This could be the feel-good story of the year. Chris Dempsey, a 38-year-old ex-marine, overheard the workplace conversation of a woman whose cousin was desperately in need of a liver transplant, without which she had only a few months to live. There were over 100,000 people on the waiting list. Dempsey thought he might do what he would want someone else to do if it were his family member. He volunteered. After testing, he discovered that he was a match for the 27-year-old Heather Krueger. They soon met and got to know and like one another. Nineteen months after the successful surgery in Illinois where Chris gave up half of his liver, his selfless gift was rewarded. He and Heather were just married!
How was this possible? Since we only have one liver, aren’t donors of livers deceased? Actually no. Most people do not realize that the liver is an organ that has the amazing ability to regenerate completely. After such surgery, the remaining portion of the donor’s liver and the part of the liver that has been transplanted into the patient will each regrow to normal size within a few weeks! So now Chris Heather and have grown together in more than one way.
