Three weeks ago, Tom Wilczak watched his daughter, Becky, compete in the women’s luge in the Winter Olympics. Tuesday, he won his own race against time when he underwent liver-transplant surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
A hospital spokesman said Wednesday that Wilczak, a 55-year-old River Forest resident, was in good condition.
Wilczak’s story attracted national attention when he traveled to Utah despite his worsening health to watch Becky finish fifth Feb. 12-13 at Utah Olympic Park in Park City. He suffered from autoimmune hepatitis, and in December a doctor had said he likely needed a transplant within months to survive.
Have a seat
The Kintetsu Buffaloes honored ex-Cub Tuffy Rhodes by painting the seat in the right-field stands of Osaka Dome where his Japanese league record-tying 55th homer landed last year.
Say what?
`I haven’t felt a lot of substance in my life.’
–Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, 52, who is hoping for an expanded role with the Phillies
