Second chance at life: Woman donates part of her liver to save cousin

The Morning Journal | Jason Henry
SHEFFIELD — When Rhonda Kilian found out her cousin Brad Anderson would need a liver transplant, she knew she would be a match. It was just a gut feeling.

Once she learned she was right, nothing would stop her from giving her family member a second chance at the life he deserved.

“When this came up, I didn’t hesitate,” she said. “I wanted to be able to give Brad that chance to have a fresh new life and to be able to spend more time with his kids and his family.”

Tomorrow, Kilian will give more than half of her liver to Anderson in an effort to save him from life-threatening non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

“With the core of my being, I know it will be fine,” Kilian said. “I know it might sound a little dramatic, or cheesy as my husband would call it, but I think this is my purpose in life and that God chose me for this.”

Anderson was diagnosed in December 2008. Instantly the diagnosis sent chills through the family, as only four years before, Anderson’s mother died from the same disease.

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