David Bird, 46, of Millington, New Jersey had been suffering from a severe form of hepatitis of unknown origin since July. Doctors believe it was most likely picked up during a June 2004 business trip to Beirut.

Now doctors at New York University Medical Center have successfully transplanted a whole liver to save David’s life.

In November 2004, David was a candidate to receive half of a liver from a living donor. Because of the amazing regenerative capacity of the liver, the half-size liver in both the recipient and the donor would grow back to normal size. Full recovery rates are extremely high.

However, in early December, David was hospitalized and his condition deteriorated.  He was no longer a candidate for a living donor and would have to wait for a deceased donor.  That wait can sometimes take months, even years…time that David did not have.

On December 19, 2004 a healthy liver was donated.  The transplant was a success and David is recovering well.

Organ donation is the gift of life.  Please let your loved ones know that you would like to be a donor upon your death. 

David is the father of two children, Alexander, 6, and Natasha, 3. He is grateful for the opportunity to watch them grow up.