Grandad of six from Batley and his life-saving operation during virus lockdown

A grandad of six from Batley said he is ‘truly grateful’ for his second chance at life.

Andy Jones, 54, recently had a liver transplant after a stressful year and a half, which saw him suddenly in and out of GP practices and hospitals.

In relation to his liver failure, Mr Jones developed Hepatic Encephalopathy, affecting his mental state which is when he was told he had less than a year to live.

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He said: “It was a worrying time with only what I thought was eight months to live.”

Mr Jones’ operation was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown in March. The Liver Transplant Centre is is based at St James’s University Hospital, in LeedsMr Jones’ operation was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown in March. The Liver Transplant Centre is is based at St James’s University Hospital, in Leeds
Mr Jones’ operation was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown in March. The Liver Transplant Centre is is based at St James’s University Hospital, in Leeds

It started for Mr Jones in March 2019 when his family noticed the whites of his eyes were discoloured and his skin was becoming sallow.

For the following year and half, Mr Jones attended multiple blood tests in Dewsbury Hospital’s Emergency Department and Pinderfields.

Investigations uncovered his liver was failing, but in hospital he developed pneumonia, slowing down his recovery and eventual discharge.

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On Christmas Day, Mr Jones’ health seriously declined, which is when he was diagnosed with Hepatic Encephalopathy, a mental illness caused by a build-up of toxins in a person’s blood which affects the brain’s function leading to confusion and personality changes.

Andy Jones from BatleyAndy Jones from Batley
Andy Jones from Batley

Under the Hepatology team he was given 12 months to live with his current, failing liver, which is when he was put forward for a suitability assessment at the Liver Transplant Centre, at St James's University, in Leeds, with a review scheduled for April.

However, due to the coronavirus lockdown a liver graft from any donor did not happen until mid May, which was unfortunately rejected.

Two days later a second liver became available and the successful operation went ahead that evening in June 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown.

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Mr Jones said: “I’m feeling the best I have felt for the last 18 months. I’m truly appreciative for this second chance. I am truly grateful to my donor, who I’m told was a 55-year-old male.

“I thank the Organ Donation and Transplant Team staff who enable these transplants to happen.

They are the lynch pin between the donors and the recipients and without their great work these transplants wouldn’t be able to take place.”

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