This story originally ran in November 2002

Liver transplant opens new life for local kid

Ordinarily, having an organ transplant can be difficult for a young kid. But, 12-year-old D.J Lampert had his operation when he was a tiny baby. And it has opened up a whole new life of service to him.

The 7th-grader at Oakville Middle School got his new liver when he was only eight months old. Therefore, it doesn't remember anything about the operation. And now he's able to live a normal, active life, including participation in school sports.

D.J. with Larry Hughes

That complete recovery makes him an ideal spokesperson for organ-donor awareness in this country and overseas.

Last month, he appeared at a National Kidney Foundation meeting in St. Louis to represent individuals who have had successful transplants. In 2001, D.J. was the only kid on the 65-person U.S. team that competed in the World Transplant Games in Japan.

In 2000, he was one of 300 kids worldwide who were given the Millennium Dreamers Award for his efforts to "make a difference in other children's lives." The award was announced by the United Nations and sponsored by the McDonald's Foundation.

This year, his work in raising organ-donor awareness was one of the reasons D.J. was named a Gateway 2002 Young Achiever of the Year. He was one of 12 St. Louis-area kids given the award last May.

D.J. said, "Now, I have no physical limitations, although the doctors said I probably shouldn't play football."

Last month, he participated in his first cross-country meet for Oakville Middle School.

Last school year, in addition to cross-country, he was goalie on his soccer team. He also played on a select baseball team and his school's 6th grade basketball team.

He's also active in his school in service projects to help other kids. One program involves reading new books to younger kids as well as helping them develop better self-esteem.

Last year, he spoke to a school assembly during Diabilities Day. The program helps kids cope with different problems they might have. He spoke regarding organ donation.

D.J. said he enjoys talking with kids about organ donation. He urges them not to be afraid. He also is living proof that kids can survive organ transplant surgery.

His own physical problem started with a birth defect. He was missing a little duct that drains off the body wastes from his liver into his intestines. "Since the bile couldn't get out, I was killing myself," he said.

At first, doctors put in a man-made liver duct. But, that failed after five months and the next step had to be a liver transplant.

D.J. got his new liver from a 15-month-old girl from Kansas City who had died. He was extremely fortunate that the donor was another small child. He said, "Right after the operation, the bile started to run."

As an organ-donor spokesperson, D.J. has had a lot of neat personal experiences.

Earlier this year, he appeared at the first St. Louis event of the Larry Hughes Foundation. Larry Hughes is the former Saint Louis University basketball player who will be playing with Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizards this season.

Hughes' brother, Justin, is a heart-transplant recipient. Justin had his heart transplant operation in St. Louis. Larry's foundation will help others with organ transplants.

Also, at the 2002 U.S. Transplant Games, D.J. met Chris Klug, who won a bronze medal in skateboarding during the last winter Olympics. Klug also has a transplanted liver. D.J. won three more gold medals at the U.S. Transplant Games.

He's now trying to qualify for the 2003 World Transplant Games, which will be held in France next year.

D.J. hasn't decide on whether he'll go to college. But, he said he'd like to have a career as a physical trainer for sports.

D.J. with Olympian Chris King