Liver transplant gives Justin Jokisch new lease on life
By Kyle LoJacono
Lutz resident Justin Jokisch got his Christmas present a few days early last year — a new liver.
Jokisch, a Land O’ Lakes High graduate, received a transplant on Dec. 21 and was out the door the next day. Typical liver transplant recipients stay in the hospital for a few days.
“I was ready to go,” Justin said with a smile.
Justin, 29, can smile now, but he was in very serious condition just a few months ago. His journey began in 2003 when blood tests showed he had an elevated level of liver enzymes but was not diagnosed with sclerosing cholangitis until 2006. The disease causes scarring of the liver because the immune system attacks the organ thinking it’s something invading the body.
The condition prevents the body from filtering out the blood and eventually stops the liver from being able to break down certain foods.
“First they said I’d need a transplant around 40,” Justin said. “I wasn’t nervous at first because I thought I had time before I’d have any problems. … Then last year I started getting really sick and ended up in the hospital once a month.”
Justin lost about 20 pounds, most of it muscle mass, dropping the 5-foot-11 man down to 160 pounds while also sapping most of his strength. He said he would end up in bed by 8 p.m. because he was so tired.
“I noticed being tired really bad when we were at a Rays game,” Justin said. “I couldn’t make it walking halfway around the stadium without feeling like I needed to sit down.”
The physical changes started to become apparent to Holly, his wife of eight years.
“He couldn’t keep weight on,” said Holly, who also graduated from Land O’ Lakes. “Just seeing him every day I didn’t notice, but then I saw some pictures from before and I was like, ‘oh my gosh he’s like skin and bones.’ He was also turning yellow with jaundice.”
He was told the disease can be hereditary, but he doesn’t know of anyone in his family who has had it. Justin, who was put on a transplant list last September, said his doctors had no explanation why his condition deteriorated so much faster than expected.
Justin had to wait for his new liver for only a couple months before he got a call from Tampa General Hospital around 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 telling him there was a match. He had his gallbladder removed two years ago because of the disease, but that was an arthroscopic surgery. The liver transplant was his first major operation.
“The day of the surgery we were ready,” Justin said. “We’d gotten called in as a backup a few days before because the person right ahead of me on the list was up, so we went through the emotions that day.”
Justin explained hospitals call in the next two people on a transplant list when a matching organ is found in case the primary recipient cannot receive it for some reason.
“Because we’d gone through being called in I was OK when we got the call for the transplant,” Holly said. “It wasn’t until he was going in for surgery that I started getting a little nervous.”
The two got to the hospital at 9 p.m. the night before the transplant. Justin was able to sleep for a few hours before the operation, but Holly only got about one hour of rest.
Justin was in surgery from 5 a.m.-12 p.m. Holly got updates every so often and had family to support her while she waited.
“I knew I had to be patient,” Holly said. “I knew he was in good hands.”
Justin is still home from work recovering from the transplant, but said he is feeling much better. Holly described him as “a whole new person.”
“His attitude and his drive has changed,” Holly said. “I couldn’t get him to exercise before, but we recently just went on a nice walk. Just his overall appearance looks good now.”
Justin said the top priority is taking his 13 different medications, which include anti-rejection and anti-virals, every 12 hours. Soon he will only need to take a couple once he is more removed from surgery. Justin gave up alcohol in 2006 and doesn’t want to risk anything happening to his new liver by drinking again.
“Right now I’m more susceptible to getting sick,” Justin said. “They said I should avoid crowded places, keep my hands clean and stay away from sick people. Otherwise try and live a normal life.”
Now that Justin is improving, the Jokischs are planning the next major stage of their lives together — becoming parents.
“That’s next,” Holly said. “Get healthy first and then have children.”
To help the Jokischs
The cost of having a liver transplant is more than $575,000. The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) is putting together a fundraising bowling event for the Jokischs.
“We’re thrilled Justin received his transplant,” said Lauren Wilmer, NFT fundraising consultant. “But many people don’t realize the lifelong financial burdens associated with transplantation. He’ll need extensive follow-up care to make sure his new liver remains healthy, and those costs can be devastating. At NFT, we’re dedicated to helping Justin and Holly raise the necessary funds so they can focus on his new life without constantly worrying about the costs.”
The event is on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 4-6 p.m. at Pin Chasers, 5555 W. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa. The cost is $25 per person and includes two hours of bowling, shoe rental, a slice of pizza and a soda. Tickets can be bought at the door or by calling Holly at (813) 695-4269.
