Living donor liver transplant: A bond between brothers
At Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia, the relaunch of their living donor liver transplant program is already having an impact on people living with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). For brothers Jimmy and David Van Ostrand, it became a lifesaving turning point. Once inseparable and bonded by baseball, their paths shifted when David was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis-primary sclerosing cholangitis (AIH-PSC), a rare disease that gradually damages the liver. Years later, after also facing lymphoma, his condition worsened and a transplant became urgent.
When David was placed on the waitlist, his brother Jimmy began seriously considering living liver donation. After months of evaluation, Jimmy was approved as a donor. In August 2025, the brothers underwent surgery, marking the first living donor liver transplant at VGH in nearly a decade.
Living donor transplantation offers patients a timely alternative to waiting for a deceased donor, while ensuring strict medical oversight and care for both donor and recipient. Today, David is recovering with a renewed future ahead, while Jimmy’s decision reflects the profound impact of living liver donation.
Find out more about the brothers’ incredible story by watching their video below or reading the full article on the BC Transplant website.
