NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: An amazing sacrifice that's becoming more and more common. Eighteen-thousand Americans need a new liver. Every year, fewer than 5,000 of the organs become available. Because of those staggering numbers, more people are donating a portion of their liver while they are still alive. Our medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is following one procedure at Georgetown University. And he joins us now with this heartwarming story -- Sanjay.</s>SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Natalie. It really is an amazing story. Twenty-seven-year-old Mark Lithicum is currently behind me in this operating room, where surgeons are working tirelessly to remove 60 percent of his liver, which he'll then donate to his mother in another operating room, who is suffering from hepatitis C and is in dire need of a transplant. The operation behind me began at approximately 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and take until about 3:00 before the liver comes out. It already started with his mother actually opening her up, removing her diseased liver, and making way, making room for the new liver when it arrives -- Natalie.</s>ALLEN: It's an amazing story. She's expected to have a good prognosis after the new liver, or what would be the concerns?</s>GUPTA: That's certainly the hope. Both the son and mother should have good prognosis. The risk of this sort of operation really relies on the first few days afterwards, and they're both expected to be in the intensive care unit afterwards, so both have a very good prognosis, sort of more long term.</s>ALLEN: Well, it seems like they have a team of doctors behind you. That's a good thing. And we'll continue to check back in with you. Thanks, Sanjay Gupta.</s>GUPTA: Thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Son Donates Portion of Liver to Mother