Give the Gift of Life

Posted December 24, 2007, 10:50 am in Conditions & Diseases by Growing Bolder


A 17-year-old California girl died last week and her family is blaming their insurance company for its initial refusal to pay for a liver transplant.

Nataline Sarkisyan had leukemia and Cigna Corp. first refused to pay for a liver transplant because the company considered it experimental.

Now, Nataline's family is suing Cigna, saying the company's reversal of the decision came too late to save Nataline's life. The family's attorney says he will ask the district attorney's office to press murder or manslaughter charges against Cigna.

"They took my daughter away from me," said Nataline's father, Krikor.

Unfortunately, there are many people like Nataline who die every day awaiting a transplant. According to the American Transplant Foundation, 93,000 Americans are currently on the list awaiting critically needed transplants and, on average, 18 Americans die every day from lack of available organs.

Six years ago, Ardell Lien was one of those people waiting. He was sleeping 18 hours a day and was so weak he had to crawl up the steps to his bedroom.

Ardell suffered from congestive heart failure, and when his health took a dramatic turn for the worst, he was rushed to a hospital to await a transplant. While waiting, he suffered kidney damage and doctors told him he also needed a new kidney.

He got lucky. He was near death when a donor was found. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic quickly transplanted the organs from a 22-year-old into his failing body.

After recovery, he decided he wanted the entire world to know abou the importance of organ donation.

In May 2005, with the odds against him once again, Ardell set out in his 27-foot boat to circumnavigate the globe.

He talked to Growing Bolder about his grueling 17-month journey, what he hopes to accomplish and what he has learned about his donor's family.

To listen to our conversation with Ardell, click the play button below his photo on the right. To find out more about Ardell's journey and mission, click here to visit his Web site.



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