TELL observes World Liver Day

Coreen Walstra of Transplant Education for Living Legacies (TELL) who was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis in 1990 just after she turned a year old has raised awareness of liver diseases.

This fell in line with TELL observing World Liver Day on April 19.

She said autoimmune hepatitis is a liver disease where your immune system rejects your own liver. After Walstra’s diagnosis in 1990, her doctors did not expect her to live to the age of five.

“I recently turned 31 and I still live a predominantly healthy life and I take medication daily to help reduce the inflammation in my liver. Over the years, from the inflammation and damage caused by autoimmune hepatitis, it has resulted in severe liver cirrhosis and chronic liver failure,” she said.

She is currently awaiting a liver transplant after being listed on the liver transplant list in September 2019.

“The liver is the second-largest organ in the human body and vital in keeping the body functioning properly. Cirrhosis of the liver, the severe scarring of the liver tissue, is South Africa’s leading liver issue and is caused by several liver-related diseases,” said Walstra.

She reiterated that the liver is the only organ in the human body that can be transplanted with a portion of a living donor’s liver as their liver cells will regenerate in six weeks to their full size.

Walstra also encouraged organ and tissue donation to society.

Liver diseases resulting in Cirrhosis include:

• Alcoholic liver disease

• Chronic hepatitis B, C and D

• Autoimmune hepatitis

• Inherited diseases

• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

• Blocked bile ducts

• Drugs, toxins and infections

Ways to keep your liver healthy:

• Eat a balanced diet

• Exercise regularly

• Avoid toxins

• Drink alcohol responsibly

• Avoid using illicit drugs

• Practise safe sexual relations

• Wash your hands.