Carlos Canada 56 Kennesaw, GA Liver Transplant Recipient 　 I never imagined that I would experience an organ transplant first hand. My detour in life began with the death of my wife Karen Canada. She died tragically in May 1995. Within 24 hours I received a call from LifeLink inquiring about Karen’s organs possibly being donated. It was very difficult for me to even consider donation. I was deeply lost in my intense grief. The LifeLink representative was a kind and compassionate lady who spoke with a profound understanding of my emotional state. We concluded our conversation with my need to pray over this decision and further share this option with Karen’s mother, though I knew time was of the essence. Knowing that Karen’s tragedy would be a rebirth of life for others, her mother and I decided to follow through with the organ donations. Karen’s organs and tissues helped the lives of many people. Her eyes were recovered for corneal transplant, and her heart valves saved a person’s life. Karen’s skin provided life saving grafts for many burn victims. Then in 2002, my health began changing for the worst. I was not able to survive a day without taking a nap. The sluggish and overwhelming fatigue caused me to seek help from my physician. After numerous blood tests and a referral to a hematologist I was diagnosed with having fatty liver (NASH). The next several months were like riding a roller coaster. I would have good days where my medication was helping me make it through the day. Then there were those bad days when I would experience difficulty concentrating and communicating. Expressing my ideas in a logical way became very difficult and quite challenging for me. My mental confusion prevented me from driving safely. I often got lost. As a result, I could no longer drive, and since my job relies on my transportation I could no longer work. In 2008, my condition worsened. I developed ascites and encephalopathy, and was at the end stage of liver disease. I was then placed on the waiting list for a liver transplant. During my wait, my emotions soared like a child in a candy shop, only to drop me into deep depression as the months went by with no signs of a viable liver becoming available. Then the worse happened. One evening I started to bleed internally. I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. After a couple of days a stint was inserted in order to stop my internal bleeding. Five months later, I received that all-important call and was told to head to the hospital. It looked like they had a viable liver available. My surgery lasted over eight hours. The doctor had difficulty removing my damaged liver. My transplanted liver responded slowly at first. As the days passed, my color improved and I began regaining my strength. Six months later, I feel wonderful. I have a new chance at life and to make a positive difference every day.