PROSPECT — The community is coming together Saturday to help a local man who has given to so many others.
Prospect resident George Officer, 56, is in need of a liver transplant.
Officer was diagnosed with cirrhosis of his liver last year, Kathy Officer, his wife, said. The cirrhosis was caused from medication he was taking to help fight heart disease and high cholesterol.
George Officer is currently on the donor list at Yale New Haven Hospital and awaiting a new liver.
Operation Give Life will host a fundraiser for George Officer Saturday at The Hut in Fulton Park, 438 Cooke St., Waterbury from 3 to 7 p.m. The cost is $25, and the event will feature yard games, a raffle, food and drinks, and music.
Operation Give Life was started in 2008 to raise money for cancer research, according to its website. The organization now also works to assist patients and families dealing with life-altering issues such as organ donations, mental illnesses and additional physical disabilities or illnesses.
Before he got sick, Kathy Officer said, her husband was the type of person that would lend a hand to another in need, including working with the Woodland’s girls swimming team booster club when their daughters were on the team.
George Officer still helps others as much as he can, Kathy Officer said.
“He’s a very outgoing person. No matter what he’s going through, he has a positive outlook on it,” Kathy Officer said. “He is always willing to help someone else.”
The Officers have lived in Prospect for the past 15 years and both work for Webster Bank. George, who has worked for Webster Bank for the past 30 years, helped open the branch in Prospect.
Kathy Officer said the money raised will go towards offsetting medical expenses the couple has accumulated. George Officer has not been able to work recently due to his condition.
Despite his condition, George Officer’s outlook remains positive.
“He’s being positive about everything,” Kathy Officer said. “He always says we’ll get through it. He said, ‘we’ll take it one day at a time and a miracle will happen at one point.’”
Anyone who can’t attend the fundraiser but would still like to contribute can donate online at www.operationgivelife.org.
