MEDICINE
Liver transplant fails to keep Melbourne athlete from crossing the finish line
WINTER 2023: 73
hen it comes to
encouraging optimism and
a positive attitude in the face
of adversity or misfortune, the
proverbial phrase, “When life
gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is
one Tom Stokes knows only too well.
After enduring a liver transplant five
years ago, the 73-year-old Melbourne
resident, retired nurse and avid runner
has lived by this age-old adage.
His dedication to living and thriving with
a transplanted liver has been remarkable.
His journey has not only been one of
perseverance and positivity, but has
afforded him the opportunity to honor
the gift of life and promote awareness for
the importance of organ donation.
An intermittent runner since he was in
his late 20s, it was not until he was in his
40s that he became interested in running
as a way to stay fit.
“It was a sort of mid-life crisis, I suppose,”
he explained.
RUNNING TOGETHER
Many of his earliest dates with his wife
of 23 years, Deb, were spent running
together.
“It was simply a part of our lifestyle, and
continues to be a part of who we were
and are.”
As travel nurses, the couple always made
time to run. Though the weather and
terrain conditions often changed from
place to place, it was their motivation
that kept them on a consistent track.
Then, in 1990, Stokes was diagnosed with
hepatitis C.
“I believe it was likely from a workrelated
exposure,” Stokes said. “I was
treated with the available programs
without a complete cure.”
Fast forward to 2005 when tests found he
still had an active viral load.
“It was during this time Deb was still
in graduate school and I was the sole
breadwinner,” he recalled. “Making time
for running was often difficult, but I
knew it was important for me.
“The treatment that led to a complete
cure lasted 44 weeks. Just after I
was given a green light and Deb had
completed her graduate studies, we both
became more active runners.”
It was during a routine screening in 2015,
that an ultrasound showed a suspicious
mass on his liver.
“It was then my GI doctor told me that
the tumor, coupled with my already
damaged liver from the hep C meant
that a transplant was the only longterm
treatment.”
MORE TREATMENTS
As his transplant process ground on,
he received two ablations to destroy
the tumor, but just six months later
two more small tumors showed up.
After radiation, and some generalized
weakness, Stokes continued running
races and triathlons as his go-to
activities to maintain his health.
On May 11, 2017, he was placed on an
active transplant list.
He and Deb decided that what was going
to happen would result in a long recovery
and she would be his caregiver. She
chose to make a quick trip to Idaho to
visit her family, while they patiently
waited for a call.
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TOM STOKES
Running has been part of Tom and Deb Stokes’ lifestyle since they began dating. Married 23 years, the
retired nurses have traveled all over the word to participate in the transplant games.
W