Living donor mom and two-time transplant recipient son celebrate renewed health and a bright future
Fresno, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2024) — Shortly after Trevor Samson was born in Berkeley, California in 1992, his parents, Pennie and Kelly Samson, noticed he was lethargic and wasn’t eating. Exploratory surgery on Trevor was performed at six weeks of age to confirm he had biliary atresia, a condition in infants that scars and closes the bile ducts and can cause liver failure.
Pennie with newborn Trevor at the hospital.
Trevor needed a liver transplant, and at 10 months old, his mother donated 20% of her liver to her son through living donation. The transplant enabled Trevor to live and thrive, and he grew up playing several sports.
He became the kicker of his high school football team, and later went on to live out his dream of kicking for a Division I college football team at Brigham Young University. However, in 2023—three decades after his liver transplant—Trevor fell sick once again. He was placed on the transplant waiting list in June 2023, and received his life-saving gift within one week.
“Organ donation truly saves lives, and will save countless more,” said Trevor. “Being a transplant recipient made me who I am today, and I’m proud to be a registered organ donor myself, too.”
Since receiving his second liver transplant, Trevor is thriving. He’s athletic, loves playing pickleball, and enjoys spending time with his now one-year-old nephew. Trevor proposed to his fiancee, Sydney, and the two are set to get married in December 2024.
Pennie and Trevor maintain a close bond.
“Organ donors and their families show so much selflessness,” said Pennie. “We are in awe of their ability to give. Knowing that someone else’s liver is enabling my son to live reiterates the power of organ donation.”
More than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant throughout the United States, and a single donor has the power to save up to eight lives through organ donation. Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation here.