Providing a Second Chance at Life
The concept of giving back to the community has come to define an important company value for TransCore employees across the globe. As families celebrated Thanksgiving, one story of selflessness stood out.
Every year, nearly 21,000 Americans wait in line for a life-saving liver transplant. In fact, even more are diagnosed with liver disease but don’t even make it to the list, and another 2,500 die while waiting.
TransCore Corporate Controller Mike Crotty became intimately aware of these facts when his father-in-law Michael Rosenstein was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.
While attempting to secure a spot for Mr. Rosenstein on the liver donation list, Mr. Crotty learned of a relatively new procedure called living donor surgery. Because a healthy liver has the ability to regenerate, living donor surgery is now an option. As fate would have it, Mr. Crotty was determined to be the match that Mr. Rosenstein would need.
The evaluation process included an intense testing process that included x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, blood tests, and medical history evaluations, as well as a rigorous exercise regime to get both donor and recipient in the best shape of their lives to ensure the greatest chance for a successful transplant.
On August 9, 2018, the two underwent life-saving liver transplant surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the first medical centers to offer the pioneering surgery. Both patients did extraordinarily well and are on their respective ways to full recoveries.
“I’m often asked how hard a decision it was to donate a portion of my liver,” said Mr. Crotty. “Truthfully, it was the easiest decision I ever made in my life. I’m grateful to TransCore for standing with me every step of the way.”
Mr. Crotty plans to volunteer at the UPMC’s new donor evaluation center, which opened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this past July, providing those considering living donor surgery with the valuable knowledge gained from first-hand experience.
TransCore is proud to highlight Mr. Crotty’s example of selflessness and sacrifice, and for raising awareness within our company and his community of living donor transplant opportunities.