ATHENS, PA (WENY) -- February 14th isn't just special because of Valentines Day, it's also special because it's National Organ Donor Day. To help mark the day Athens High School had a speaker who is a recipient of a heart transplant.
 
“Well, my story is I had a transplant eight years ago and it was something that just popped up. I had Sarcoidosis and I had a gracious donor and I needed a heart. Within a week I went from the bottom of the list to the top of the list,” said David Webster.
 
Athens high school students learned about the heart, and David's journey. While it can be hard to get through to younger generations, many of the students took the message to heart.
 
"It is very important to save many people's lives and signing up to be an organ donor is a simple step you can take,” said Sophomore Sara Bronson.
 
David’s heart transplant journey began at Guthrie Hospital in the Twin Tiers, but he was quickly flown to the Midwest. It was at a Cleveland area hospital that David got his surgery, an experience he said he wont soon forget. 
 
“The surgery was rough. Once I got stable for the surgery of the clotting was the roughest part. The transplant usually goes seamlessly but I was in rough condition,” explained Webster.
 
Common organs that are received through transplants include the kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas and intestines. As of Monday February 13th, 3,337 people are candidates for heart transplants. ,.