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Liver Recipient, Mother Of 4, Meets Donor Family For First Time

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- April is national Donate Life month and two mothers who were bonded by the selfless gift of organ donation are asking others to sign up.

In a small conference room inside New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, the two mothers met for the first time, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.

One has suffered incredible loss, another was brought back from the brink of death. Both are bonded by a teen who is no longer here.

"I miss him so much," Lisa Negron, the organ donor's mother, told CBS2.

Last June, 19-year-old Christian Negron was jumped by four men in an attempted robbery near his home in the Bronx. Nine days later, he was found unconscious in his home.

"And he never regained consciousness," his mother said.

Christian's family decided to donate their son's organs, a selfless decision made during the most difficult time in their lives.

"Everybody says there's a reason for everything and everyday I ask myself what was that reason?" Negron said.

At that same time, a 42-year-old mother of four from New Jersey went into sudden liver failure.

"The head doctor said we have about four days," Thomas Draper, husband of liver recipient Susan Draper, said.

"Her chances of surviving more than a few weeks without a transplant approached zero," Dr. Benjamin Samstein said.

That's when the match came. Because of Christian's donation, Susan would make a full recovery. His liver is now working inside of her.

Now everyday Susan makes right on a promise to the teen who gave so much.

"To step it up. To really make this life count," Susan said.

The Negron and Draper families are asking eligible donors to sign up. One organ donor can save up to eight lives.

 

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