volumetry, heart and lung checks, and psychological assessment for the donor.
Approvals
Documentation and hospital or state Authorisation Committee approval as required by law.
Donor and recipient operations
Two coordinated surgeries, followed by intensive care monitoring.
Hospital recovery
Early walking, diet, drain and wound care, starting anti-rejection medicines.
Close follow-up
Frequent visits and blood tests; the donor liver regenerates.
Key takeaways
- A healthy adult can donate part of their liver because the liver regenerates.
- Evaluation is detailed on purpose – donor safety is the priority.
- Donation must be voluntary, unpaid and legally approved.
- Donor and recipient are both looked after, before and after surgery.
- Ask your team about risks, recovery time and support for the donor.
Quick answers
Does the donor's liver really grow back?
Yes. The part of the liver left behind grows back towards its original size, usually over the following weeks and months, and the transplanted part grows in the recipient too.
Can a friend donate, or only family?
Near relatives can donate after verification. Other donors may be considered, but need approval from an Authorisation Committee to make sure the donation is voluntary and free of any payment.
What if my blood group doesn't match?
Some pairs with different blood groups can still proceed with an ABO-incompatible transplant using special preparation. Your team will advise whether this is suitable.
How long before the donor can go back to work?
Many donors return to desk work in about 6–8 weeks; physically demanding work takes longer. Your team will guide you based on your recovery.