Niles man donating part of liver needs a little help too
By Ed Runyan
NILES
In addition to giving up 20 percent of the left lobe of his liver to a gravely ill child, David Denovchek, 28, of Niles, also will give up his own short-term health.
Denovchek has asked, on the GoFundMe website, for public donations to help cover medical costs not covered by insurance and to replace the income he won’t receive during the three to four months he will be off work recuperating.
As of Friday, $5,690 of Denovchek’s $10,000 goal has been reached as a result of 144 donations in the past 22 days.
Denovchek, a veterinary technician at Family Pet Center All Creatures Veterinary Hospital in Champion, volunteered to be a donor for Jamie, 4, when Jamie’s guardians at Trumbull County Children Services made a public plea for help last month.
Denovchek was selected, and the transplant is planned for next week at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Jamie has been since January.
Denovchek said he watched the videos broadcast on local television about the girl’s need, and he realized he met the requirements.
“After calling UPMC Pittsburgh and talking to the transplant team, I was invited to come to UPMC and undergo testing,” he said on the GoFundMe page late last month.
“I’m reaching out to anyone and everyone who has ever wanted to help someone in need,” Denovchek said. “I am doing something I had never dreamed of doing in order to give young Jamie the chance at a normal life she deserves.
“In the process, I will be missing three to four months of work. Unfortunately, my short-term disability [insurance] does not cover this kind of occurrence. I will need help 24/7 for the first one to two weeks after the operation just getting out of bed and doing my normal daily functions.”
“I was hoping to raise the help needed to pay for incurred medical costs not covered by insurance and or Jamie’s insurance. This includes follow-up visits [I will need regular bloodwork and exams for the next year of my life], prescription medications, transportation expenses, as I will not be able to drive, and general living expenses [mortgage, utilities, etc].”
By telephone Friday, Denovchek said he’s “not scared or nervous. I’m just really ready to get it done.”
He said he didn’t initially realize how many people had contacted the hospital like he did, expressing a willingness to donate. But when he realized hundreds of people had called, he was a little surprised he was selected.
David’s boss at the veterinary hospital, Kelley Baumiller, said everyone there is very proud of him.
“We think it’s a totally selfless act. We’re so proud to have a real hero working for us,” she said. “He really is just that good of a person.”
She said Denovchek has shown an unusual level of compassion before.
“He’s the guy who came in on Valentine’s Day and gave every single one of us flowers for 30 girls,” she said.
The GoFundMe page for Jamie and David is at www.gofundme.com/helpsafealife1?fb.