Student Testifies to the Power of Faith after Donating Liver

God’s will and calling can be extraordinary and unpredictable.

Just ask Rob Dominguez, and he can tell you why.

A senior pursuing a physical education and health degree, Dominguez underwent a surgery in November 2010 to donate the right lobe of his liver. The donation was for Dominguez’s cousin, Rick, a 40-year-old husband and father who was diagnosed in July 2010 with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE).

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, EHE is a very rare form of cancer with an unknown origin that occurs in the liver and other organs. Dominguez said that in Rick’s case, the tumors were present on both lobes of his liver and required a transplant.

For Dominguez, making the decision to donate part of his liver in hopes of helping his cousin was one where anxiety and hesitation were absent and God’s will was present.

“God spoke in my heart, and I knew I was the one to match,” said Dominguez. “From that moment on, I had no fear about the surgery because God granted me the gift to donate. I knew in my heart that everything would turn out wonderful, and I never doubted my decision at any point.”

The procedure lasted five hours for Dominguez and 10 for his cousin and couldn’t have gone better, said Dominguez, who also noted the positive effects a medical journey like this can have on a family.

“My whole family is much stronger and closer after this experience,” he said. “A few people actually came to know God better after witnessing such a miracle.”

As for Dominguez, the journey has reinforced his belief in the power of faith. “I believe it was a big test for me. I’ve learned faith in God is one of the most powerful tools we can hold onto as Christians.”