'She saved my life': Haverhill woman who needed liver transplant thankful for donor

HAVERHILL, Mass. — It was a simple message to save a life. A Haverhill man who was desperate to keep his wife alive came up with a creative way to ask strangers for help, and months later, they shared good news.

Danielle Penney has an awful lot to be thankful for.

"I cry every day. I cry every day. I never thought it would happen," she told Boston 25 News anchor Chris Flanagan.

The 51-year-old Haverhill woman was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in August 2017. She was in dire need of a liver and put on a transplant list.

>> Previous: 'My wife needs a liver': Haverhill husband in search of donor for sick wife

She spent a year in and out of the hospital.

"I miss my friends and my family. My dad was dying and I couldn't be with him, so it was tough," she said.

Desperate, Penney's husband Brett asked strangers to help keep Danielle alive. He made magnetic decals that stuck to the door of his red Jeep saying "My wife needs a liver."

"She was in the hospital eight times last year an average of three weeks at a time, so I had them on the car going back and forth to Boston. At times, I went slow, I just wanted to get the word out," Penney said.

He made nearly 500 decals and sent them to family, friends, and complete strangers, even as far away as California. He says he received about 700 phone calls.

"We got three fully qualified people in a year. That's a great statistic when a lot of these people can't find one in many years," he said.

But since Danielle was so sick, she required a full liver from an organ donor.

She finally received the lifesaving call in early November that a young woman, who remained anonymous, has died.

"There are no words. There are no words. She saved my life. She saved my life," said Penney. "I was doubting I was going to see 60. Now I'm looking at a nice long life."

Danielle was one of nine patients to receive an organ from the donor. She says her prognosis is excellent and expects a 100% recovery.

The family has set up a GoFundMe for Danielle's care.

Cox Media Group