Thirty-nine-year-old Lauren Blackwell says she got a new lease on life thanks to her best friend, Meg Domangue.”She had a terminal diagnosis, so she wasn’t going to get a liver, then she would pass away. So, for me, it was a very easy decision to make. She needed a liver, I had a liver. So, it was really just that simple,” Domangue said.Blackwell was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis in 2019, an autoimmune disease that affects the bile ducts in the liver.She suffered through itchy skin, fatigue and other symptoms for years, and desperately needed a new liver to live.So, her best friend, Domangue, donated 60 percent of her liver to Blackwell, and the operation took place on Jan. 16, 2024. But there were complications, and in the end, doctors couldn’t use Domangue’s liver.Blackwell was immediately placed on top of the transplant list, and they waited for a new liver to arrive from a deceased donor.”The doctors were saying they didn’t realize how bad it was for me. They didn’t realize how bad my liver had gotten,” Blackwell said.Blackwell says her family and friends all prayed for a miracle, and in 20 minutes, a new liver arrived.”I don’t think the doctors believed that I would get the liver when I got it in 20 minutes. I mean, within 20 minutes, they found another one,” Blackwell said.Domangue’s liver sustained Blackwell until that new liver arrived. Blackwell says she’ll always be thankful for her friend’s sacrifice.”Just I’m just so grateful,” Blackwell said.”It’s not the plan that we thought that God had for us. But, you know, his plan was something different. I think it was just for me to get Lauren in there to, you know, go through the process. Get her there on the surgery table for that day and give her that time to get the liver that he knew she needed,” Domangue said.Domangue’s liver has since regenerated, and she is feeling good.Blackwell is feeling healthier than ever, enjoying time with loved ones and building memories with a new lease on life and a new meaning on the gift of friendship.”And to me, she saved my life. You know, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here,” Blackwell said.
CHALMETTE, La. —
Thirty-nine-year-old Lauren Blackwell says she got a new lease on life thanks to her best friend, Meg Domangue.
“She had a terminal diagnosis, so she wasn’t going to get a liver, then she would pass away. So, for me, it was a very easy decision to make. She needed a liver, I had a liver. So, it was really just that simple,” Domangue said.
Blackwell was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis in 2019, an autoimmune disease that affects the bile ducts in the liver.
She suffered through itchy skin, fatigue and other symptoms for years, and desperately needed a new liver to live.
So, her best friend, Domangue, donated 60 percent of her liver to Blackwell, and the operation took place on Jan. 16, 2024. But there were complications, and in the end, doctors couldn’t use Domangue’s liver.
Blackwell was immediately placed on top of the transplant list, and they waited for a new liver to arrive from a deceased donor.
“The doctors were saying they didn’t realize how bad it was for me. They didn’t realize how bad my liver had gotten,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell says her family and friends all prayed for a miracle, and in 20 minutes, a new liver arrived.
“I don’t think the doctors believed that I would get the liver when I got it in 20 minutes. I mean, within 20 minutes, they found another one,” Blackwell said.
Domangue’s liver sustained Blackwell until that new liver arrived. Blackwell says she’ll always be thankful for her friend’s sacrifice.
“Just I’m just so grateful,” Blackwell said.
“It’s not the plan that we thought that God had for us. But, you know, his plan was something different. I think it was just for me to get Lauren in there to, you know, go through the process. Get her there on the surgery table for that day and give her that time to get the liver that he knew she needed,” Domangue said.
Domangue’s liver has since regenerated, and she is feeling good.
Blackwell is feeling healthier than ever, enjoying time with loved ones and building memories with a new lease on life and a new meaning on the gift of friendship.
“And to me, she saved my life. You know, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here,” Blackwell said.
