Give to let Dada Liver live

This is one of three concepts developed to promote live liver donation. This adopts a mostly animated, light-hearted approach, targeted at the younger audience, that establishes the importance of the organ. It also tells how liver disease affects other organs.

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​Slow zoom from the top of the room to patient in bed. Doctor and a family member talking in hushed tones. Doctor is saying everything is set for the transplant. Family member raises doubts about the safety of the surgery and the health of the donor. Doctor reassures. The zoom continues until the patient’s abdomen region is in close-up. Shift to animation.

Liver is seriously ill. Lying on a bed. The other organs are around the bed. They respectfully call the liver “Dada”.

Esophagus is looking very sick and bleeding. So is the stomach which has some vessels ready to burst. Blood vessels (semi-transparent with green stuff showing through) are all coiled up. Heart is emotional and crying. The wise brain is looking grim but holding the others together.

Esophagus: I think I am going to bleed to death.
Stomach: So am I.
Heart: (Screams at stomach) Shut up! It’s all because of you. Drinking and eating all that fat rubbish like mad … now see what you have done.
Stomach: But what can I do. I just try to digest what is put into me.
Blood vessels: We can’t fight these guys anymore. (A green germ leaps out of the blood flow, grinning, and dives back, penguin style.) We are all going to die.
Brain: Show some respect. Don’t just think of your own problems. We are with the most important member of our family. So hardworking. Cleans, makes, stores, saves—500 functions. None of us can match that. And when Dada can’t do all that, see what happens to us?
Heart: Stop it! You are talking as if Dada will never wake up.
Brain: Nah! It is not easy to bring Dada down. Something must be seriously wrong with the genes. Or some nasty virus. Or some terrible drugs. And, yes, the culprit might be alcohol. Just too much for too long.
Stomach: But … but ….
Brain: Don’t worry. Our Dada will not die. Not that easily. Just now we are waiting for a little piece of another healthy liver. That’s all Dada needs to regrow.
Stomach: Really?
Brain: Dada is so unselfish. You can give a bit of liver and both the giver and receiver can live. Think of it. “Live” is in Dada’s very name. So unique. None of us has such a name. They must patent his name.
Heart: Quiet everyone! It is time for the transplant!

Animation blurs and mixes with footage of real operation theatre. Surgery in progress. Fade out. 

Fade in brightening sky outside the window next to patient.

Patient is sitting up, talking to a child about the surgery. 

Patient: And now the small piece will grow and grow and Dada Liver will be strong again.”
Child: Is the liver very important? 
Patient: Of course! There is no other organ which has the word "live" in its name, right? So, it is very important, and it keeps us alive. 

Camera zooms into animation again. 

All organs looking happy and busy. Heart suddenly bends down and plants a kiss on liver. As liver blushes, camera pulls back to reality again.

Patient: Did you just tickle me?
Child: No, I did not!
Patient: I just felt something funny inside.
Child: Do you want me to tickle you?

As they tickle each other and laugh, the camera pulls back to reveal the rest of the room. Busy nurses and doctors. And a patient on another bed, who joins in the laughter. Possibly the donor?

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If you are an individual or an organization interested in developing the concepts into films to promote liver donation, will be happy to share these with you. Please get in touch with me.