Youngest sibling donates liver to his sister

They have been close since childhood and when one needed a transplant, the other one stepped up.

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

Growing up, Amanda Seeboeck remembers sharing a room with her little brother and reading “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” to him.

“We were close as kids and then did our own thing as teens but we were never too far apart,” said Seeboeck, 39. At one time the family lived in Michigan and Seeboeck and her younger brother, Michael Krause joined their other siblings tubing on the lake, watching movies and playing video games. When Seeboeck met the man she would marry, Krause remembers a “real talk” between the two.

Seeboeck began visits at IU Health Riley Hospital when she was diagnosed at 2 months-old with Biliary Atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts. At 59 days old, she underwent a Kasai procedure, to improve the flow of the bile ducts and prevent liver failure. The procedure worked but she continued going to Riley with frequent bouts of cholangitis, an inflammation of the bile ducts.

“Around the age of 18 it became more frequent,” said Seeboeck, who was in the care of Dr. Eugenia Molleston, a pediatric hepatologist.

“Dr. Molleston was one of my favorites. She really took time to explain things,“ said Seeboeck. As she moved to adult care and IU Health University Hospital, Seeboeck was in the care of Dr. Marco Lacerda.

She went on to get a degree in nursing, married her husband, Stephen 15 years ago, and became a mother to three children ages 8, 11, and 14.

“I actually felt the healthiest when I was pregnant,” said Seeboeck. “My liver numbers never acted up and I never had cholangitis. But I practically raised my last two from a hospital bed. I was sick all the time,” she said.

Eventually, she was listed for a liver transplant. Her family began researching the option of living donation.

At IU Health many recipients receive liver transplants from living donors. Living donors aren’t necessarily related to the recipient. Compatibility is based on several factors. Each prospective donor invests in time for initial screenings, multiple tests and evaluations. They work with a team of IU Health transplant experts that include surgeons, donor coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and financial coordinators.

The number of patients waiting for a liver transplant far surpasses the number of deceased donors. Living donors reduce that wait time. An organ from a living donor can function better and last longer than one from a deceased donor because it is healthy.

During living donation, a portion of the liver is removed based on the size of the recipient. Care is taken to leave at least 30% of the donor’s liver, and the part of the liver left behind is expected to grow back to normal size within a few weeks.

After completing testing, Krause was approved as a donor for his sister. The transplant occurred on July 8, under the surgical care of Dr. Chandrashekhar Kubal.

“I know I did not ask him to do it,” said Seeboeck. “It was already decided,” said her brother.

Now the two live just miles apart - Seeboeck in Pendleton, and Krause in Noblesville - and have a new connection through transplant.

“We get together for holidays, backyard barbecues, and birthdays. Since the transplant we try to do things outdoors to keep a safe distance to protect Amanda’s immune system,” said Krause. “I was just telling Michael that ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem like enough words to show how grateful I am,” said Seeboeck. “A good way to show appreciation is to live your life and have a better quality of life. I like seeing her live her best life,” said Krause.