[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING MITCHELL SIMON OF EAST AMHERST, NY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2012

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 11 year-old Mitchell 
Simon, a resident of the town of Amherst in Erie County and Western New 
York.
  In many ways, Mitch is an entirely ordinary 11 year old boy. He loves 
playing baseball, riding his bike, and hanging around with his friends, 
his siblings and cousins. Mitch is an inquisitive young man, always 
present with a ready smile and a friendly face.
  But in another area, he is very special indeed. Mitch was born with a 
rare condition that affected the function of his liver. After surgery 
at a very young age, Mitch was fortunate to live a relatively normal 
life. But in December 2011, troubles developed, and Mitch was placed on 
a waiting list to receive a liver transplant.
  On Tuesday April 17, the call came, and Mitch and his family, led by 
parents Jason and Denise, made the trip to Pittsburgh, PA. Overnight, 
after a grueling surgical procedure, the miracle of life was handed 
back to Mitch.
  After surgery, it was said that Mitch was soon sitting up in bed, 
playing his X-Box, but it's undeniable that the recovery has had its 
ups and downs. Any 11 year old would be frustrated to be in bed for too 
long, and we know that Mitch is fighting hard to get back home.
  On Saturday, June 2, a benefit will be held for the Simon family, to 
help defray the costs associated with Mitch's illness. The response for 
the benefit has been overwhelming, with friends, relatives, 
schoolmates' families and Mitch's baseball and basketball teammates and 
their families all pitching in for a great cause.
  I would be remiss if I did not also speak of the tremendous 
sacrifices made by those who promote and participate in organ and 
tissue donation. Mitch had the gift of life given back to him with his 
surgery, but this is not the Simon family's first such experience. 
Mitch's mom Denise was a kidney donor to her brother in 2002. While an 
unthinkable tragedy occurs with the death of a child, the Simon family 
will be forever thankful that another family's tragedy resulted in a 
new lease on life for Mitch. The miracle of organ donation is never 
ending, and one hopes that the Simon family's story--both as donors as 
well as recipients--is an inspiration to others to join the ranks of 
those willing to ``Donate Life.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that you will join with me and with all of 
our colleagues to commend the Simon family and offer the best wishes of 
the House of Representatives to Mitch for a speedy recovery.

                          ____________________