Donor Programs & Transplants in the News

A disturbing number of liver transplants are needed for children. Unfortunately, their lives are not in the news. Learn how to help

Naomi Judd

When Hep C forced Naomi Judd to retire from my singing career in 1991, even though she was quite ill she wanted to see something positive come from such a crisis (the word crisis in Chinese is made up of 2 characters: danger and opportunity). She contacted the American Liver Foundation and was surprised to learn they had only $200,000 in their bank account. Read More

Chris Ledoux

Chris LeDoux is a Champion, in two careers (rodeo and making music), and in life. Being a Champion means you have qualities like talent, ambition, dauntlessness, passion and, most admirable of all, courage. These are the kind of qualities that attract ordinary people and other "champions" like Garth Brooks. Garth loves and admires Chris LeDoux so much, he actually volunteered to donate part of his liver when LeDoux needed a life-saving liver transplant. Read More

Larry Hagman

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Chris Klug

I was extremely lucky. I received a perfect match and had the best team of doctors around performing the surgery. I was pretty fit going into the surgery, which helped me to bounce back quickly. It was as if I trained in preparation for my transplant. Knowing it would give me the best chance of bouncing back quickly, I worked hard preparing for the surgery both mentally and physically. I was out of the hospital in record time, four days, and back in the gym lightly riding a stationary bike and lifting my arms within a week. I really had to listen to my body and to my doctors and go easy for the first month. Read More

Shelley Fabares

Best known for her roles on Coach and The Donna Reed Show, is currently recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after undergoing liver transplant surgery. Fabares, 56, is "doing well," according to a spokesman, but no date has been set for her release. Her liver had deteriorated due to an autoimmune disorder, says Danny Chun, representative from the Chicago-based Alzheimer's Association. Read More

Rocco Prestia

Tower of Power's great bass guitarist. On July 23rd, 2002 Rocco Prestia was fortunate to receive a liver transplant. That was a huge hurdle and he is passed it. We ask your continued prayers and good wishes. Rocco's recovery from surgery has been steady. It is projected that, barring any setbacks, Rocco will return to touring with the band in early 2003. new section on the Tower of Power Message Board, titled; "Rocco Prestia updates & good thoughts". You are encourage to post your best wishes and generally keep the momentum flowing for this important effort. September 28, 2002 - The Beginning of the Long Road Back Read More

Mickey Mantle

Given a few precious extra weeks of life because of a liver transplant, Mickey Mantle will be remembered for something more than his heroic baseball career. This baseball great, considered a hero by many, was overwhelmed by the selfless gift of a liver from a stranger. Learning of the critical need for organ and tissue donation, Mickey became determined to give something back at the end of his life. He directed that The Mickey Mantle Foundation be established to promote organ and tissue donation. Mickey had expected to lead Mickey's Team to the complete elimination of deaths due to the shortge of organs and tissue, but this was not to be. Our challenge is to make his dream come true.

Foundation Summary

Read about background past activities

The Mickey Mantle Foundation

Mickey Mantle Donor Card

Michael Jordon

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Junbo

Tsuruta

Tsuruta was a patient at the Philippines National Kidney Institute in Manilla, when he died from hypo-volemic shock (shock of losing blood) during a liver transplant operation. Tsuruta was on the operating table for an astonishing 16 hours. The liver donor, a teenaged male, was shot dead in a gun accident. Because of the archaic nature of transplant laws Read More

Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel has undergone a liver transplant operation. The former motorcycle daredevil had the surgery at Tampa General Hospital on Tuesday night, according to his Web site. The statement on Knievel's site (www.evelknievel.com) says the operation was "completed successfully" and "the next few days are critical" in determining how he will accept the transplant. Knievel, 60, had hepatitis C and had been on a waiting list for a liver transplant for several months. He lives in nearby Clearwater, Florida.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton, surrounded by cards and posters from well wishers, is shown taping an organ donor spot in Chicago in this May 6, 1999 file photo. The Chicago Bears running back who became the NFL's all-time leading rusher and led the team to its only Super Bowl victory, died Monday Nov. 1, 1999. He had suffered from a rare liver disease and had been waiting for a transplant. He was 45. Read More

Billy Higgins

Billy Higgins was one of the most versatile and omnipresent drummers in jazz, certainly the one with the best smile. He was 64 when he died on May 3, 2001, at Daniel Freeman hospital in Inglewood, Calif., after a long period of liver illness. Read More

Jeff Lorber

November 29, 2004 - Even though Jeff is recovering from a kidney transplant he's still on schedule for 2005. The keyboardist / producer whose donor match was his wife Mink had the procedure last week in Los Angeles but he is still scheduled to perform with the "Groovin for Grover" boys on New Years Eve. He also plans to release his next album in February. Lorber has polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder. The official message from Lorber's website, "Jeff has just received a kidney transplant from his wife Mink. The operation was a success and Jeff is recovering nicely. We'd like to thank surgeons Dr. Singer, Dr. Gritch and the transplant dept. including Dr. Wilkenson and all of the wonderful nurses and staff at UCLA."

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