Transplant Recipient Gives Back For Good Cause

Michael Nix-Paige knows very little about the person whose liver saved his life when he received a transplant as an infant 21 years ago.

"It was a 2-year-old girl from the Mexican border," Nix-Paige said. "The family of the donor was kept anonymous. Without that transplant, I would not be alive today."

After spending most of his infant and toddler years in and out of Hartford Hospital, Nix-Paige has lived a normal, healthy and active life. He played lacrosse at Fitch High school, coaches lacrosse for the Mystic Seals youth program, works at Applebees in Groton and is studying exercise science at Three Rivers Community  College.

His life is a living tribute to the gift of transplants, but Nix-Paige wanted to do more to honor the donor's family and help make possible a future transplant for another patient in need of a liver. He hopes to raise $5,000 to sponsor him in the Walt Disneyworld Marathon in Orlando next month. All proceeds will go to the American Liver Foundation.

"It's been quite a journey," Nix-Paige said. "Running this marathon is my way of giving back to something sacred that saved my life. I wanted to help in any way possible."

Thus far, Nix-Paige has raised $3,400 thanks to fundraisers at Sully's Cafe in Groton and Groton Stop & Shop. A benefit breakfast was held Sunday Dec. 19 from 8-11 a.m. at Hub's Clam Shack in Noank.

"Running the marathon is going to be accomplishment, because I've never run that many miles," Nix-Paige said. "I was scheduled to run a half marathon in the summer, but jammed my knee in a car accident this summer. I think it will be emotional. It's not about the run, it's about honoring the donor and furthering the cause."

In high school, Nix-Paige was prohibited from playing contact sports such as football, wrestling or hockey. He wore a lower stomach guard as an attacker in lacrosse.

"The doctors didn't realize there is contact in lacrosse too," Nix-Paige said. "But you wear so much gear, I was never at serious risk. I didn't even know the rules of the game before I went to Fitch, but coach Ingram got me involved. He's my inspiration. I'm so appreciative I had the opportunity to play a varsity sport."

Nix-Paige now gives back as a Mystic Seals volunteer youth lacrosse coach much in the same way he's giving back to the American Liver Foundation.

He keeps a picture of him as an infant strapped to intervenous tubes in an ICU as a reminder of the reason he's alive.

"Looking at the pictures puts me on an emotional tour," Nix-Paige said. "I want to do everything I can to help another infant have the same gift of life I received."

Anyone interested in making a donation or reading more information can log on to http://alf.convio.net/goto/fmichaelnixpaige.