TRUMBULL COUNTY, Ohio — Besides a tube in her nose, Jamie, who is now 5, looks and acts like any other child, making it almost hard to believe that in April she was fighting to stay alive.
Jamie received a life-saving liver transplant at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh this summer all thanks to David Denovchek, who volunteered a piece of his liver to the little girl whom he didn't even know.
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Nearly seven months after the surgery, Jamie and Denovchek met for the first time this week.
“There are no words. She’s just this crazy, little kid. She’s just like I was, still am really, so it’s just awesome to get to chase her around here, to play with her. It’s incredible,” Denovchek said.
Born 24 years apart, Jamie and Denovchek now share a special bond: the girl who needed a new liver to survive and the man who saved her life.
“It’s just amazing too that it went well. It’s working. She’s getting to be a kid. It’s incredible. It’s an incredible feeling,” Denovchek said.
Jamie's foster family is moving forward with her adoption, and she's recovering well.
As for Denovchek, he said he'd do it all over again for Jamie and hopes to stay in contact with her for many years to come.
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