In April 2000, after a sudden onset of acute liver failure, Kim Burdakin's sister Kay volunteered to donate a portion of her liver to save Kim's life. Just as the operation was getting underway, the liver of a young Michigan man who died in a car accident was allocated to Kim. Soon after her transplant, Kim began writing to her donor family; by 2008 she had met the family of then-21-year-old Steven Toth. Thanks to Steven's gift, Kim was able to marry her best friend Dave, see her daughters graduate from college, and celebrate at her oldest daughter's wedding. Said Kim, "Every day I thank God for giving me the faith to believe in miracles!"

Kim's Story

Kim Burdakin is still haunted by the sudden illness that landed her in an Iowa hospital back in April of 2000. Her diagnosis: acute liver failure. Kim was on the transplant waiting list for less than two weeks before a liver transplant became her only chance for survival.

Within weeks, as a last resort to save her sister's life, Kay LaRue was slated to donate a portion of her liver to Kim – a serious, potentially risky medical procedure. However, when the transplant procedure was abruptly halted, Kay feared the worst, thinking Kim had died. Instead, the family learned that a healthy liver being recovered from a donor had been allocated to Kim.

That day, May 6, 2000, 21-year-old Steven Toth of Michigan was pronounced brain dead following a serious car accident. Steven's parents never ever imagined they would carry out his wish to be a donor, especially at such a young age. While the tragic accident devastated Steven's family and friends, his organs went on to impact many lives, including that of Kim Burdakin.

When Kim regained consciousness, she was shocked and confused when she learned that she didn't have a portion of Kay's liver. It was immediately apparent to Kim that a family had lost their loved one, and from that time forward Kim kept her donor's family foremost in her thoughts. Kim began writing to her "anonymous" donor family soon after her transplant, and was honored and privileged to meet Steven's parents and brother at the 2006 and 2008 U.S. Transplant Games, respectively. She now considers the Toths part of her family.

At the time of Kim's transplant, she was a single mother with two daughters ages 9 and 12, and she had just met Dave, who had become her best friend. Kim and Dave were married in 2002, bringing two wonderful stepsons into her family. Thanks to Steven's gift, Kim has been able to see her daughters graduate from college, and her oldest daughter is now married.

In 2005, Kim retired from a full-time job to allow her more time to educate people about the importance of organ donation. Kim is very grateful for her good health, her donor family, the transplant team and the miracles they perform. Kim says that miracles happen when ordinary people take extraordinary actions. "Every day I thank God for giving me the faith to believe in miracles!"