On April 22, 2000, at my home in Muscatine, Iowa, I woke feeling quite weak, confused, and very jaudiced. After being admitted to the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics, the doctors ordered a battery of tests. A liver biopsy was performed and my liver was functioning at 40 percent. I was told I had acute liver failure and needed a liver transplant. My first reaction was, "there's no way, I don't have time for this. I need to get home."

Have you ever been scared? The Webster Dictionary defines scared as being in a state of fear, fight or panic. Scared for me...was being asked where my will was. Scared...was the thought of not seeing my daughters grow up (Jenna-12 and Brittany-6). And, scared...was being on the transplant waiting list and wondering if I would live or die.

Through a series of tests, it was determined that my sister, Kay LaRue, was a candidate to donate a portion of her liver to me. I was now on the waiting list and Kay was my "safety net."

On May 6, 2000, exactly two weeks after entering the hospital, a second liver biopsy indicated by liver was functioning at only 10 percent and I developed a serious complication - I was bleeding internally. While performing this second liver biopsy a vessel was nicked which caused the internal bleeding. I was rushed into surgery to start procedures to the stop the internal bleeding and Kay was summoned to the hospital to be prepped for the liver transplant.

While my sister was being prepped for surgery her procedures were abruptly halted. She feared the worst....she thought I had died. However, the transplant team learned that there was liver on its way from Michigan.

My transplant began on the morning, May 7, 2000, and after 10 hours and many prayers later, the transplant was a success! It wasn't until I gained consciousness many hours later that I learned I did not receive my sister's liver. I was shocked and confused.

It was May 6, 2000, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that 21 year-old Steven Toth was pronounced brain dead following a serious car accident. While this tragic accident devastated Steven's family and friends, his organs went on to impact many lives. A father of four has his heart, two people are off dialysis because they have Steven's kidneys and I received Steven's liver. Steven had told his parents he wanted to be an organ donor. They just never imagined they'd have to carry out his wish.

At the time of my transplant, I was a single, working mom and I had just met an incredible guy who had become my best friend. Thanks to Steven, my transplant has allowed me to be there for my two daughters. Jenna is now 21 and Brittany is 18. In 2002, I married my best friend, Dave, and my life was further enhanced with two wonderful stepsons, Mike and Tom.

In 2006, I attended my first U.S. Transplant Games. I didn't bring home any medals but had an even better experience....I met Steven's parents Gene & Susan Toth. It was impossible to find the right words to say "thank you for saving my life." However, it was very rewarding to finally put my arms around them and give them a hug. It was an embrace I found difficult to let go. At the 2008 Games I had the privilege of meeting Steven's brother Chad. Wow, what an awesome guy!

I now devote a great deal of my time promoting organ and tissue donation in memory of my donor, Steven, and in honor of the 100,000+ Americans waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. I'm also a member of the OPTN/UNOS Patient Affairs Committee, an Iowa Donor Network volunteer, and a member of Team Iowa.

It still haunts me today that I was on the transplant waiting list less than two weeks when a liver transplant was my only chance for survival. I'm forever grateful for the transplant professionals and for the miracles they perform. Thank you God for giving me the faith to believe in miracles!