April is Organ Donation Awareness Month, to bring attention to a life saving choice everyone can make. An Athens family is sharing their story.
Reporter: Jennifer Kliese | WSAW
The Weiks learned early on that they carry genes that could cause their children to develop a rare liver disease.
"They said our chances would be probably one out of every 4 kids could poss develop this disease," says Darin Weiks.
Their oldest son Doogie was 17 when he was placed on the liver transplant wait list.
"They found tumors that had developed on my liver that had developed from various causes that comes from the disease that I had," says Doogie Weiks.
Doogie had his transplant in 2009. And within eight months, his eight year old brother Gabe would also need a new liver.
"It was kind of like watching me through someone else's eyes because I knew what was all coming except I just saw it from 2 different perspectives," says Doogie.
Doogie says he's glad he could go through the transplant first, because his experience helped Gabe get through what can be a very difficult time for a child.
"It felt pretty good cuz he's gone thru it and he's helped me throughout the whole way," says Gabe Weiks.
It's been nearly a year since Gabe's surgery and both sons are healthier than ever. And the whole family truly understands the importance of checking that box on your drivers license.
And they hope their story will convince others to be a donor and make the commitment to saving lives.
The Weiks will be at Northcentral Wisconsin donate life's scavenger hunt fundraiser at the end of April.
For more information on the event, and organ donation, Click Here
"They said our chances would be probably one out of every 4 kids could poss develop this disease," says Darin Weiks.
Their oldest son Doogie was 17 when he was placed on the liver transplant wait list.
"They found tumors that had developed on my liver that had developed from various causes that comes from the disease that I had," says Doogie Weiks.
Doogie had his transplant in 2009. And within eight months, his eight year old brother Gabe would also need a new liver.
"It was kind of like watching me through someone else's eyes because I knew what was all coming except I just saw it from 2 different perspectives," says Doogie.
Doogie says he's glad he could go through the transplant first, because his experience helped Gabe get through what can be a very difficult time for a child.
"It felt pretty good cuz he's gone thru it and he's helped me throughout the whole way," says Gabe Weiks.
It's been nearly a year since Gabe's surgery and both sons are healthier than ever. And the whole family truly understands the importance of checking that box on your drivers license.
And they hope their story will convince others to be a donor and make the commitment to saving lives.
The Weiks will be at Northcentral Wisconsin donate life's scavenger hunt fundraiser at the end of April.
For more information on the event, and organ donation, Click Here
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