For many couples, divorce means the end of any kind of relationship between the spouses. But many people in Utah know that divorce is not always such a clean break. Some former couples remain friends after breaking up. And of course, when children are involved the exes must work together if they want to be successful co-parents.
But no matter how cordial or affectionate you might remain with your ex, few might expect you to donate an organ to the person you no longer want to be married to. However, in a recent case a woman made a major medical sacrifice — as well as a marital one — to save her ex-husband’s life.
The woman, who lives in another country, was married to her husband for 10 years before they divorced in July. Then in September, her ex-husband went to the doctor and was diagnosed with severe liver problems. Specifically, he had advanced cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The ex-husband needed a transplant but was 10th on the donor list, meaning that he may not have survived long enough to receive a new liver. But then his ex-wife offered to donate part of her liver.
Under the laws of their country, living organ donations may only take place between blood relatives or married couples. To get around this requirement, the exes remarried in August, just a few weeks after completing their divorce. Finally, on Oct. 31, surgeons successfully transplanted part of the woman’s liver into her now-husband’s body. Both spouses were recovering from the operation as of Nov. 5.
It will be interesting to see if the couple will get another divorce or if this experience has brought them closer together.
Source: Huffington Post, “Divorce Stories: Chinese Woman Remarries Her Ex In Order To Make Life-Saving Organ Donation,” Nov. 5, 2012
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed