Luis Torres

Extraordinary People:
Luis Torres

Luis Torres

Luis Torres
Berks County

When I received a liver transplant in November of 2004, I was also given a second chance at life. This operation has had such a major impact on me and my family – there are so many things I can do now that I never would have been able to experience had I not undergone surgery. Because of my transplant, I am celebrating my first wedding anniversary with my wife, Cheryl, this year, and my son, Miguel, still has a father.

Before I got sick, I’d say I led a pretty normal life. My job as a New York State trooper helped keep me in great physical shape – I called it my “fighting shape” and I felt like I was invincible, like nothing could stop me. But I would soon find out this wasn’t the case at all.

In 1995, I was diagnosed with hepatitis, which I had probably contracted through my work. The disease was crippling – made worse after my work during the 9/11 crisis – and it forced me to retire from my job in 2002. At that point, I knew I was going to need a new liver, so I did my research. Since Pennsylvania was high on the list of transplant centers with top physicians in the field of organ recovery, I quickly made the move down to Berks County. It was good timing because as soon as I got down there, my health began to deteriorate. I was on a downward spiral and was very close to death.

In May of 2004, I was placed on the transplant waiting list to receive a new liver. The time spent waiting for my new liver was brutal; I became a hermit and wouldn’t leave my house unless it was for a doctor’s appointment. Needless to say, I was floored when I got the call around midnight on November 11 telling me that a liver had been found and to report to the hospital as soon as possible. By 6:30 a.m. I was in the operating room at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Thirteen-and-a-half hours later, I successfully came out of surgery with a new liver.

I don’t know much about my donor other than he was an 18-year-old man. This was a conflict of emotions for me because I have a son, Miguel, and while my family celebrated the fact that I was still alive, there was another family somewhere grieving the loss of their son. However, through written correspondence with my donor family, I have received encouraging words from them and I’ll always be grateful for what they have done for me.

Ever since my transplant, I try to be as involved as I can with spreading the word about the importance of organ donation. Similar to my job as a police officer, I am still relating to the public, but in a much different way. I’m currently the chair of Berks Coalition for Organ and Tissue Donation, a branch of the Gift of Life Donor Program, and speak at events trying to raises people’s awareness about organ and tissue donation so they can make an informed decision and save lives.

Through my work with the Coalition, I have met several donor families and as far as I’m concerned, every donor family is my donor family. I have become very fond of those special people who have lost someone they loved, yet were strong enough to give the gift of life to another person. The donor families feel the same way – after experiencing such a great loss, they get so much joy out of watching the recipients thrive after their transplants.

I understand that a conversation about organ donation is difficult. But, it is a conversation that can be a very rewarding one because it can save lives. I encourage you to sign up now to be an organ and tissue donor and share your decision with the ones you love.