Portland Father, Facing Grave Condition, Seeks Liver Donor

PORTLAND, CT — A Portland father suffering from a rare liver condition is reaching out to the public. Ryan Donohue, 37, said he and his wife, Stefanie, are doing everything they can to find a donor, posting his story online and turning to local media, WTNH News-8 reported.

"Receiving a transplant would allow me to be there for all of life's big moments," Donohue wrote. "With four kids, I have plenty of those to look forward to."

Donohue has a history of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. He is now suffering from Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) which causes bile ducts to become inflamed.

About 15 years ago, doctors at Yale's Liver Center diagnosed Donohue with the rare disease and told him that he would eventually need a transplant.

"...my liver has reached its limit and is beginning to fail me," he wrote on The Donor App. "With that comes a variety of side effects that make my day-to-day life fairly uncomfortable."

Donohue said he has lost 15 pounds, his energy levels have plummeted, and his sleeping patterns are "a mess."

"I struggle to keep up with the kids, and life, in general," he wrote. "Even emptying the dishwasher can seem like a monumental task some days. All of these things contribute to a drastic change in my mood. I used to be able to let things roll off my back, but now it seems that every little thing gets under my skin."

Donohue's four children are under the age of 10, with the youngest being 2-year-old Lennon. He said that he fears missing out on his children's lives as his health worsens.

"Before my health really started to decline, the thought of not being around for my kids graduations and weddings never really crossed my mind. Now I wonder if I'll even make it to their next birthday. Receiving a new liver would bring back the husband and father that my wife and kids once knew."

To find out more, go to Donohue's Donor App page.