In early 2021 my father was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. This is a genetic disease that eventually leads to liver failure due to the liver not producing the antitrypsin protein that keeps the liver healthy inside your body. Due to the deficiency, dad developed nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis and then two separate cancerous lesions that were treated with chemotherapy over the course of last year. During the cancer treatment, dad was added to the Liver Transplant Registry.

After nearly one year we were contacted and informed that he could potentially be receiving a liver. Preparations were made family was contacted and then all we could do was hurry up and wait. We were incredibly nervous and excited. It felt like it was finally dad's day. Just before dad was to be taken to the operating room the transplant organization reached out to the hospital to let them know that there was an issue with the aircraft that was set to carry the liver. This failure felt like a death sentence. After that day dad was given about 4 months to live. No one was prepared. There was still so much to be done and so many more years he needed to be here. His kids needed him so did his wife. His granddaughter was already making plans for Disney World once papaw was "fixed." We were devastated and spent the remainder of the week with a dark cloud over all our heads.

But then by what we can only explain as a miracle Sunday, at 10 AM - my father's life changed forever. He was given a SECOND second chance at life. We received the call at 10 am to come to Louisville for a liver. By 9 pm that night they'd made the first incision. After the surgery, he was in Transplant ICU for about one week where Chris Martin went above and beyond in every single aspect.

There were several nights that Chris would stay with my father late - or come in earlier just to sit with him and make sure he was comfortable. Chris listened to every single concern we had related to recovery and never hesitated to assist in any way he could. Chris was VERY knowledgeable in all aspects of his job and never hesitated to lend a hand. Chris would go out of his way to explain medication changes and all the numbers on the monitors to us multiple times even to ensure that we understood and were comfortable. We waited patiently every day for Chris to arrive for his shift and were always sad to see that it was time for him to leave. It was clear that Chris genuinely cared for dad, his recovery, and our entire family. Chris' dedication to his career was evident and his willingness to go above and beyond for a patient is incredibly admirable.