Becky Wells holds a letter she received from late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner after the baseball mogul provided assistance to help Wells overcome a bout of Hepatitis C in 1992. Steinbrenner, a Cleveland-area native who devoted much time and many resources to causes in his home state, died Tuesday at 80. (Abigail S. Fisher, Eagle-Gazette)
Late Yankees owner, a native Ohioan, helped with transplant that prolonged Lancaster woman's life
BY JOE ARNOLD • The Eagle-Gazette Staff • July 17, 2010
LANCASTER -- Tom and Becky Wells knew the real George Steinbrenner. The caricature splashed across the back pages of New York's tabloids for almost 40 years wasn't the man the Lancaster couple had come to know.
Sure Steinbrenner had power. And money? More than he could shake a bat at. But the late owner of the New York Yankees, who died Tuesday, knew how to wield both for good. As he went about fiercely transforming the Yankees from a laughingstock to a billion dollar empire, Steinbrenner quietly worked for his fellow man.
In 1992, Becky Wells was sicker than she'd ever been. Diagnosed with Hepatitis C following a blood transfusion, the disease led to cirrhosis of the liver and eventually early stage liver failure. Biweekly blood transfusions kept Becky alive for six months until her first liver was found.
"I didn't have very long to live when I had the transplant," she said. "It was life or death. I was one of the lucky ones."
GOOD FRIENDS
Work forced Tom and Becky Wells to move from Lancaster to Tampa, Fla., in 1984. Tom was a salesman for Levy Awards & Promotional Products when he caught the eye of owner George A. Levy. By the time Becky fell ill, Levy, a well-known trophy and award manufacturer, had become a close friend of the couple.
Levy had introduced Tom to the Tampa Sports Club, and before long, Wells was president of the philanthropic group. Among the organization's most visible -- and generous -- members was Steinbrenner, a Cleveland native.
"He could be tough. He was a tough guy," Tom said. "But he was also good to a lot of people."
As word of Becky's illness spread within the Wells' circle of friends, it put into motion a series of events the couple believes started with Levy and Steinbrenner.
Steinbrenner, Becky said, was a well-known supporter of the Cleveland Clinic and the medical miracles the hospital performed almost daily. When Steinbrenner got wind of Becky's illness -- through Levy --he helped Becky obtain a liver after just six months on the organ waiting list, Becky said.
"Mr. Steinbrenner made some calls," she said. "He was on the board at the Cleveland Clinic, and the next think I knew, I had my liver."
AIR STEINBRENNER
The transplant, however, wasn't without complications. Becky actually was awarded two livers in 1992. After flying privately from Tampa to Cleveland, Becky and Tom got word that the liver earmarked for Becky was in Michigan, and a snowstorm had prevented the pilot in charge of picking up the organ from landing.
Four days later, the couple was told on a Sunday that another liver was available. Strapped for cash because of the flight earlier in the week, they wondered how they would arrange another short-notice flight.
"That time we were out of money, and our insurance wasn't going to cover it right away," Becky said. "Mr. Levy and Mr. Steinbrenner were instrumental in getting our transportation going."
Becky and Tom arrived in Cleveland in time for the transplant that has kept her alive since.
'HE WAS A GOOD MAN'
Save for occasional blood work and checkups, Becky hasn't had any problems with her new liver. She sent Steinbrenner a thank-you card years ago, and on it was a scene depicting Amish life. Steinbrenner wrote back thanking the couple for the card and fond memories of Ohio it brought back, Becky said.
They still cherish the letter.
Steinbrenner went on to become one of the most powerful owners in professional sports. As his Yankees won -- seven World Series championships and 11 American League pennants in 37 years -- he continued to give to dozens of charities, often stipulating that it be done anonymously.
"He was a good man," Becky said. "I think the media dwelled on his sports background and his temperament, but there was another side to George Steinbrenner. He was a very caring man and he helped an awful lot of people.
"I wouldn't be here without him."
Joe Arnold can be reached at (740) 681-4358 or at jarnold@nncogannett.com.
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