Burbank Leader Newspaper, January, 1999
Liver transplant recipient Chris Hays dead at 43
BURBANK - Chris Hays, a former Burbank resident who received a liver transplant earlier this month, has died. He was 43.
Hays, who died January 20, 1999 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was born in Los Angeles. He was a Burbank resident for 22 years before moving to Canoga Park in 1961. He was a graduate of Burbank High School, Class of 1974. He was employed by a free-lance photographer for seven years.
Hays, who had hemophilia, a congenital blood disorder, served on the board of the Hemophiliac Foundation of Southern Califoria.
He had end-stage liver disease for three years, the result of being infected by hepatitis C in the late 1980s during blood tranfusions. He also contracted HIV in 1982 due to blood transfusions.
Hays, who was placed on a donor list in May 1998, underwent a liver transplant January 7 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The hospital was the only one in the country that would perform his liver transplant due to his HIV infection, said his sister, Mary Hays.
"My brother would have had morechance for survival if he had gotten a donor sooner," said Hays. "They're aren't enough organ donors. People should sign an organ donor card and tell their family members they're donors."
Mr. Hays is survived by his wife, Rebecca; sisters, Terry HaysHorner, Carolyn Hays Hensley and Mary Hays; father, Luverne, of Burbank; neice, Elizabeth Hensley; and nephew, David Hensley.
A Mass was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church on Monday. Contributions on Mr. Hays behalf can be made to the American Liver Foundation, C/O The Chris Hays Fund, 1425 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009-1000.
Sad and yes we've come along way.
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