Lede In
March 29, 2005
By Francis McCabe
francismccabe@gannett.com

Seven months after being saved from sure death by an organ donation, Shreveport Fire Capt. Gene Williams wants to spread the message: Blood and organ donations save lives.

On Monday, Williams encouraged people to look into becoming a blood or organ donor.

Williams joined Lifeshare Blood Centers, who will be giving out red wristbands to those who give blood to wear daily. The wristbands are meant to serve as a reminder to give blood.

In August, Williams and his wife, Julia, contracted hepatitis A while on vacation in Florida. While Julia was able to overcome the illness, Williams wasn't.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease usually spread through food or poor hygiene. About 35,000 cases can be seen in the nation annually. About 90 percent of those who are diagnosed in the nation annually will recover from the disease.

Williams' condition was unusually severe and he was not expected to survive without a liver transplant, said doctors with the Willis-Knighton/LSU Regional Transplant Center at the time.

Surgeons successfully transplanted his liver the morning of Aug. 31.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who gave blood for me and I appreciate those who are regular blood donors," Williams said, Monday. "Because they gave, the blood was there for me. It saved my life."

Every month, the region uses 3,300 units of blood, according to Libby Murphy, a donor recruiter with Lifeshare Blood Centers. A liver transplant can use as many as 100 units of blood.