Former News 12 Long Island reporter Amy McGorry, who has been battling two rare autoimmune liver diseases for years, has found a living liver donor, a longtime viewer of the station who came forward after seeing coverage of her desperate plea.
McGorry, 56, was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) while still in college.
The conditions slowly destroyed her liver over decades.
About six months ago, she passed out and was hospitalized.
In February, doctors told her she needed a transplant due to dangerous internal bleeding.
Due to the wait for a deceased donor being so long, her best chance was a living donor with O-positive blood.
In March, McGorry made an emotional public plea for help in a video posted to social media.
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News 12 and other outlets covered her story, and a loyal viewer quietly stepped forward, underwent testing, and was confirmed as a match.
The donor is a woman unrelated to McGorry and has asked to remain anonymous until after the surgery.
McGorry learned the incredible news Monday while teaching her health science class at Long Island University.
She told the New York Post that the students, who had been following her journey, erupted in applause.
“I learned the news while teaching my health science class at LIU – last day of class and told kids who have been through this with me and they all clapped,” McGorry told The Post. “It was so cute.”
The transplant is scheduled for June at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.
McGorry said she is looking forward to putting this chapter behind her and returning to a normal life.
The former anchor has advocated for others facing similar battles. In April, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to push for the Living Donor Protection Act, which would provide job-protected leave and other safeguards for living organ donors.
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