Introduction

In May 2006 Ray Brooks had to receive a liver transplant at Duke University Hospital. When Ray was born in 1972 he was 3 months premature and received blood transfusions. Prior to 1990 there was no specific blood test to check for Hepatitis C.  The United States instituted universal screenings in 1992. When Ray was in his twenties he donated blood to the Red Cross and it was discovered that he had Hepatitis C. Prior to 2006 Ray was treated twice with medication to try and suppress the hepatitis C, both times with no success. On May 15, 2006 Ray and his family were blessed with a donor and he received a liver transplant at Duke University Hospital.  Six years have passed. Six years has brought him time to watch his son Jackson (then two) grow into a smart, funny, athletic 2^nd grader. Six years brought him a daughter born in October of 2007, Riley, a bundle of sassy, prissy, spitfire energy that keeps Ray on his toes!  Six years brought him the opportunity to celebrate 11 years of marriage with his wife Janet. Six years has brought him a successful career with EcoLab, more time with his family, friends, the department, and memories made.

 Now he faces another life changing event, another liver transplant…”Rays 2^nd chance”. Since the medications Ray has tried in the past to fight the hepatitis C virus, have not been successful for him, even with a “new liver” he still has hepatitis C in his blood. Overall 50-80% of people treated for Hepatitis C are cured; Ray has a “tricky genotype of the virus”. Since he also takes immune suppressing drugs for his transplant his body isn’t able to somewhat naturally fight the virus itself, as it did prior to transplant. Therefore the team of doctors at Duke determined it was time to re-list Ray.  In April of 2012 Ray was re-listed for a liver transplant and is currently awaiting a call that a donor has been found.