The Santa Rosa Two

Santa Rosa pair discuss life-saving liver donation on Anderson Cooper talk show


Olivia Lemen, left, donated part of her liver to save Amy Baghdadi.
By Chris Smith
The Press Democrat

Published: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 10:26 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 10:26 a.m.

Two Sonoma County families are especially keen to see the program that Anderson Cooper is taping in New York City today on friends who help very ill friends survive.

Santa Rosa High alums Olivia Roberts Lemen and Amy Weitzenberg Baghdadi got a call Friday inviting them to appear on the show. Early last year, Lemen donated part of her liver to Baghdadi, whose life was in peril from liver cancer.

The pair told producers they wouldn't go without their husbands, also key players in the transplant saga, so all four flew Monday to NYC.

Their episode of Cooper's new daytime talk show will also feature comic actor Seth Rogen and other cast members of "50/50," based on Rogen's true friendship with a young man who battled cancer.

Olivia's thrilled and proud mom, Jill Earl, said that as far as the families know, the show will air at 3 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 2.