Radio show host calls organ donors heroes
Toledo Blade | VANESSA McCRAY
Harvey Steele, on the air with the Shores & Steele show from the Cumulus Radio studios in Toledo, contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion he received in 1985. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY
Harvey Steele had turned yellow.
The year was 1997, and the Toledo radio personality didn’t feel great. His appearance changed, too. He was bloated and had gained so much weight in his lower gut that his children began calling him Buddha. Then, in early August he noticed something else.
“I looked in the mirror, and my eyes had turned yellow,†Mr. Steele said.
The following days and months would alter his life. Doctors said hepatitis C--contracted through a tainted blood transfusion for a bleeding ulcer that occurred 12 years before--was destroying his liver. He needed a new one.
Today, he marks the 15th anniversary of a successful liver transplant and the fresh start made possible through organ donation.
“I was lucky enough to get not one but two transplants. It’s like my obligation to get out there and try to get people to think about organ donation,†said Mr. Steele, 55, who plans to acknowledge the 15-year anniversary today on his K100 morning radio show Shores & Steele.
That’s right: Two transplanted livers.
The year was 1997, and the Toledo radio personality didn’t feel great. His appearance changed, too. He was bloated and had gained so much weight in his lower gut that his children began calling him Buddha. Then, in early August he noticed something else.
“I looked in the mirror, and my eyes had turned yellow,†Mr. Steele said.
The following days and months would alter his life. Doctors said hepatitis C--contracted through a tainted blood transfusion for a bleeding ulcer that occurred 12 years before--was destroying his liver. He needed a new one.
Today, he marks the 15th anniversary of a successful liver transplant and the fresh start made possible through organ donation.
“I was lucky enough to get not one but two transplants. It’s like my obligation to get out there and try to get people to think about organ donation,†said Mr. Steele, 55, who plans to acknowledge the 15-year anniversary today on his K100 morning radio show Shores & Steele.
That’s right: Two transplanted livers.
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