Diagnosed with Crohn''s disease as a teenager, he''d undergone about a dozen surgeries. He''d grown accustomed to fatigue, pain and endless doctor visits. But George pushed himself to live an active life as a husband, father and teacher.

In 1979, he was diagnosed with what was then called "non-A, non-B hepatitis," (now known as hepatitis C) contracted through a blood transfusion. George had no symptoms at the time, but was told the disease would eventually cause irreparable liver damage.

"I knew I had hepatitis, but I didn''t give it much thought," he said.

As a teacher at St. Louis University High School, George not only taught Irish literature, but also led students on the annual trip to Ireland. With extra effort, George managed to keep up with his students.

Eventually, hepatitis took its toll. This was most noticeable on his trips to Ireland. George pushed himself to keep up with his teenage charges, but noticed he was losing ground.

"We''d climb mountains. Every year, I used to climb to the top with the kids," he said. "Then I noticed I''d be able to go less far up the mountain in the last few years."

With care from his physicians at Barnes-Jewish and support from his wife, Judy, George continued teaching.

In December 2005, Dr. Mauricio Lisker-Melman, Washington University hepatologist/gastroenterologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, told George his lab tests had confirmed what his body had told him – it was time to go on the waiting list for a liver transplant.

On April 16, 2006 – Easter Sunday – George got the call that a donor liver had become available. That day, he received a liver transplant. The following Friday, he was discharged from the hospital.

George was forced to ease up. For the first time since 1990, he didn''t lead the trip to Ireland.

But now that he doesn''t have to worry about being sick all the time, George is looking forward to living a normal life and being back at school to teach this fall.