A Piece Of Someone’s Liver Is All Dad Of 2 Needs: 6 Good News Stories

ACROSS AMERICA — Ian Galvin doesn’t have good news yet, but he and his wife, Brittni, and their two children are hoping their public appeal will result in the gift of life: a piece of someone’s liver.

The 40-year-old Fredericksburg, Virginia, man needs a liver transplant. He doesn’t drink or smoke, and his biggest indulgence is an occasional large pizza. Still, he has cirrhosis of the liver — a diagnosis that initially baffled doctors because of his healthy lifestyle. It was the roll of genetic dice, they determined.

The liver is the one organ in the human body that can fully regrow. Donors are typically hospitalized for about a week and begin feeling normal again in about four to six weeks. That’s what Galvin wants, too. To feel normal.

When a search among family and friends didn’t identify a donor, Galvin’s doctors told him to cast a wider net. The family’s appeal on Facebook was met with “overwhelming” response, his wife told Patch. Some people who have stepped up, others are humanitarians who have never met the family.

“Doctors have repeatedly told us that we don't need a blood match for Ian! Which offers us a wider range of people to offer their donation,” Brittni said. "We wish that was the case for a ‘sick liver.’ We understand the incredible sacrifice it can be to be a living donor.” » A Patch Exclusive by Liam Griffin for Fredericksburg Patch

This Super Bowl Is For Girls

Saja Alnajjar spent four years at Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois, wondering why there wasn’t an opportunity for girls to play football, a game she has loved as far back as she can remember.

Long story short, she joined a Chicago Bears-sponsored flag football team as a student and is now a speech language pathologist at her alma mater. She signed on as the school’s first-ever flag football coach and took the team to the state tournament in its inaugural year. The Bears took notice, rewarding her with two tickets to the Feb. 10 Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

She’s grateful to the Bears for the tickets, and also to the franchise for giving girls a chance to play football.

“To run the show alone, to go to games alone and most of the practices alone, it wasn’t easy — it wasn’t easy at all,” Alnajjar told Patch. “You’re playing a role that maybe four coaches would play. So, there was a lot of late nights, a lot of sleepless nights to put in all of the work to get the girls the opportunity that they deserve.” » READ MORE: A Patch Exclusive by Jeff Arnold for Orland Park Patch

A Piece Of His Son

In the 18 years since U.S. Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy was killed by Taliban rebels in Afghanistan, his family at home in Patchogue, New York, has wondered what happened to his watch, sunglasses and other personal items of value.

A propaganda video showed the rebels stripping Murphy’s and two other SEALS’ bodies of anything of value, but family members figured hope was lost. They were wrong.

It’s not clear how the most recent owner came by a CamelBak hydration system Murphy was wearing when he was killed. He had kept it alongside a picture of Murphy for “some time,” Dan Murphy, the fallen sailor’s father, told Patch, then donated it to Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum in West Sayville. It is arranged in a glass display case in such a way that “it’s almost like it’s on Michael’s back,” Murphy said, “as if [he is] wearing it.”

“We don’t have anything of Michael from his time in Afghanistan,” Murphy said of his son, the recipient of numerous posthumous commendations and memoriums, including the Medal of Honor for valor. » READ MORE: A Patch Exclusive by Peggy Spellman Hoey for Sayville Patch

‘All About Giving’

Sammy Raia lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer four years ago and wanted to do something to remember her that would perk up other people’s grandparents on their own cancer journeys during the holidays.

Each year since her grandmother’s death, the Saddle River, New Jersey, 17-year-old has been stuffing care kits with blankets, snacks socks, towels and lip balm for the senior citizens undergoing cancer treatment at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. This year, she delivered them on Giving Tuesday, which falls in the week after Thanksgiving.

“The holiday season is all about giving, but that generous spirit is often eclipsed by Black Friday and Cyber Monday’s mad rush for deals,” said Mary Greever, a spokesperson for the hospital. “Giving Tuesday was created to once again shine a light on organizations and people giving back.” Some of the patients were moved to tears by the gesture. “They were so grateful,” Greever said. » READ MORE: By Caren Lissner for Ridgewood Patch

‘Just Be There For The Child’

When M.J. arrives at school in the morning, it’s like he’s the “mayor of the building,” his teacher says: t’s high-fives and hugs all around until he leaves for the day. This is the sort of smile that the ebullient 3-year-old manages to put on people’s faces, including those of his new adoptive parents, Joseph and Colleen Tkaczuk. They are among dozens of grateful New Jersey families in 16 counties who recently finalized 93 adoptions ahead of National Adoption Day.

Adopting a child, whether through the foster care system or a private service, is a long, emotional journey that takes patience, they said.

“Just be there for the child,” Joseph said. “Give him or her all the love that you can … show them that they have somebody there to care for them while things are taking their course.” » READ MORE: By Eric Kiefer for Montclair Patch

New Lawyer Makes History

Peter Park has passed his bar exam Driven by what he says is “a moral obligation to uphold liberty, equality and justice in society,” Park is currently a law clerk for the district attorney in Tulare County, California, where he’s learning the ropes of a job he hopes to hold himself someday. “I admire how prosecutors keep our communities safe and bring closure to victims,” he said. Oh, and did we mention that he’s only 17? That makes him the youngest person in California history to pass the bar. » READ MORE: By Anna Schier for Orange County Patch

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