A father takes to social media to share how his son's health is rapidly deteriorating. He says "it's failing to the point where he now needs a liver."
Frank Ski's son Jarrett (l) needs a liver transplant.Frank Rodriguez
The father is longtime Atlanta radio personality Frank Ski, whose real name is Franklin Rodriguez. His son Jarrett, 31, is on the donor list. "He's been called down several times to get a transplant", says Ski, "only to be told the liver, wasn't good, wasn't viable, didn't match or that he'd been placed lower on the list than someone else."
Ski says that Jarrett, the eldest of his 5 children, suffers from Cirrhosis of the liver due to PSC or Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a common cause of end-stage liver disease.
Organ recipients discuss their journeys
David Manuel, Director of Arts and Culture for Fulton County will soon celebrate his 7th 'liverversary'. That's what he calls it. It's been 7 years since his liver transplant. He details his journey in an interview with Audacy Atlanta's Maria Boynton and LifeLink of Georgia's Bobby Howard, who is also an organ recipient.
Manuel has been very supportive of Ski during this time. "I remember being interviewed about my transplant, and all that I went through. Everyone was very supportive", says Manuel.
How you can help Jarrett Rodriguez
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans make up the largest group of minorities in need of an organ transplant.
Jarrett Rodriguez's blood type is O. If someone is interested in seeing if they are a match or a candidate, they can contact Kathy Lee with the Comprehensive Transplant Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD. The phone number is 443-287-9648.
