By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Henry Cozo Jr. with daughters Loke, left, Cherrie, back , and Robin.
Looking for sale
of a lifetime
A father of five with a failing
By Helen Altonn
liver hopes to buy some time
by selling two classic cars
Star-BulletinHenry Cozo, a 48-year-old Wahiawa father of five, is selling two classic cars to buy a longer life.
He needs a liver transplant -- the result of a hepatitis C infection.
"All I want to do is to live so I can see my 11-year-old daughter graduate. Then I can say I've lived my full life," Cozo said.
He recently learned that his doctors' request has been approved for a liver transplant evaluation at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
He said he has medical coverage for hospital costs but must raise money for travel and other expenses.
That's why he's selling a 1927 four-door Chrysler and a 1937 two-door Chevrolet.
"They're in immaculate condition," he said. "They're six cylinders with the old type of upholstery and everything."
Tom Breske, an appraiser at USA of Yesterday Co., a collector car facility in Tacoma, Wash., said the value of the cars could range from $6,000 or $7,000 up to $20,000 or more, depending on the model and condition.
Cozo said he just wants to sell the cars for what he paid for them, not including shipping.
A former truck driver, he said he stopped working in 1994 after a truck accident. His spleen was removed and doctors later found his liver was not good, he said.
He said he doesn't know what caused the hepatitis C virus, speculating it may have come from contaminated blood. He had transfusions in 1990-91 for bleeding ulcers, he said.
Or maybe it was "too much chili pepper," he said with a laugh.
"You know us Hawaiians -- everything has to be hot."
Cozo said he's known since the first of the year that he needed a transplant. "Now, everything is coming up so fast. I want to get ready before they tell me to 'come now,' and I can't."
He has a daughter who is 17, two other daughters in intermediate school and two sons, 16 and 14.
He said he and his father-in-law and sons got together to bring the cars from the mainland last year as a hobby that could teach the boys how to work on cars.
His sons now want to sell them to help him, he said.
Friends and relatives also are trying to raise money for his trip, he said.
Meanwhile, he's being treated at Kaiser Medical Center. He is given shots and takes medication daily, he said.
He said his health has been pretty good all his life. "But ever since this, I can't even play with my kids. That's what hurts me the most."
To help Cozo or inquire about the cars, call 689-3074 or his pager, 576-5779.
Two died, five others
may enjoy lifeMany more wait for donations of hearts,
By Helen Altonn
kidneys, and other organs
Star-BulletinThe lives of five Hawaii residents have been saved with organs transplanted from two donors the past few days.
The Star-Bulletin reported Thursday that 179 people were waiting for transplants and no organs had been donated up to that time this year. But Robyn Kaufman, executive director of the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, today said one kidney and liver were transplanted from a donor Saturday night.
Yesterday, two kidneys, a liver, tissue, corneas and heart valves were provided by another donor.
The five patients who received kidney and liver transplants were reported in stable condition today at St. Francis Medical Center.
In addition, Kaufman said, "Two people regained the gift of sight from cornea transplants and approximately 28 to 30 people will receive life-enhancing tissue and heart valves. It is very awesome."
The donors in both cases had expressed their wishes to their families, Kaufman said.
"We want to thank the donor families who, during this difficult time, were able to make the decision and help other people in time of tragedy."
Kaufman noted that this is National Organ Tissue Donor Awareness Week.
"This is a wonderful and appropriate way to celebrate. The best way to acknowledge this week is the fact that we were able to save some lives and enhance the lives of others."
While five patients have been dropped from the list of those awaiting transplants, others have been added.
The Transplant Institute at St. Francis today reported 165 people waiting for kidneys, three needing both kidneys and pancreases, one waiting for a pancreas, 10 for livers and two for hearts. Another person is expected to be added to the list for a heart next week.
Kaufman urged residents to share their feelings about organ donations with family members.
"If they don't know your preference, they're more likely to decline . . . It's extremely significant that both these donors had expressed their wishes to families and the families followed up."
Being able to give someone the gift of life is also meaningful to donor families, Kaufman said.
"We've heard time and time again from people who faced a terrible loss that the one thing that helps them . . . is they know part of their loved one live on and they've influenced someone's life."
For more information about organ donations, call 599-7630. From the neighbor islands, call 1-800-695-6554.
