Marc Dawson Heart Recipient Profiled on NPR; Man Now Fighting Liver Cancer

Two years ago today—Feb. 18, 2008—Marc, then a senior at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn and a lifeguard at the YMCA of Huntington, was on a break and apparently practicing for Navy SEAL training in a 4-foot-deep lap pool when a lifeguard noticed him unconscious at the bottom of the pool. He was taken to Huntington Hospital and died a week later. Dawson's family donated his heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys.

Dr. Charlie Kleinman, a pediatric cardiologist from Manhattan, got a heart transplant two years ago. His new heart is that of 17-year-old Marc Dawson.

National Public Radio recently published a piece on Dr. Kleinman today, who says he struggled to find the courage to contact Marc's parents to thank them. And that only got harder when he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

The Dawson family filed a lawsuit against the YMCA and four employees in Suffolk Supreme Court on Sept. 11, 2008. The family is being represented by attorney Michael F. Perrotta of Huntington. The YMCA is being represented by an attorney from the firm of Gordon and Silber of Manhattan.

The jury trial being heard by Justice Denise Molia, was adjourned January 14 and is expected to continue on April 13 in Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead.