About 10 years ago, I was informed that I had a liver disease. At the time, there was no way to know that this would ultimately put my life at risk. In August 2003, this disease hit me hard. During the preceding months (or perhaps, years) my body had started attacking and destroying my liver. In September 2003, my doctor suggested that I contact the liver transplant center at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and after an extensive evaluation, I was placed on a national list of 17,000 people waiting for a cadaveric liver. I was informed that, most likely, I would need a new liver within 12 months but a cadaveric liver would not be available to me for 2 to 2 ½ years. You don’t have to be a mathematician to realize that those numbers don’t add up. My doctors suggested that I find a living donor who could donate a portion of his/her liver to me.

A donor is found

Ron with his daughter Stacey at a family event nine weeks after surgery.

As soon as Stacey heard that she could be a donor, without hesitation, she insisted that she be evaluated. I was forced to confront a question that no parent should ever have to answer—should a parent place a child in a situation that would require going through physical and emotional pain and suffering? The thought of having Stacey undergo major surgery on my behalf—knowing there would be an extended recovery period and permanent scarring was something I struggled with for months and an issue I wanted to avoid.

I was fortunate enough to have a number of friends and family members come forward as potential donors, but they were all eliminated by the hospital for a variety of reasons. As time drew on, Stacey became the best candidate and I was compelled to answer the question from which I had tried so hard to escape. Stacey’s strength and insistence led me to agree to have her undergo the evaluation. After Stacey was found to be a viable donor, the surgery was scheduled for June 7, 2004, (a good omen, that was my father’s birthday). As the morning approached, Stacey continued to show no uncertainty, no fear, no apprehension. With the support of my loving wife, Rosemary, daughters Stacey, Elise, Kristin and Diana, and granddaughter, Samantha, I remained positive, never doubting that both Stacey and I would recover fully from the surgery.

After the successful surgery, Stacey remained in the hospital for 10 days, while I stayed for 3 weeks. My stay included Father’s Day and on that day, the entire family visited me, including Stacey, who was still at the beginning of her recovery process. That was a very special day for me. Certainly, this surgery could have occurred any time of the year, but the fact that it took place close to Father’s Day brought out the significance of Stacey’s selfless act. For the love of her father and ignoring the inevitable pain and suffering of the recovery and the permanent scarring, Stacey risked major surgery. She considered this a small price to pay knowing in the end her father would have his health back and the family would enjoy a long future together.

Stacey’s gift to me has resulted in a special connection between us that few others could ever enjoy. A parent knows that there is a part of him in his child. How lucky am I to be able to take pleasure in the feeling of having a part of Stacey in me? I am truly blessed to have such a loving daughter who was so willing to make this sacrifice for me. She will remain a part of me, physically and emotionally, for the remainder of my now long and healthy lifetime. Thank you, Stacey.

There's no limit to the good you can do! Be a tissue donor. Did you know that just one tissue donor can potentially benefit as many as 50 people? It's true. When you sign on to become a donor, your generous gift could bring many people new life. More than 86,000 men, women and children currently await life-saving transplants. Every 13 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list. An average of 17 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant. In 2003, there were 6,455 deceased organ donors and 6,815 living organ donors resulting in 25,459 organ transplants. More than 46,000 cornea transplants were performed in 2003. More than 46,000 cornea transplants were performed in 2003. Over 900,000 tissue transplants were performed in 2003. Becoming a tissue donor is simple, two-step process: first, sign a donor card or driver's license, and second, share your decision with your family, because next of kin is always asked for consent. There is no cost to you or your family. All costs related to tissue donation are paid for by the agency recovering the tissue. Recipients will not know who donated the tissue they receive. Selection is not based on race, sex or ethnic origin, but rather on the medical need of the recipient. The identity of the donor is kept confidential. Tissue donation will not interfere with a traditional funeral. Tissues are removed by people specifically trained for tissue recovery. The donor's body is handled with respect and dignity. Tissue donation does not prohibit an open-casket funeral. What types of tissue can be donated? Kidney Heart Liver Lung Pancreas Intestine Cornea Skin Bone Bone marrow. How to become a donor. For more information, contact the Red Cross at 1.888.4.TISSUE for more information or the United Network for Organ Sharing at www.unos.org