PITTSBURGH — A complete stranger has offered to donate part of his liver to a 4-year-old foster child who has been waiting at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital for the past month in desperate need of a transplant.
Channel 11 News learned that more than 500 people inquired about being a donor to Jamie, who was born with a liver defect and had spent her whole life in foster care.
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Of all of those people, David Denovchek, of Ohio, was confirmed a match.
“Her story touched me. There is this awesome little girl who clearly has not had a fair shake of things in life, has had nothing but bad luck, and I thought, ‘I’ve had a good life,’” Denovchek said. “I haven’t had these kinds of troubles. I couldn’t imagine what that would be like for somebody and I just thought maybe I can help.”
Doctors at UPMC said they plan to do the surgery before the end of the month.
The news of a match has been overwhelming to Marilyn Pape of Trumbull County Children's Services who said Jamie has become like a daughter to all of them.
“Watching her fight and struggle through this and seeing her in ICU not even able to open her eyes has been heartbreaking for all of us. Not to know she has a fighting chance at living is overwhelming,” she said.
Denovchek, who works as a vet tech and will have to be off work for 12 weeks following the surgery, has set up a Go Fund Me page to help cover some of his additional medical costs.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation can CLICK HERE.
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