Pictured are Katey Lindquist and Molly McCarthy. Submitted photo

Being a living organ donor is not something many people do or know much about, but for one local family who currently live in Warren, it has changed the world.

Five years ago, Katey Lindquist was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that backs up the bile ducts and causes scarring in the liver. Her husband, Craig Lindquist, said that over the past five years things have gotten progressively worse, up to where the two had to be in the hospital every other week. In January 2023, the Lindquists met with a specialist and Katey Lindquist was put on the transplant list for a liver in April.

“Because of my disorder they said it could be years before a cadaver liver would be available,” Katey Lindquist said. “We went to UPMC in Pittsburgh and they said that they could do a living organ donor if we could find someone. They are a leader in living organ donor transplants.”

It was not long after that Craig Lindquist began to share their story on social media. That was when a lifelong friend of Katey Lindquist’s, Molly McCarthy came into the picture.

“We knew about living donors for kidneys but not livers, and we were amazed,” Craig Lindquist said. “I shared our story on Facebook and said we were looking for a living donor. Molly is a lifelong friend of my wife and her family, and her family are wonderful people. Molly and Katey’s moms were talking and Molly heard that Katey was looking for a donor, and she said ‘that’s my blood type’.”

Katey Lindquist said that she had many people see the posts and want to help, but after going to the sites to determine eligibility, found they were unable to. McCarthy, who is also an Air Force pilot and in excellent health, went through the process and found she was a perfect match and able to be a donor.

McCarthy said she first found out about Katey Lindquist’s transplant because of her mother being at an eclipse party with her, and after knowing about her disorder for years.

“My mother called me after and said I know your blood type, is this something you would consider?” McCarthy said. “I said I would and after talking with Air Force officials they said it was something that as long as it was an uncomplicated surgery I could do, so I was able to do it.”

The transplant surgery was done on July 29. Katey Lindquist said being able to have McCarthy be the donor was very special, as they had grown up together and McCarthy’s family owns a Christmas tree farm behind Katey Lindquist’s parents’ house.

“It seemed to be fate that Molly was a match,” Katey Lindquist said. “Everything went perfectly. Both of our livers are fully grown again and Molly has gone back to work.”

Craig Lindquist added that as a Lieutenant Colonel Pilot in the Air Force, the Air Force was also very supportive and gave McCarthy the three months off she needed to be able to do the transplant.

“Christmas came early for us,” Craig Lindquist said. “Without Molly, my wife would no longer be here.”

McCarthy said that for her, growing up in Youngsville and graduating with Katey Lindquist’s younger brother, knowing that somebody she knew needed something and that she could help is what drove the decision. She added that knowing that the community can suffer from tragedies and accidents all of the time, this was something positive to show everyone that success stories do happen.

Before the transplant, Craig Lindquist said Katey was also very weak, and that McCarthy’s transplant not only saved her life but returned her quality of life. For Katey Lindquist, the fact that McCarthy was willing to do this for her means everything.

“It’s very hard to explain that somebody was willing to do that, to give a part of their own body, to save my life,” Katey Lindquist said. “It means everything to me and my family. I’ll never be able to repay her. But, we’re trying to pay it forward and help anybody else we can. It means absolutely everything.”

One of the ways the Lindquists are paying it forward is by trying to raise awareness of living organ donations. Craig Lindquist noted that not only is UPMC known as a leader in living organ donations but has also never lost a living donor, also doing more living liver donations than anywhere else.

“Living organ donors save lives,” Craig Lindquist said. “It keeps families together. When a life is saved, it’s not just the life of that person but everyone that has been or will be impacted by that person as well. It keeps going forward.”

McCarthy also recommends people look into being living organ donors, saying that people can help save lives and improve someone’s way of life, but to also take it step by step and to be aware that at any step a person can be told they are ineligible to be a donor.

“My doctors also said that at any point I could stop and say I no longer want to do this,” McCarthy said. “But, if you are curious, all it takes is knowing your blood type and being willing to go through the process.”

For McCarthy, being close to UPMC, which is one of the top three hospitals in the country for living organ donor transplants, was another factor, along with having the support of her family. While she added her husband did not agree, after talking in family counseling he said he would support her because it was what she wanted to do.

Both Katey Lindquist and McCarthy have been able to make full recoveries. Katey Lindquist said being an organ donor, even after someone passes away, is something that is very important. McCarthy added that a person does not necessarily have to know the person they are donating to either, if that is what they choose.

“If anybody is able to donate part of their body, even after they pass away, they should,” Katey Lindquist said. “The medical field is able to do amazing things these days, and UPMC has never lost a living donor. If you are able to do it, it saves lives, is extremely safe, and helps families as well.”