“Bonus days”

James Fielding had always been a strong, active man until his health began to deteriorate, unbeknownst to him. It was his vigilant wife, Gina, who sensed that something was amiss. He was sleeping all the time and still had no energy; he was “foggy,” and the color of his skin was off. Encouraged by her intuition, Gina urged James to seek medical attention.

Little did they know that this simple decision would set off a whirlwind journey that would test their strength and resilience. A routine physical turned into a life-altering diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, and James found himself in a battle for survival.

After a tumultuous period of hospitalizations, procedures and setbacks, James finally received the life-saving gift he desperately needed. On Feb. 6, 2020, James was given the gift of a liver transplant. The road to recovery was far from smooth, marked by episodes of rejection and complications. Yet, through unwavering faith, perseverance and the support of loved ones, James emerged victorious. “I feel great now,” he said. He’s now been over two years without complications or incident and is looking to his bright future.

He says, “I play golf. I spend a lot of time with my two kids and their families. We go on family vacation each year. We enjoy life.”

And he doesn’t ever forget the selfless gift that has allowed him to live again. “It means the world to me. I pray for the family that lost their loved one. I feel like the most fortunate person in the world. I thank God for the blessing that these people gave me.”

He wrote a Dear Donor letter in the hopes of providing some peace to the family who lost a loved one. “I wanted to express my gratitude to the family that lost their loved one. I hope that gave them a little bit of comfort.”

James savors every moment, cherishing precious family time and indulging in his passions. Each day is a gift, a testament to the generosity of the donor and their family.

“I appreciate every day.”