A Living Donation Victory
2023 Bounce Back, Give Back Award Winner - Dave Galbenski’s Journey
CKF proudly honors Grosse Pointe Shores, MI, local Dave Galbenski as the 2023 Bounce Back, Give Back Award Winner. Dave is the recipient of a liver through living donation. Dave was in his forties when he was diagnosed with PSC, a rare autoimmune disease that led to him being told the only hope was a liver transplant. In 2019, he was added to the transplant waitlist, and as 7,000 individuals die while waiting for a transplant each year, doctors encouraged Dave to find a living donor. Dave’s brother-in-law, Mark, stepped up and became his hero by donating his left liver lobe. (Did you know that your liver can regenerate, which allows you to donate part of it as a living donor?)
In late 2022, Dave began work to eliminate barriers individuals face in Michigan when considering living donation. Unlike other states, you receive little protection from discrimination when you purchase life or disability insurance as a living donor. There are no tax credits offered for expenses, travel, and lost wages. Dave is utilizing his legal background to help advance legislation and overcome these obstacles. Finally, Dave was successful in his bid to have April 11th be recognized as National Living Donor Day in the United States.
Dave is a true inspiration and role model for those in and out of the transplant community. The Chris Klug Foundation feels exceptionally privileged to celebrate his hard work. Dave will join CKF’s team of Ambassadors and continue to share his story in schools, hospitals, and events nationwide to inspire and educate others to register as organ donors. The Foundation invites you to celebrate Dave and his commitment to giving back to the community that gave him a second chance at life.
After his transplant, Dave has resumed long-distance running, racing in two Detroit Free Press half-marathons. Dave has also competed, won several medals, and set three records in his age category at the Transplant Games of America, the transplant community version of the Olympics. Dave has also partnered with Henry Ford Health to increase awareness of living donor liver transplants via television commercials, radio spots, and community activities.
Dave has worked hard to help promote organ donation, especially living liver donation. Currently, living donation only accounts for 6% of all liver transplants, Dave has worked to increase awareness by hosting Living Donor Awareness Nights at Utica, Michigan’s professional baseball field. The first night was on July 8th, 2022, and over 4,500 fans learned about living liver donation. This year, Dave hosted his first Major League Baseball Awareness Night with the Atlanta Braves on April 25th and he will host a second night with the Cincinnati Reds on July 19th.
