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Ed Yeates ReportingAn Idaho man who had five organs transplanted five years ago, all at one time, is celebrating his fifth anniversary. Now he's in Salt Lake City, concerned about his daughter's health.
We met Michael Pollard a year before his historical multiple transplants. They were his only hope of surviving a rare disease of the digestive system called Holyviscamyopthy. So he flew to Pittsburgh where surgeons replaced his stomach, small intestine, duodenum, bile duct, and liver -- all taken from a family's dying 15-year old boy.
Michael Pollard, Multiple Transplant Survivor: "If they knew I was just going to give up and quit, a part of their son would be lost as well. So I have a lot of reasons to stay alive."
It's been a struggle. He's lost a lot of weight, but his will never wavers. On this day, in Salt Lake City it was sort of a mixed bag of emotions for Michael - a time to celebrate, but also a time to worry, since his daughter is showing some of the early symptoms he had seven years ago.
John Fang, M.D., University of Utah Gastroenterology: "Her early picture is compatible with it, but just because it's such a rare disorder, it's, at this point, less likely that she has it."
The odds of Michael surviving another two years are not good. He and his family are prepared for that should it come. For Jessica, who wondered if her father would ever see her wedding
Jessica Westerberg, Michael's Daughter: "Look up to him a lot. He's really a rock, keeps us all going."
And for Michael, as he moves into his sixth year
Michael Pollard: "What more can you say than you've got life?"
Michael hopes to take one last special trip to a special place with his wife. Who knows? He may do that and much more.
