Florida man who received liver 21 years ago wants to find donor family to thank them

MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. — In 1999, Joey Parrish’s life was saved when he received a liver from a 4-year-old organ donor and now he wants to reach out to the family of the donor that changed his life.

“These last 21 years have been amazing, and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Parrish said, “and I just want to thank them for letting me have this time with my family, friends, and my girlfriend, and everyone else I’ve met along the way,” Parrish told WTEN.

Parrish recognizes that the family, who may be in New York, may not want to come forward because of the pain around the loss of the child who donated the liver.

“Obviously it was a tragedy in their family, but they were amazing enough to help others through that tragedy,” Parrish told WTEN.

After the transplant, Parrish only knew that the four-year-old donor was from New York state.

Since then, Parrish has become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, traveled the world and ran half marathons. In his current occupation he told WTEN that he even works on people undergoing organ transplants.

Even if he is unable to make contact with the donor family he hopes that they see on social media or on the news that he is grateful for the gift their child gave him.

Cox Media Group