Shhhh: student who saved dad to get Whatasurprise

Living liver donor to be surprised with a year of Whataburger

Bill Rogers’ health was headed in a downward spiral as he waited on the liver transplant list along with more than 13,000 others. So his son, Texas State University senior Matthew Hawkins, contacted University Transplant Center and offered himself as a living liver donor for his father. He turned out to be a match. One month ago today, Matt became San Antonio’s 16th living liver donor this year.

A big concern for Matt during the process was the fact that Whataburger, his favorite burger, was off limits. Father and son are doing well, and today when he comes in for his follow-up appointment, Matt will be surprised by the gift of free Whataburger for a year.

University Transplant Center leads the state in living liver donations and is No. 3 in the nation. It is the only program in the city and one of only a handful in the state that can perform this complex surgery. A unique and amazing aspect of the human liver is that when a person donates a segment of their liver, the transplanted segment grows to full size in its new body, while the partial liver remaining in the donor quickly regenerates to full size as well.

For more information on how to give the gift of life through living liver donation, go to University Transplant Center.

WHAT: Matthew Hawkins will be honored for his lifesaving donation with a plaque, a Whataburger photo shoot and Whataburger for a year

WHO: Dr. Taranjeet Klair, clinical assistant professor with UT Health San Antonio, members of the University Transplant Center team, members of Matthew’s family, and representatives of Whataburger

WHEN: Today, Sept. 21, arrive at 10:30 a.m. for setup, Matthew to arrive at 10:45

WHERE: University Hospital, 4502 Medical Drive, San Antonio