Two years after transplant, liver recipient embraces life

At one point, this patient didn’t think he’d spend another holiday with his family. Now, he’s stronger than ever, caring for his parents.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

He loves March Madness, cheers year-round for his favorite University of Tennessee sports teams, enjoys cooking, playing golf, and caring for his parents – both in their 80s.

Michael Newell, 58 has a new lease on life. The transformation started almost four years ago when he was admitted to IU Health University Hospital. That admission turned out to be a lifesaver for Newell.

“I was given 48 hours to live. I signed everything over to my parents. The doctors said, ‘Mike there is nothing we can do. Your liver and kidneys are failing and we’re going to make you comfortable,’” Newell recalls. He spent several days in ICU, left the hospital, and was determined to turn his life around.

Newell said he began drinking alcohol in college and during COVID became what he calls “a heavy drinker.” When he came to IU Health and learned he may not be around for another family Thanksgiving or Christmas, it was a wakeup call.

“It was terrible because I had to hide so much and basically lied to my parents and my sister. I pulled the wool over their eyes. I was living a lie, and it was all because of alcohol. Everything came out in the hospital, and I had to sit there and admit everything to my parents, and it was all forgiven,” said Newell, of Lafayette, Ind. He graduated from McCutcheon High School and attended Ball State University, where he was a four-year baseball letterman and earned an economics degree.

After that extended hospital stay, Newell vowed to give all his energy to healing. He started with a nine-week physical therapy regime, that he completed in five weeks. “I did everything I was told to do to survive,” said Newell. His hope was to be listed for liver transplant. A key to that healing was abstaining from alcohol.

“When I went home, I was tested every week for alcohol. A lot of people think just because you have a sick liver you can get a transplant. When I left the hospital, I didn’t touch alcohol. I knew there was no guarantee I’d get listed for a new liver, but I had to do everything I could to turn things around,” said Newell.

Patients considered for liver transplantation undergo multiple tests and scans and work with a team of experts including physicians, coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and financial coordinators.

IU Health’s Transplant Program is nationally recognized and is the only center in Indiana approved to perform all organ transplants. It is the only living donor liver transplant program in the state. Last year, IU Health ranked 11^th in the country in liver transplant volume (193).

In November of 2023 Newell was listed for transplant. On Feb. 9, 2024, he was in the surgical care of Dr. Chandrashekhar Kubal when he received his new liver. He continues care with his post-transplant coordinator, Shannon Wilson and hepatologist Dr. John Holden.

“I’m back to basically living life, doing what every normal functioning 58-year-old would do,” said Newell. A priority is caring for his parents, George and Becky Newell. “My parents took care of me through the sickness and transplant, and I believe I’m healthy for a reason – to care for them.”

In addition to his parents, Newell has a close-knit group of friends who support his interests and lifestyle.

“After you go through what I went through, resisting alcohol isn’t even a second thought. I never want to be there again. My buddies understand and the temptation isn’t there.”