Bob Bonner donated 60% of his liver to his sister Lisa Keezer, who at the age of 28 was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, Budd Chiari Syndrome. Says Lisa, "I cannot express enough the amount of gratitude I have for my brother for making this part of my life possible."

Bob and Lisa's Story

In June 2003, at the age of 28, pediatric nurse Lisa Keezer was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, Budd Chiari Syndrome, which caused her liver to become cirrhotic and, eventually, to fail. After experiencing several life-threatening episodes, Lisa was placed at the top of the list for transplant, but no liver became available. Amazingly, she stabilized enough for the doctors to place a shunt in her liver, which helped to decrease the pressure.

Lisa still worked part-time as a pediatric nurse, but she found it more and more difficult to perform activities of daily life. Two years after her diagnosis, her doctors told her that her best chance for survival was to have a liver transplant from a living donor. It was her brother, Bob Bonner, who stepped in to save her life by donating 60% of his liver to Lisa at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

“I cannot say enough about UPMC and its transplant center,” says Bob. “They were so supportive from beginning to end and are still checking up on us.”

And Lisa cannot say enough about Bob. “My brother has a contagious zest for life both personally and professionally. This attribute has enabled him to have a positive impact as an inner-city grade school teacher by inspiring his students to do their best,” says Lisa. “Prior to transplant, I became engaged and my fiancé asked Bob to be our best man, cementing our bond even further.”

About three weeks after their surgery, Lisa and Bob were able to talk to his students via a live video link arranged by his school and the hospital. His students read their original poetry, and one even sang a song. “All of them learned from this experience how important organ donation is, and that one person can truly change another’s life in such a positive way,” adds Lisa. One of his fourth grade students was quoted by a reporter saying “I learned that it takes a lot of hearts to give up half of your liver to somebody.”

“I couldn’t agree more – he is my hero,” Lisa adds.

Bob still teaches his fourth grade students at AD Prima Charter School in Center City. “I always wear my Donate Life bracelet, and that gets the conversation going. I try to teach them about sacrifice and relate it to their level – and about how important it is to help out your family.”

Since her transplant, Lisa has gone back to work full-time as a pediatric nurse, married, and participated in the U.S. Transplant Games in 2004. She and her husband are planning to start a family. She sees her experience as “very surreal, and I cannot express enough the amount of gratitude I have for my brother for making this part of my life possible.”