‘I feel reborn’

Denice van der Pluijm (35) can take care of her son again after a liver transplant. “Everything is different since that day.”

On the waiting list for a liver transplant

Denice was born with a rare condition called biliary atresia, a disorder where the bile ducts are not properly formed. Because of this condition, waste products accumulate in the liver, resulting in symptoms like jaundice and itching. “Until I was thirty, I was very lucky. Apart from itching, I didn't have many problems. I did have a difficult pregnancy; my son was born at 28 weeks.” In the autumn of 2016, she felt much worse after a vacation where she contracted a bacterium. “I was extremely tired and felt my health deteriorating. A few months later, my doctor put me on the waiting list for a liver transplant. It’s a good thing I didn't know then that it would take another 3.5 years.”

Hard years

They were hard years: the itching was unbearable. 'They say pain is bad, but itching also drives you crazy. And I had no energy to work, to take care of my son, or to do the housework. Most of the day I lay in bed or on the couch. I often couldn't even take my son to school, I was so tired. I received help from home care because on some days I couldn't even dress myself.'

Liver transplant during lockdown

The transplant took place during the lockdown. 'Before I received the organ, I had to take a corona test. That was really nerve-wracking. If the test were positive, the transplant wouldn't go ahead. But luckily, it went well. Because of the transplant, I can pick up my life as a young mother again. I feel reborn. I have more energy now than my husband.'

Celebrating a transplant anniversary

For her first transplant anniversary, she had the bakery make a birthday cake with a cartoon of a happily smiling liver on it and one candle. 'I actually wanted to throw a party for family and friends, but that wasn't possible due to corona. In the end, I mainly celebrated it with my family and parents. That I wanted to celebrate my transplant anniversary was certain. Everything is different since that day. I still get goosebumps when I talk about it.'