My name is Thomas Garofano, Someone close to me needed a liver and this sparked a journey I would soon be diving into head first. Fortunately my loved one received a liver. But while waiting I started researching stats, numbers and personal stories. I was beyond heartbroken to see and hear how things work. I first noticed the waiting list which in itself is a wonderful opportunity. But it falls short of expectations. Then talking with people trying to locate a living donor left me with the same feeling. So many people with so little time and everyone just wanted a little more time.

So I decided to put everything I am and everything I have into at least trying to help, including donating my liver at UPMC this fall. I focused in on trying to flip the script on the waiting list and thus was born the idea of the seeking list. The definition of waiting is “to stay in one place or delay action until something happens”. Most people I talked with just didn’t have that luxury. Seeking is the attempt to find! So That’s what I plan to do.

I have an idea that seems so simple that it seems too simple. Through open communication and sharing we can take Recipients needing Livers and pair them to those donors of other recipients that are willing to donate but are a non-match for their loved ones. An LPD (living paired donation) would be a trade of donors for recipients. Open forums will allow those to share their stories and the people they have willing to donate in hopes that someone somewhere has the donor for them and they have a donor to send.

One day I hope to have an algorithm built to auto generate an LPD opportunity. I truly believe that together we can make a difference.