The gift of life

The first liver transplant recipient in South Australia was Greek, and now as SA celebrates 20 years of liver transplantation, we look at the life of Tasia Douvos


At the age of 51, Greek born Anastasia (Tasia) Douvos was South Australia’s first liver transplant recipient. For nine years before the transplant, she had to endure the effects of chronic liver disease. Due to an auto-immune form of cirrhosis of the liver, Tasia spent many of her weeks in hospital. On the waiting list, Tasia was an ideal candidate due to her clean living lifestyle.Ironically, her liver at the time was described as that of a chronic alcoholic.

Tasia was ultimately chosen as the first liver transplant recipient because she was the best match of the donor liver that became available. The transplant was performed on 8 October 1992. She was told by doctors that she would go on living for another 10 years thanks to the new liver, but she defied them and lived an additional 12 years. Tasia passed away on 2 July 2004, aged 63 from auto immune hepatitis and hepatitis C cirrhosis.

She is survived by her husband Angelos and two daughters Alice Paspaliaris and Penelope Votzourakis, and three grand-daughters, Natasha, Cassandra and Markella. Tasia Douvos (nee Kourtesis) was born in Kiato, Korinthias, Greece in December 1940 to parents Nikolaos and Ekaterini Kourtesis (nee Dinos). She immigrated to Australia in May/June 1960, before marrying Angelos Douvos in Adelaide in 1960. Tasia worked at Clipsal as a press operator for many years, before retiring in 1982 due to ill health. She was also a good seamstress, taking great pride in the clothes she would make for her daughters.

The family recalls that they were given the choice to either go interstate or be the first recipient in South Australia, they chose to have it done in Adelaide. The transplant was a marathon session by a huge team of surgeons, doctors, nurses and other support staff. Tasia was cared for by all at the Flinders Medical Centre where everyone knew her and took great care of her, before her regular post-transplant check-ups for blood tests and medication level checks were transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The Liver Transplant Surgeons at the time were Dr Robert Padbury, Professor James Toulli – who was head of the new transplant unit at the time and is the other Greek connection to this story – and Dr Hugh Harley, with Transplant Coordinator, Ms Libby John. All surgeons, doctors, nurses, coordinators and support staff were very professional and personable in their approach and dealings with Tasia and her family. Still to this day, Tasia’s husband Angelos will get a call from some of the specialists to check on his well being.

Liver transplantation restores quality of life, but sometimes can exchange one set of problems for another. Liver transplantation is a high-risk procedure, and the anti-rejection medications that are given to people for the rest of their lives can have side-effects. They suppress the immune system so that the body doesn’t reject the new liver, but this means that the body can’t fight bacteria and viruses the way it used to, leaving the recipient susceptible to infectious diseases and cancer. Following the surgery, Tasia was required to take immune-suppressing medication on a regular basis, but in gradually reducing doses, which she diligently followed.

Although Tasia got some very good years following the transplant, the latter years were involving more regular hospital stays to help combat the rejection of the liver. Prior to Tasia receiving the transplant, when she was desperately ill, Tasia had just one wish: to live long enough to see her only grandchild at the time (Natasha Paspaliaris) start school. As it turned out, her one-year anniversary of the transplant coincided with Natasha’s first day of school. More importantly, she got to live long enough to see her two other grand-daughters be born.

Tasia’s husband Angelos worked at Simpsons, before retiring in 1996 to be a full-time carer for his wife. Angelos not only maintained the household, but also cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed, which he still does today. Whilst Tasia was alive, she would follow Angelos around the house on her walker, making sure he had skonissied all the furniture properly. The South Australian Liver Transplant Unit has performed over 250 liver transplants, in it’s 20 years of service, with the survival rates as good as, if not better than, other units around the world. Some patients are approaching 20 years longevity post-transplant.

To show their appreciation and gratitude to the medical expertise that saved their wife and mother, Angelos and Alice organised a Greek-community fundraiser to celebrate the first year anniversary with all proceeds ($8500) going to the Liver Transplant Unit at the Flinders Medical Centre. The waiting list is slowly getting longer, compared to what it was about ten years ago. There’s a significant shortage of organ donors, although SA has the highest per capital organ donor rate in Australia. The unit is currently performing 20-25 transplants a year.

A Second Chance Dinner Dance and Fundraiser is being held on Friday 26 October 2012 to celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary of the Liver Transplant Unit at the Flinders Medical Centre and raise much needed funds for the transplant unit. Proceeds from the event and 100 per cent of all donations will go directly to the Liver Transplant Unit at Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia. The event will be held at Arkaba Hotel, Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton. For tickets, information or to make a donation call Alice Paspaliaris on 0419 182 859.

A final message from the family: “If you aren’t already, please register as an Organ Donor, and let your immediate family know that you have done so.”