From 8 months to 18 years old: Young man with donated liver reaches another milestone

Liver recipient Alex and his mom, Tanisha, at his high school graduation.

From the outside, 18-year-old Alex Chandler seems like a typical teenager with a love for video games and spending time with his friends. On the inside, he’s got something pretty special. 

Alex Chandler, liver transplant recipient and recent high school graduateAlex received a liver transplant at just 8 months old, which has allowed him to grow up and hit a magic milestone in June as he graduated from Belleville High School with the rest of his class. 

Alex was born with jaundice that was not going away. A liver biopsy revealed that he needed a transplant, and Alex was placed on the waiting list. 

“He was the only baby on the list and the only one with his blood type,” said his mom, Tanisha Chandler. “We didn’t know how long the wait would be, but we kept hoping it would be soon.” 

It didn’t take long to receive the call they had been waiting for in March 2006. A generous donor in Ohio saved Alex, who received his transplant at مستشفى موت للأطفال in Ann Arbor. 

“If Alex hadn’t needed a transplant, I don’t know if I would have become an organ donor,” Tanisha said. “Now that I have that knowledge, and having gone through the process, I encourage others to educate themselves on organ donation.” 

Education about organ and tissue donation is something Alex knows firsthand. His story has been shared since he was 8 years old as part of Gift of Life Michigan’s award-winning كلنا high school education program. 

All of Us brochure coverHis smiling face, in fact, is featured on the كلنا information brochure shared with teachers and students at hundreds of high schools across Michigan. 

“I first met Alex when he was just a little boy,” said Taneisha Carswell, community relations coordinator at Gift of Life Michigan. “I met his family in person at our LIFE Walk and have been sharing his story as part of my presentation now for almost 10 years. He is just a great kid. It’s been wonderful to watch him grow up.” 

Alex plans to study forensic science and enjoy the life his donor has allowed him to live: “I just want to be settled, have a good job and a happy family,” he said. 

Read more in the LifeLINES newsletter

شارك مع صديق
قراءة المزيد من المشاركات

Gift of Life Michigan hosts Genesee County Interfaith Breakfast Thursday, April 24

GRAND BLANC – On Thursday, April 24, Gift of Life Michigan will host the inaugural…

اقرأ أكثر

Paying it forward through advocacy and awareness

In October 2013, Grosse Pointe Shores resident Dave Galbenski was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis…

اقرأ أكثر
Larry Gates is a living kidney recipient

One act of generosity saves two lives

For more than 15 years, Larry Gates, from Ann Arbor, lived with progressively worsening kidney…

اقرأ أكثر

Cornea transplant helps basketball star get his shot back

Sixteen-year-old Cooper Boike loves to play basketball. Standing tall at 6’3, he plays both point…

اقرأ أكثر

Honoring life through art

Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo has found a…

اقرأ أكثر

Hurley Medical Center named Gift of Life Michigan’s Hospital of the Year

FLINT, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan has named Hurley Medical Center in Flint as…

اقرأ أكثر
انتقل إلى أعلى