"I've hit every emotion:" After double organ transplant Green Bay man gets fantastic news

MILWAUKEE -- A Green Bay man who fell gravely ill sought out the doctors in Milwaukee. What happened next is being described by some as a Christmas miracle.

David Lee

For almost a year, David Lee has been at the mercy of his own health.

"You talk about emotion. I've hit every emotion," said Lee. "The liver went first and then the kidney went."

From Green Bay, Lee was moved to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee.

"He just got worse and worse. So we had to bring him back in and it was clear he was not going to leave without a transplant," said Dr. Ajay Sahajpal.

Dr. Ajay Sahajpal

Because Lee's health was failing so far, he was placed higher on a transplant list. On December 11th, his prayers were answered.

"I get to live for a long time hopefully," said Lee.

Lee underwent a double transplant -- replacing his liver and kidney at the same time with a procedure pioneered by his doctor.

"So I attach them on a back table. It's just plumbing. I put all the plumbing together and I put it in together and I wake the organs up together," said Dr. Sahajpal.

The technique means recovery time is much faster.

Lee's wife of five years has been with him the entire time.

"Everyday I walk into the room and he is that much better and it's great that he's back to his old self," said Carla Lee.

PHOTO GALLERY



For David Lee, a successful surgery was gift enough. But this Christmas story gets even better.

"I think my exact words were, 'If things go well, you'll be eating and watching the Packers game.' And that is what happened," said Dr. Sahajpal.

Lee will indeed be home for Christmas -- and able to spend time with his three-year-old son.

David Lee