August 2025 Newsletter
13 Aug 2025 |
Hepatic Headlines
Texas Liver Foundation
Monthly Newsletter
August 2025
What’s New At TLF?
Living Liver Support Group Added:
Peer support is so beneficial – we know that. It’s why we’re still working on growing our support groups. In August, we added a new virtual support group to our list for living liver donors. This group is for people who have donated in the past, who are currently waiting to be matched (or scheduled), and for those interested in learning more about the good, bad, and the ugly regarding living liver donation. Our first group was fantastic and we can’t wait to welcome more people in the future. For information on all of our support groups, as well as registration links, click here.
SAVE THE DATE: Clear Lake Liver Walk:
It’s not quite Spooky Season yet, but we are ready to have a FRIGHTFULLY good time at the 1st Clear Lake Liver Walkon Oct 25, 2025. More info coming soon! For sponsorship or support information, reach out to us here!
Story Of The Month
We’re so happy to introduce The Liver Lounge, Your VIP Pass to Help Change Lives!
There’s a new spot in town, and the guest list is exclusive. The Liver Lounge is our brand-new recurring donor club, where the drinks are liver-friendly but the impact is intoxicating.
When you join The Liver Lounge, you’re not just donating, you’re building a sustainable foundation that will help us continue working towards our goal of changing the narrative of liver disease in Texas. You’ll help fund patient care packages, vital education on liver health and liver disease, and community outreach that changes lives. And because every VIP deserves perks, members get limited-edition TLF merch designed just for Liver Lounge members.
Large or small, every gift counts. Choose an amount that’s comfortable for you and help create a lasting legacy of hope and health for Texans affected by liver disease.
The velvet rope is open. Step inside The Liver Lounge and make your mark on liver health today.
SWAP of the Month
Many people believe that alcohol consumption is the most harmful thing for your liver. It’s no secret that alcoholic beverages are absolute villains when it comes to liver health, but they aren’t always considered Public Enemy #1. There is general consensus among liver specialists that one of the main contributors to liver damage in recent years is added sugar, particularly in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver, and while some is converted to glucose and used as energy, excessive amounts are converted to fat, which can eventually lead toMASLD (Fatty Liver Disease). Part of what makes high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) such a health disruptor is that it is often hidden in plain sight in many of the products that we eat every day so we eat much more of it than we realize. A few examples of products that contain HFCS are: sauces, protein bars, coffee creamers, baked goods, and granola (and the list goes on…).
This month’s SWAP is simple: take note of the packaged added sugars you’re ingesting and make an attempt to find a whole food substitute.
- Craving a bit of candy? Grab some fruit instead.
- Looking for a pasta sauce that isn’t hiding any surprise ingredients? Make your own sauce at home!
- Trying to beat the heat with a scoop of ice cream? Try this healthy alternative and make both your temperature AND your liver happy.
Regular food swaps don’t have to be complicated and you don’t have to overhaul your diet to see progress. Each step you take to reduce the amount of sugar and processed food you consume makes a difference. Even something as simple as practicing mindful eating can make an impact on your overall health (here’s more info on mindful eating and its benefits, published by Harvard School of Health). Every time you swap one food for another that is just a bit healthier you are doing yourself and your liver a huge favor.
Tried this SWAP and loved (or hated) it? Have an idea for a SWAP that you’d like us to try? We’d love to hear about it!
HEP Happenings
Did you know that if you meet a list of criteria, you can donate a portion of your liver to someone who needs a transplant? Afterwards, both portions of the liver regenerate almost to full size, each to meet the metabolic needs of its owner. The first living liver transplant was performed in 1989 at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The recipient was a pediatric patient with biliary atresia, and the donor was her mother.
Since that first groundbreaking procedure, 10,565 living donor transplants have taken place nationwide. In 2024, there were 604 live donor liver transplants in the United States, 103 of which took place in Texas. In a state of over 31 million people, that’s 0.00033% of the population. On July 10, I joined that tiny percentage of people who raised their hand to donate and I’d like to share my story, because I believe that together we can help make this number grow.
I started my journey to become a living donor last year, through University Health Transplant Institute in San Antonio (see short video below, published by University Health). The screening process was quite thorough, and I would be lying if I told you that the lead up to my surgery wasn’t emotionally (and during the evaluation phase, physically) intense. Once a match was found, everything moved very quickly. The surgery was successful for both me and my recipient, and afterwards I stayed one week in the hospital receiving top-notch care and support from the incredible transplant team at University. I’m not sure yet how to properly describe my surgical team other than saying their skill, precision, and compassion is both humbling and awe inspiring. I’ll be vulnerable for a second and admit that I continue to struggle finding the words to articulate this life-changing experience. Other than wanting to help someone in need, I hoped to “demystify” the process, but the truth is…my experience being a donor has been magical and deeply fulfilling. I may never find the right words, but I’ll wear my new scar with pride and continue using my voice to spread awareness about the benefits of living donation.
We can do better than 0.00033% in Texas. Each live liver donor saves the life of not only their recipient, but they also make the next deceased liver immediately available to the next recipient in line. Knowing all that I know now and being on the healing side of my story, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Join us in spreading awareness of living liver donation and let’s do what Texans do best: stand together to help those who need us.
FACT OF THE MONTH
You can safely donate up to 2/3 of your liver. The remaining portion will grow back, almost to its original size!