Hallmark or Disney
Patient Ambassador - Debra Stoiber’s Transplant Journey
Debra’s transplant journey began in 1988 as an eighth grader when she was plagued with terrible nose bleeds. She was living on her family’s dairy farm in Kalida, Ohio, with seven siblings. Between all of the long hours of milking, gardening, farming, and sports, she did not have time to allow the nose bleeds to hold her back. She checked in with her family physician and followed the protocol for nosebleeds due to dry winter weather.
However, within a few short months, the cause of the nose bleeds became apparent, and Debra was experiencing complete liver failure. After a series of tests, doctors confirmed she had a genetic disorder called Wilson’s Disease, which prevents the body from removing extra copper buildup, which can affect the liver, brain, eyes, and other organs. Due to the late diagnosis and the severity of damage to Debra’s liver, with 98% of her liver not functioning, her only hope was a liver transplant. Debra would spend the next three months at Children’s Hospital Columbus waiting for her liver transplant, as she was not well enough to return home to wait.
On October 2nd, 1988, Debra was released for the weekend to go home. She was attending a dinner reception for a 100th Anniversary Celebration of the service of the Precious Blood Priests. As her dad was singing “Amazing Grace” with his men’s choir, Debra’s beeper began to alert her that her new liver was on the way! She describes this as her Hallmark Moment!
While Debra was overjoyed by the news that she would be receiving a liver transplant, her thoughts immediately went to the Donor Family, who were enduring the tragic loss of their teenage son, yet were able to say “yes” to organ donation. "What an unselfish gift and act of pure love. Now, it sounds like a Disney movie rather than a Hallmark Moment,” Debra thought.
Two weeks after her transplant, Debra headed to her first day as a Freshman in high school, where she should have been all along. She began playing basketball, soccer, and flute again before graduating as the Valedictorian of her class. She has gone on to achieve her Olympic gold by adopting a Don’t Quit motto and striving to do her best at whatever she starts. She credits her donor and their family's decision as the cause and motivator behind her success post-transplant.
In 1990, Debra decided to become an athlete ambassador for Lifeline of Ohio Organ Procurement at the first National Transplant Games of America. Not knowing if she was going to do well, as she was not a track star in school, she soon scooped up five gold medals in each of her races. Debra notes she made lifelong friends at that games and has attended every Transplant Games since 1990, except one when she was recovering from having her second child. (I guess we can let you off, Debra!) Debra now lives in the suburbs of Chicago, but regularly reconnects with her Ohio teammates and loves to see so many people continue to live a healthy and active lifestyle post-transplant.
Now 32 years out from her liver transplant and with three children, a wonderful husband, and 34 nieces and nephews, Debra is 48 and continues to live life to the fullest. She earned her graduate degree from OSU, and has been a research scientist for the University of Chicago and several BioTech companies. But her favorite role is being a mom to her three beautiful children.
Since her transplant, Debra has seen numbers continue to rise in the world of transplants thanks to the power of organ, eye, and tissue donation. She is regularly inspired and humbled to be a part of the transplant community, and loves to read other transplant stories.
