A state representative who needs a liver transplant hopes that before the General Assembly’s session ends on Friday it will vote to continue to allow donations from tax refunds to the organ donor program.
Poplar Bluff Republican Steve Cookson is a survivor of both liver cancer and hepatitis C, the latter of which he contracted from a blood transfusion when he was young. He learned last year that he is in liver failure.
“I’ve been told that I can look forward to getting much worse before I’ll probably end up getting better,” said Cookson.
Cookson has made it a priority, as part of his personal story, to push for the passage of a bill that would allow the organ donor program checkoff on individual and corporate income tax returns to continue. It is set to expire at the end of the year unless the legislature acts. The House and the Senate each have bills on the issue that could be sent to the governor before the session’s end.
“I just would ask the members of the body to think about how they may personally be affected by this (bill) and how important it would be for them, their spouses and their children,” he said. “I would ask that the body overwhelmingly support this bill for all those people that just want to have a chance at continuing life.”
The checkoff allows people to donate $2 or more from their refund to the Missouri Organ Donor Trust Fund, which maintains the organ and tissue donor registry. The money is also used to promote organ donation and its benefits.
The registry allows individuals to give consent to have their organs and tissues donated so that family members aren’t called upon to do so. Cookson encourages Missourians to enroll.
Cookson has remained active during this year’s session despite his condition. When possible he spends time in his office resting and listening to debate, and comes to the chamber when necessary to debate or vote.
He said in recent months he has spent a lot of time reflecting on his life, and what life itself is.
Cookson encourages other baby boomers to get tested for Hepatitis C, as others may have been exposed to it the way he was.
“It was something that happened during a time where medical science just didn’t know what they were doing to me,” said Cookson.
Cookson is in his final two-year term in the House. He will undergo on Tuesday more testing regarding his condition.
In the meantime, he plans to pressure fellow lawmakers to get one of those bills across the finish line.
“That’s why I’m back up here this week,” said Cookson. “I have to have faith that God has had a plan for my life.”
The two bills dealing with the checkoff extension are House Bill 105, sponsored by Representative Warren Love (R-Osceola); and Senate Bill 248, sponsored by Senator Will Kraus.