Gazette’s MacArthur needs a liver

Ron MacArthur can be found almost anywhere in Sussex County. When sunflowers begin to bloom in a field along a back road, he’s there. When the Delaware State Fair opens on a steamy July day each summer, he’s there. When floats begin to travel down Rehoboth Avenue at Halloween or Savannah Road at Christmas, you guessed it – he’s there.

Over the last few months, though, he’s not been there. The lifelong journalist and Sussex County resident has been sidelined by liver disease, often making even daily life a challenge.

The 69-year-old is now in need of a new liver. He's been suffering from autoimmune hepatitis cirrhosis for almost a decade. The disease is causing his body to attack itself. Over the last few months, it’s taken a dramatic turn for the worse. In August, MacArthur had a liver stent bypass, which was supposed to bring a brief recovery. Unfortunately, he developed a blood clot. He’s now dealing with hepatic encephalopathy, which requires a regimen of medications to control. As his cirrhosis progresses, other liver issues are appearing.

The result of all these medical issues is that MacArthur is severely restricted in what he’s able to do. He recently returned to the Cape Gazette on a limited basis, but he only has the energy to cover a story or two per week. He’s also unable to enjoy the many hobbies and passions in his life, such as photography, traveling and spending countless hours outdoors at Sussex County’s state parks or on boats photographing Lewes Yacht Club races. 

MacArthur’s doctors have told him he needs a new liver, preferably one from a living donor. His latest test numbers all but make him ineligible for a non-living donation. With a liver transplant, he hopes to make a full recovery and get back to doing the things he loves.

A living donor would donate only a piece of their liver. The donor’s remaining liver would grow back to a normal size. The donated piece for MacArthur wouldn’t grow to a normal size, but it would grow large enough to provide him with a normal life.

A donor’s hospital and medical expenses would be covered. To be eligible, a living donor must meet very strict requirements. Among them is that a donor must be between 20 and 55 years old, and can’t be overweight.

“A lot of people don’t make it through the questionnaire,” MacArthur said.

MacArthur was born and raised in Seaford. Any regular reader of MacArthur’s Around Sussex column has discovered some of his childhood stories about running around western Sussex County. Around Sussex, which often takes a deep dive into Sussex County history, is currently on hiatus while MacArthur is sidelined. He hopes to bring it back soon.

MacArthur has been a community champion his entire life. He served on Seaford City Council from 1990 to 2005. At the time, he was the youngest person ever elected in Seaford.

He also worked as a family coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club, served as a coach and umpire for Seaford Little League and was president of Kiwanis. Conservation and preservation have always been an interest and passion, so it’s no surprise he founded the Nanticoke River Watershed Group to protect the river.

MacArthur started his journalism career at 18 years old working for the Seaford Leader, where he was sports editor and later became editor. He also worked for the Seaford Star and the Milford Chronicle. In 1988-89, MacArthur spent a year in France working as a small-town editor for the International Herald Tribune. While there, he attended the Tribune’s 100th anniversary party in the Eiffel Tower, where he met broadcast legend Walter Cronkite.

He joined the Cape Gazette team 17 years ago, and remains the senior-most reporter.

“I always wanted to work at the Gazette,” he said. “Finally, all the stars aligned.”

MacArthur met his wife Kathy O’Hanlon in 2004. He moved to Lewes full time in 2007, and they married in 2014. O’Hanlon has been with MacArthur every step of the way during his recent health troubles. MacArthur said he couldn’t have done it without her, as she often served as an advocate when his mental and physical state left him unable to communicate effectively with doctors and nurses.

MacArthur has a daughter, Beth; son-in-law, Eric; step-daughter Michelle Bland; and three grandchildren, Jenna and Colby, who attend Sussex Tech, and Adin, who serves in the Air Force.

Anyone interested in learning more about being a donor can check out MacArthur’s website at tinyurl.com/yezm8zwv.