Kim Gaeta

Kim Gaeta of Hoboken, N.J., first noticed something was wrong in 2002, when her stomach and legs began to swell. She was stunned to learn that her liver was failing because of an irreversible condition called congenital hepatic fibrosis.

Kim was referred to NYU for advanced care, where she was told she would need a transplant and about the living-donor alternative. When Amy, her sister and apartment-mate, heard the news, she immediately volunteered, saying, "Let's get tested, let's go do it. What's the big deal?" Kim resisted, worrying about her sister's safety. But Amy prevailed, joining a special group of people willing to sacrifice a part of themselves for a loved one.

The transplant took place in early 2003. Within two months, Amy was back at work. "Sometimes, I don't even remember that we did it," she says. Kim also recovered quickly, and her prognosis is very good. "It's been a rough year, but it puts things into perspective," she says. "Now, I'm just trying to enjoy life."

Paul Fox

For some men, a 50th birthday brings a present like a sports car. But on reaching his half-century milestone, Paul Fox, a marketing executive from Brooklyn, N.Y., got the best gift he could ever have imagined - a life-saving liver donation from his wife, Linda.

Years ago, Paul had been infected with hepatitis C. By 2002, his liver had given out, and his only hope was a transplant. Paul was placed on the national organ transplant registry, along with 17,000 other Americans. At the time, the average wait for a man his age was two years. He probably didn't have that long to live. Fortunately, it turned out that his wife was a suitable candidate for organ donation, and Paul could have operation immediately.

Today, both donor and recipient are thriving. "We had a good relationship before," says Linda, "and this made it better." Paul nods in agreement, speechless.