On April 18, 2024, Justin Hodges was put on the national organ waiting list in hopes of receiving a new liver. Ironically, the next day the hospital was holding a flag raising ceremony in honor of National Donate Life Month. Justin attended in his wheelchair, unaware that his life was about to change.
On April 18, 2024, Justin Hodges was put on the national organ waiting list in hopes of receiving a new liver. “I had been in the hospital for a while,” remembers Justin. “I was what they call ‘end stage,’ meaning I wasn’t going to make it much longer.”
Ironically, the next day the hospital was holding a flag raising ceremony in honor of National Donate Life Month. The event was designed to raise awareness for organ donation and to celebrate organ donors, recipients and those still waiting for the lifesaving gift. Justin attended in his wheelchair, unaware that his life was about to change.
“In the early morning hours of Saturday, April 20th, they came into my hospital room and said, ‘We think we have a match.’ Later that evening, I had a new liver. It all happened so fast,” admits Justin. “I’ve got friends who have been waiting for organs for weeks, months, even years. I was shocked that mine happened so quickly.”
Josiah Wagler, D.O., is a transplant surgeon at the INTEGRIS Health Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute. “Being able to participate in Mr. Hodges’ care has been both an honor and a privilege. Seeing his life today is nothing short of amazing! From his expedited listing when he was admitted with acute kidney failure and fluid overload. Through his liver transplant surgery and his postoperative recovery where he suddenly lost vital signs becoming pulseless requiring CPR. Where he is at today is truly miraculous! He is a walking miracle!”
The transplant itself may have happened swiftly, but Justin’s journey was definitely a long one. The rancher from Stigler, Okla. says alcohol consumption along with an autoimmune disease called primary biliary cirrhosis, in which the bile ducts are inflamed and slowly destroyed, permanently damaged his liver.
Justin changed his lifestyle with diet and exercise and stopped drinking, but he was still in and out of the hospital. He was eventually referred to Taseen Syed, M.D., a transplant hepatologist at the INTEGRIS Health Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute.
"Justin was struggling for several months and went through a lot from his end stage liver disease,” remembers Syed. “Despite multiple hospital admissions, he was very optimistic throughout this time. Now, seeing him return to a healthier life after his liver transplant is indeed the most rewarding part of our work. We wish him the best in life.”
The Back Story
Justin actually turned down a transplant a couple years ago due to what he calls being hardheaded. “I just couldn’t see taking a liver from somebody else who needed it more than me, like a kid or something. I really struggled with that part of it.” He continues, “Dr. Syed told me I would change my mind, but I didn’t believe him. I’m sure glad he was right.”
Justin says it was his daughter who finally convinced him to consider transplantation. “It was one of those lifechanging conversations that you don’t know you’re having when you’re having it. But she reminded me that I didn’t have biological grandkids yet. Neither her nor my son have kids yet. Some of their friends do and we treat their kids like grandkids - but I don’t have any of my own. And that really got me thinking.”
He changed his mind for his wife Lisa, his daughter Brooke, his son Sam and those future grandbabies. “The good Lord willing I’ll be around to meet them,” he prays. “I know without the transplant I definitely wouldn’t have been.”
Second Chance
Today, nearly a year after his transplant, Justin says he hardly recognizes himself. He’s lost the water weight, his eyes aren’t yellow anymore and he has plenty of energy to work on the ranch.
As he prepares to celebrate his 49th birthday on April 28, he truly believes he’s been given a second chance at life. “Every day is a blessing. I’m happy every day. I don’t have bad days anymore. I’m living proof of the life you can have with a transplant.” He hopes his story will teach others not to take anything for granted. “We aren’t promised tomorrow, so live today with everything you’ve got!”
Oklahomans have three options to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Residents can sign-up when renewing their driver’s license, visit LifeShareRegistry.org to sign up online or call 800-826-LIFE (5433) and request a donor registration form.
Oklahoma's leading liver transplant program, serving patients across the region.
