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“TRIBUTE TO PAUL SAUCEDO” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S5081 on April 3, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO PAUL SAUCEDO
Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize one of Nevada's outstanding citizens, who, through a courageous act has given another person a chance to live. It is my privilege today to honor a man from Carson City, Paul Saucedo.
In 1989, Paul was diagnosed with Hepatitis C he believes was contracted from a blood transfusion. His condition began to deteriorate and soon, the disease had scarred his liver so badly he began to suffer from increased pain and mental confusion. In 1994, Paul was hospitalized a half-a-dozen times. Paul soon had to retire as an engineer at the Nevada Department of Transportation, because he was too tired during his illness to do much of anything. Last summer, he was given a 30 percent chance of survival. A liver transplant was needed to save Paul's life.
In August of last year, California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco contacted Paul and informed him a liver was available. When both Paul and his wife learned of a baby girl in the hospital that also needed a liver, Paul decided to give it to the little girl. Even though doctors gave him little chance of surviving another year, Paul never expressed regret about passing the first donated liver to the little girl.
Another liver was finally available in early February and Paul underwent a successful 15 hour transplant surgery. Paul, is now at his home in Carson City doing well. Through his story, Paul has sparked interest in the donor program and blood drives in northern Nevada.
Paul could have chosen to take the first donated liver to save his own life. Instead, he chose to put a little girl's life ahead of his own. Paul's altruism serves as an inspiration to all of us. I wish him will in the future and commend him for his heroic act.
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