Autumn Horton is the consummate caregiver. She cared for both her mother and her brother when they received liver transplants – within five years of one another. “Being the primary and only caregiver to a transplant patient is very complicated. You learn all kinds of new stuff about health that you didn’t know before. You must be sharp and remember information that is given to you by the truck load. And being a caregiver can be a full-time job. That means little to no social life and a lot of time with your loved ones. It can be a very lonely experience.”
Autumn volunteers with Gift of Life as one of our many talented Transplant Mentors. “Transplants are very scary and very serious. I just want to carry on a legacy for my mom to try and help as many caregivers as I can by just being there for them, sharing my story and helping them to walk through theirs. It is an amazing feeling, and I’m so glad to have been chosen to help with this piece of a person’s transplant experience.”
She is currently mentoring a woman named Christy. “It makes my heart happy that I can help her through some things that you wouldn’t know unless you’ve been in our shoes as a transplant caregiver. My heart is full, because I know my mom would be happy about me doing this. It is because of what I learned from her experience that I can help others go through the process as a caregiver. I am very grateful, and right before the holidays is a wonderful time to have this happen. I’m really enjoying this. Is my first referral where we’ve totally understood each other, and I am grateful for that.”
Gift of Life and the Transplant Mentors program is so thankful to Autumn and all our Transplant Mentors program. The opportunity for connection between mentors is extraordinary and we are continually honored to make these connections on behalf of our Transplant Mentors and in partnership with transplant hospitals around the country.
Thank you for sharing your story and for being a mentor Autumn. It really is a selfless and caring thing to do to commit yourself to someone else’s ability to continue their life to the fullest extent possible and it couldn’t happen without people like you. I’m sure you mother is very proud of the path you have taken to share your experience with others who are embarking on this journey.
May you and yours have a wonderful holiday season and thank you for reminding us how we should all care for and help one another not just at this time of year but every day of the year.
Autumn, thank you so much for being a caretaker mentor! As a liver transplant recipient, I can only imagine my husband’s potion of our journey. My care was most assuredly a full time undertaking for him. The support and insight you provide as a mentor is priceless. You are a a true super-hero.