Ed Is More Than “Just Fine” After A Liver Transplant

I was born in Long Island , New York and lived there until my enlistment in the Navy where I received my education in electronics and other subjects. I worked in a physics research lab in Upton , New York for 30 years then retired and moved to Lancaster , South Carolina in 1985.

In 1993, I experienced sudden problems with my liver and went through a near-death experience in Alabama while visiting a daughter and her family. This all started with flu-like symptoms. I came through this and it took about three months to return to my regular self. In December of 1994, the symptoms returned and I spent a number of days in the hospital. I was told by a hepatologist that, without a liver transplant, I had only a year to live. I was 64 years old.

I was put on the waiting list with the help and encouragement of a transplant surgeon. On July 1, 1995 the call came that a liver was available and that I was second on the list. Four recipients are typically notified when an organ becomes available so I knew God had a hand in this because I got the notice that I would receive my transplant. Ten hours later I was coming out of surgery. I spent two days in I.C.U. and was on my way home in six days. I was later told that my new liver was a miracle of sorts because it was an exact match for me. My donor was a 22-year-old, non-Caucasian male. I am in awe of God's design in that we are able to the "gift of life" without regard to race, age or gender. It's one of many miracles we all can share.

My doctor also said that the cause of my liver failure was congenital hepatic fibrosis. This illness was present when I was born, lying dormant for 63 years. The illness had also taken its toll on my kidneys; turns out that I actually set a few medical records: I lost 60% of one kidney and 40% of the other as my organs shut down. In addition, the medication I was taking for the liver started to do further damage to my kidneys. But God would not let anything take away my blessing. I started taking medication once a day and I've been doing fine ever since.

"Fine" is actually an understatement. Not only am I back to my normal routines, in 2000 I entered the Transplant Olympics, won a bronze medal in the 1500 meter race walk and came in fourth in the 5k marathon. I would have placed in the marathon but another runner was in trouble and I stopped to help him. We ran across the finish line together. (Who needs a medal when an opportunity like this comes along?!) I've also been volunteering with the Gift of Life Trust Fund and other organizations for the past several years and, with a kidney recipient from Lancaster, I started an organ transplant support group. I am a leader and minister with my church. My wife and I recently celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary and we have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In so many ways, I am a blessed man. I'm now 73 years old.

I expect many more birthdays with God's help and with deepest appreciation for a donor and family that I've never even met. It gives me such joy to know that the medal I won in the Transplant Olympics is somewhere in the home of this family who, by unselfishly honoring their loved one's wishes to become an organ donor, made the miracle of my life possible. 

Video produced and compliments of:
CN2 Cable News
Rock Hill, SC