Cincinnati Transplant Surgeon Receives Liver Transplant

The director of the transplant program at the University of Cincinnati has become one of a only handful of transplant surgeons to himself become the recipient of an organ transplant.

Dr. Steve Woodle, 50, a transplant surgeon for 16 years, revealed that in October he received a liver transplant after a four-year battle with liver cancer.

Woodle, who held a news conference this week to publicly thank the family who donated the liver of a deceased loved one, said he "wanted to say how much of a difference it made in my life and in my family's life."

Woodle said he spent nearly 60 days on the waiting list for a liver -- about twice the Cincinnati average of 28 days for a person in his condition.

Describing himself now as "about 95 percent recovered," Woodle said he also wanted to send a message that people can lead active lives after getting a transplant.

"I know what it is to be at the complete mercy of God and the people taking care of you," Woodle said. "But I also want people to know that, after a transplant, they can go back to the lives they had before."

Other Sources: Cincinnati Enquirer