Denny Russell of Owensboro, Ky., left Saint Louis University Hospital with the best Christmas gift of his life – a new liver. And true to his nature as a teacher and long-time football coach at Daviss County High School, Russell wants to share his experience and educate people on the importance of organ donation.

“We have been waiting since 1997 for this,” Russell says. “And it didn’t happen a moment too soon.”

In the months leading up to his Christmas day transplant, Russell was sleeping 18 hours a day. Severe fatigue is one of the main symptoms of cirrhosis brought on in Russell’s case by a genetic deficiency of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin. His weakened condition forced Russell off the football field for the 2001 season.

An estimated 100,000 Americans are believed to be severely deficient in the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein. Additionally, 20 million lives are affected by alpha-1 in the United States.

Cesar Bello, MD, of Evansville, Ind., referred Russell to Bruce Bacon, MD, a nationally renowned SLUCare hepatologist (liver specialist) at Saint Louis University Hospital. SLUCare transplant surgeon Harvey Solomon, MD, performed the liver transplant. Upon discharge, Russell and his wife Suzanne, a swimming teacher in Owensboro, checked into post-transplant housing near the hospital. The six-week accommodations allowed Russell to stay in St. Louis while doctors closely monitored his initial recovery.

While the Russells are happy the transplant is behind them, they see the timing as a mixed blessing.  Their stay in St. Louis forces them to miss much of the basketball season of their son, Dane, a 6-foot, 7-inch Daviss County High School senior.

“That’s hard for us,” says Suzanne Russell. But her husband is quick to add that video cameras will ensure they don’t miss a single shot.

 “And I plan to return to the football field next season,” he says.

Dedicated in 1933, Saint Louis University Hospital is a 356-bed quaternary facility and, through a partnership with SLUCare, the physicians of Saint Louis University, serves as the primary teaching site for the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.  The hospital employs a staff of 1,800 and is nationally ranked in ten medical specialties according to U.S. News & World Report.  It is the St. Louis area’s only Level I Trauma Center certified by both Missouri and Illinois.

Tenet Saint Louis is a 1,584-licensed bed system of academic and community hospitals and schools of nursing. In addition to Saint Louis University Hospital, its other facilities include Des Peres Hospital, Forest Park Hospital, SouthPointe Hospital and St. Alexius Hospital.  The health system employs approximately 5,500 people and cares for patients from eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and beyond.