Suzy Crossin, Liver Recipient and Donor Family

I understand the power of organ and tissue donation. I have been on both sides of donation – I know the grief a donor family feels after losing a loved one and the hope that comes from knowing a part of that loved one can live on. I also know the bittersweet joy a recipient feels after receiving a life-saving transplant. In 2006, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, most likely from a blood transfusion decades earlier. By the time the doctors diagnosed my condition; I had already lost 95 percent of my liver function and was told transplantation was my only hope for survival. As a wife and mother, I was scared about my prognosis. My husband, Steven, stood by my side and helped me each day as I became progressively more ill. I wanted to be strong for him and endured the fatigue, nausea, memory loss and daily struggle to get out of bed as I waited for a transplant. About a year after I was listed for a liver transplant, my husband, Perry County Deputy Sheriff, died while on duty. It was January 4, 2008 and I remember that day vividly because it was like Steven went out of his way to tell me he loved me. He was never one for public displays of affection, but that day, when we crossed pats in town, he planted a big kiss on me and said, “I’ll see you at home, wife!” Our family was devastated by the unexpected loss of Steven, a husband, father and grandfather. When I was listed for a transplant, Steven told me that he had always been a registered donor, and it brought us some comfort that we could fulfill his wish to donate tissue after his death. We know Steven had the potential to impact 40 lives, but we know for sure he changed the lives o the five recipients who have written to express their gratitude. Knowing that Steven lives on through the gifts he gave has helped me in my healing process, and hearing from his recipients has been very touching. One recipient can drive again and another can pick up her daughter thanks to the tissue transplant. One recipient’s story particularly touched me – one of Steven’s recipients is a fireman and thanks to his gift, he can continue to “protect and serve” like my husband did. I joke that hopefully Steven’s donation gave him the ability to direct traffic, as firefighters are notoriously bad at that, according to police officers! After losing Steven, I continued to wait for a transplant to save my life. It was more than a year later before I received “the call” that a liver was available for me on April 8, 2009. I cried as I was being prepped for surgery, because I knew exactly how my donor’s family felt at that moment. My family was celebrating my second chance and another family was coping with the loss of their person. I really cherish this gift I have received from my donor; I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my donor’s generosity. I’m making the most of the opportunity I was given, spending time with my family and watching my two granddaughters grow up! I’m still working full-time and volunteering to share Steven’s story, hoping his generosity will inspire someone else to register as a donor. Watch the Public Service Announcement

Read Debbie's story
"If more people sign up, more lives will be saved and fewer families will lose a father, husband, grandfather or loved one because a transplant didn't come soon enough"

Read Ally's story
I have my life back, and that wouldn’t have been possible without an organ donor. I am very, very grateful.

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