David's story, in brief

As many of you know, this is David's 3rd bout with liver problems.

In 1981, when David was 12, he was diagnosed with Wilson's Disease -- a degenerative liver disease that resulted in David receiving an liver transplant in September of 1981. David's first transplant was performed by transplant pioneer Dr. Thomas Starzl at the University of Pittsburgh.

David's mother, Parichehr, told the story of David's first transplant in The Gift of Life.

David remained in relatively good health for the next 17 years and lived a normal life. He and his family celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at 13, watched him graduate with honors from high school, earn a private Pilot's License, and earn a undergraduate degree in General Enigineering, get married to his wife Sara, and have their first child, Rachael.

In June of 1998, David's 17-year old replacement liver began to slowly fail. He visited multiple transplant centers before finally settling on the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Florida.

David 2nd and 3rd transplants were performed in the fall of 1999 by one of Dr. Starzl's proteges, Dr. Andreas Tzakis.

By May of 2000, David had recovered and returned home. Seeing the need to educate the public on the challenge of managing the transplant process from both a patient's and family's perspective, Parichehr and David's sister-in-law, Laura, co-wrote The Gift of Life 2 with Deborah Weppler, one of David's transplant nurses.

Over the next seven years David remained in good liver health, added two boys (Nathan and Caleb) to his family, and settled into a normal suburban routine in Lowell, Michigan, outside of Grand Rapids.

On November 2nd 2006, realizing that he was experiencing severe jaundice, David contacted Dr. Tzakis who suggested that he immediately return to Miami for diagnosis.

While in Miami, David's bilirubin level has continued to rise, but other liver diagnostics have not identified a clear problem beyond the fact that his liver is failing.

On November 23rd, Thanksgiving Day, David's name was put on the UNOS waiting list for a liver.

David's mother, Parichehr, has been with him in Miami throughout the month and has been joined frequently by her husband, Joe.

Sara, Rachael, Nathan and Caleb joined David on Sunday this week, along with Sara's sister Christy. His brother Ben, sister Rebecca, and brother-in-law Dave will be visiting later this week.

Overall, David remains in good spirits and eagerly awaits a new liver. He does spend most of his day in the hospital, but ventures out for fresh air and sunlight periodically.