2016 Wesley R. Mallicone

Wesley Mallicone_Gift of Life DonorWESLEY R. MALLICONE

Liver Recipient

Age 38 ~ Shippensburg, Pennslyvania

Director of Sports medicine at Shippensburg University

Honored by donors1.org

Wesley R. Mallicone was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  His childhood seemed to be a healthy one until he began having stomach issues and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) at age nine. When he was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PCS) age 13, doctors told him that he would need a liver transplant by the age of 25 in order to survive.  He went on to attend Duquesne University and had an amazing college experience while earning a Bachelor’s Degree.  After Duquesne, he pursued a Master’s degree at Shippensburg University, worked as a Graduate Assistant and interned for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Unfortunately, Wesley’s health deteriorated again at age 32, but this time, he was able to receive a liver transplant and now, he is happy and doing what he loves as the Director of Sports Medicine at Shippensburg University.

Wesley’s Story

Wesley R. Mallicone was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  As a newborn, he was jaundice and had high bilirubin counts, which required him to stay in the hospital.  His childhood seemed to be a healthy one until he began having stomach issues and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) at age nine.

Wesley’s physician helped him manage the UC until age 13, when he became ill again and was diagnosed with a second disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).  PSC is a progressive disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts of the liver, and can ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.  Doctors told him that he would need a liver transplant by the age of 25 in order to survive.  At 13, he didn’t fully understand the seriousness of what doctors told him.

Although he suffered from many embarrassing episodes due to his diseases as a young person, Wesley didn’t allow his health challenges to hold him back in life.  He attended Duquesne University and had an amazing college experience while earning a Bachelor’s Degree.  After Duquesne, he pursued a Master’s degree at Shippensburg University, worked as a Graduate Assistant and interned for the Philadelphia Eagles.

At 32, his health deteriorated and he was placed on the liver transplant list.  He had muscle cramps, significant water retention and was unable to sleep for more than two hours a night due to his failing liver. Finally in 2011, he saw a light at the end of the tunnel – doctors told him that a liver was available for him.  As the days and weeks passed post-transplant, he continued to improve and gain strength.

Today, Wesley’s health has dramatically improved and he is the Director of Sports Medicine at Shippensburg University, where he leads a sports medicine department that provides services to 20 athletic programs and supervises the comprehensive health care needs of approximately 600 university student athletes.  He is also active within the campus community, and serves on various campus committees.  He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) and Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society (PATS), and is a certified instructor in Professional Rescuer, First Aid/CPR and AED for the American Red Cross.