Says he's confident a donor will be found

HAMPTON - A lifelong condition has caused Selectman Rick Griffin's liver to develop a cancerous tumor, but the longtime board member and salon owner said he is confident a future transplant will keep him healthy for years to come.

Griffin, 68, learned of his liver's hepatocellular carcinoma in December and has been placed on two liver transplant lists, anticipating a match could be found in time for a procedure this Christmas. He underwent chemoembolization on April 4 and will learn in the coming weeks if the treatment successfully removed the tumor. Griffin, however, said his hemochromatosis will cause tumors to return to his liver, making the transplant a necessity.

Griffin announced earlier this year in a selectmen's meeting that he was undergoing the treatment to make sure community members knew he was not going anywhere. He said his situation will not impact his day to day life, and that doctors believe he will be able to live for 20 or more years after his transplant.

"I will be healthy to the day that I have the liver transplant. That's what people need to understand," Griffin said. "I knew people were going to find out about it, so I just wanted people to know that I'm going to be healthy. I'm not going to be sick."

Griffin was born with hemochromatosis, a condition that causes an overload of iron in the liver. He was unaware until 38 years ago when it was finally discovered by doctors. The diagnosis had little impact on his life, save for frequent blood transfusions, he said.

Griffin also said he has enjoyed alcohol, though now he said he is following his doctors' orders to avoid drinking since the tumor was discovered.

Still, Griffin has known for the last 38 years that a tumor could grow on his liver, and so it was not a total shock when he learned the news in December.

"I've been expecting this could be a possibility all these years," said Griffin. "It's just, my liver has tested so healthy all these years I think everybody was surprised."

Griffin is on two transplant lists, one in New England, the other in Florida. He said he is optimistic he will get a new liver, especially considering Florida is among the states where livers are more available.

If Griffin chose to forego the transplant and treat tumors as they come, the doctors believe he would only live for about three more years, and one more year if he did nothing at all.

Community support for the five-term selectman, who also owns Eccentric Hair on Ocean Boulevard, has been "amazing," Griffin said. Many people have sent him cards wishing him well.

Some have offered to donate part of their liver for the transplant, though Griffin said no one has been found that meets requirements for the procedure.

Donors must be of a certain age and health condition, as well as certain blood type. Griffin's blood is type A.

"Several people sent me cards and thanked me for whatever it is I do at the Board of Selectmen," said Griffin. "It was just nice that they took the time to do that."

While Griffin is confident he will get a liver transplant, he said the discovery of his tumor has been stressful. He said it took him about two weeks to feel like he could deal with the stress from the tumor, and he finds a lot of comfort in his 7-year-old Maltese, Luna.

"Whenever I go and lay down and take a rest, she comes right there with me," said Griffin. "It's a stress release."

Griffin said town officials have also told them they have his back. The day he found out about the tumor, he said he went to the town offices and asked Town Manager Fred Welch whether he should take a break from public service.

Welch, he said, told him he should push through and stay on the board.

"He said, 'Don't do it. We're here to support you, and we like having you here. You do a good job, you're concise, witty and focused,'" said Griffin. "That's why I'm still here."