Brandilm , As the others here have said it's gonna be next to impossible to find a living donor transplant doctor and the situation with him being a alcoholic compounds the problem . I found out the hard way there is no real options available to alcoholics without suffering . I've been one of the few that has made it through to treatment with alcoholic cirrhosis . No amount of begging , pleading and attempting to side step will get you anywhere when you have this diagnosis . They made it clear they would do there best to keep me alive but no transplant until the six month screening was done .
My MELD scores exceeded the required amount for transplant when I was admitted initially and I also went into renal failure . I struggled with horrible ascites problems , encephalopathy , malnutrition and extreme fatigue for 6 months . Then a additional 3 more months added on to that for missing one substance abuse therapy meeting when they checked my paperwork . That may not happen to you or others but it shows how serious they look at this . I am 45 and have drank alcoholically since I was 23 but started drinking when I was 14 . A die hard alcoholic you might say . Doctors know the success rates for alcoholics to stay sober and when you consider there are people who got this disease ( Hepatitis ) by innocent means . Next question is who deserves a shot at life first , the innocent or someone who could possibly waste this precious organ .
I survived and can tell you over the last 5 years or so I've seen others come here and managed to make it also . Some don't , Some give up . If not for the support of this forum , My wife , family and spirituality I would probably not done so well . I am 5 years sober and wouldn't have known how precious life was ironically if it hadn't been for this disease . Odd how the dark days make you appreciate the sunny ones so much . I turned around and am no longer eligible for transplant due to low MELD scores . I have a estimated 15 % liver function and take medications daily and see doctors on a regular basis , But to the average eye I'm healthy as can be . It takes time , Sadly nobody can tell you if he will make it through this but if he decides to fight his chances will significantly improve .
Ziff