An enduring story of family, community, and heros

WAITSBURG - Wendy, Brian, and Coe Richards are inviting the Waitsburg community to join in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the surgery that saved their family.

In July 1999, two-year-old Coe had already endured months of chemotherapy and hospitalization at Seattle's Children's Hospital before undergoing a liver transplant. A softball-sized tumor was found on his liver the prior December. Though the seven rounds of chemo managed to reduce its size by half, the tumor's position on the liver made it impossible to remove surgically.

Transplantation became the only option. In a decision that illustrates Wendy and Brian's strength and sense of humor, the couple (by couple, I mean Wendy) decided she would be the donor. According to Brian, she said his liver may have been a bit road-worn, so it had to be hers for their little boy. Brian said this was said with a good-natured smirk.

Of course, there were other considerations, including work obligations; however, fear of surgery was not among them. Brian found it amazing that Wendy, who has a low tolerance for any intrusive procedures, volunteered so easily and with no hesitation.

"This from someone who would faint when getting blood drawn," said Brian.

He also said there would have been no talking her out of it. "At that point, we were going to do everything to keep "Coe-man" alive," said Brian.

"The Seattle Times" reported on Coe's transplant in a front-page article on July 22, 1999. The paper said Coe's was the first liver transplant from a living, related donor performed in the Pacific Northwest and only one of 40 to 60 that year in the U.S.

The couple is proud to have been part of the cutting-edge healthcare that helped advance living donations. They hope their story will inspire others to learn more about organ donation and the process to qualify as living donors.

The Richards and the Waitsburg Fire Association are hosting a Coe-mmunity Celebration at the Waitsburg Fire Station on Sunday, July 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Richards won the fire station party in a silent auction benefitting the Waitsburg Friends of the Pool. Donated by the Waitsburg Fire Association, the event will have games, station and firetruck tours, time with volunteers, and plenty of water to run through. Daryl's BBQ will be on hand to offer food and refreshments.