The Three Minute Interview: Vicki Lambert
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
March 3, 2009
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| Vicki Lambert |
In 2003, Alexandria resident Vicki Lambert was watching her mother, Pearl, approach death as her liver failed due to a rare disease. After learning there were thousands ahead of her mother on the donors list, Lambert turned to an alternative solution. At the age of 32, Lambert donated 60 percent of her liver to her mother at Georgetown University Hospital. She is now the proud mother of a baby girl and is closer to her mother than ever before.
Was donating such a large portion of your liver a difficult decision?
No, it wasn’t difficult. My mother deserved a second chance at life. There were over 15,000 people waiting for liver donations, and I saw Mother getting ill. I prayed to God, made the phone call and started the process. It wasn’t something I ... hesitated over. I just made my decision and moved forward.
Was the recovery difficult?
The liver regenerates in about three weeks in both the donor and the recipient. Like any other major surgery, it took six to eight weeks to recover and get my strength back. My mother actually recovered faster than I did because she had gone through surgeries in the past.
Were you scared?
I was very anxious, but I had strong support from friends and family and the doctors.
Most liver donors never see their recipient. What has it been like to have that opportunity?
My mom was very ill before the surgery. She was dying right in front of my eyes. Now she’s back to being my mom and an aunt to her many nieces and nephews. Her sense of humor is back, and she has a lot of energy. It’s wonderful.
Has it brought the two of you closer?
We’re much closer. We spend a lot of time together, and I help her maintain her health. Watching my mom recover and take care of herself has made me more confident in my own health.
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