Dale Steele, a 100-year-old Second World War veteran who died in February, has become the oldest-known organ donor in the United States. The former staff sergeant, who served in Europe and later guarded Nazi leaders at the Nuremberg trials, donated his liver after a head injury led to him being placed on life support.
Live On Nebraska, the organ-procurement organisation that facilitated the donation, said Steele's case demonstrates that a donor's health is more important than age. 'Mr Steele … is a powerful reminder that generosity has no age limit,' said Kyle Herber, the organisation's president and CEO.
Steele's son, Roger, initially expressed shock at the request for his father's liver, given his age. However, Dr Lee Morrow, Live On Nebraska's chief medical officer, explained that the liver's unique ability to renew its cells means it is effectively only a few years old, regardless of the donor's age. The use of warm blood perfusion on the liver also helped make the donation possible.
Steele's liver was successfully transplanted a day after recovery at the Nebraska Medicine – Nebraska Medical Center, providing 'new life to a grateful recipient', according to Live On Nebraska. Steele's grandson, Scott, said the donation was fitting: 'Dale was always very helpful and considerate of everyone around him – friends and strangers alike.'
