Brian, Liver Recipient

Brian's life was saved by a liver transplant in January 1999. At that time he was an Albuquerque Police Department officer, a husband, and father of three children, Megan, 13, Kasey, 12, and Michael, 15 months.

Brian had been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, and was told that his liver would likely hold out for about three years. But within months of getting on the transplant list, he began deteriorating rapidly and was hospitalized several times for internal bleeding and other complications of his liver disease. Brian had been hospitalized for two weeks and was about to be discharged when he received the news that he had been chosen as a backup candidate for a liver that had been donated. Brian was wheeled into the operating room later that day. Surgery lasted about 12 hours. Surgeons said that without the transplant, they believed Brian would have lived only another two weeks.

Brian was soon able to return to work full time and continues to enjoy good health and a challenging career. He considers himself extremely fortunate to awaken each morning to a new day and to spend time with his wife, Patricia, and his three children. He is very grateful to his donor family for giving the ultimate gift of life.