Former state rep battled health issues for decades

Former state representative Steve Cookson’s health issues, which lead to his liver transplant Jan. 29, began decades ago when he was in high school.

While Cookson, 62, is recovering “remarkably well” at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, according to his sister, Lorie Grossheider of Cape Girardeau, she is speaking for the family to thank everyone for the continued prayers, as well as his donor’s family.

Cookson’s journey and battle began his junior year of high school, she said.

Grossheider is sharing his story to help everyone understand why “the entire Cookson family would like to thank Steve’s donor family, who chose to give the gift of life at a very sad time for them. We will be eternally grateful and our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with them.”

She also said “Steve would like to thank all the people and churches who have prayed for him throughout this entire journey. He would also like to encourage all people to choose the gift of life by being a donor and selecting that option on their driver’s license.”

Grossheider said, her brother’s medical issues started with a broken ankle.

“When he underwent surgery in St. Louis, the doctors discovered he was having issues with his blood clotting,” she said. “He was sent to a Memphis hospital where they had specialists in the field. Those specialists discovered Steve had hemophilia, a blood clotting disorder. He was given a lot of blood coagulants during that time to save his life.”

Years later, when he was in his 40s, Grossheider explained, “he was diagnosed with liver cancer, which was believed to have stemmed from all the treatments he had from the hemophilia. While dealing with this, they discovered he also had hepatitis. The doctor told Steve back in the 70s, the medical community did not screen donors for hepatitis, like they do now.”

Cookson’s hepatitis was from all the blood and coagulants he had received back in the 70s.

“With those two diagnoses, Steve endured a lot of treatments over the years that left him very tired and weak,” she said. “As a result of all the treatments, he developed cirrhosis of the liver.”

Praising her bother, Grossheider said, “Steve was determined to not let these health issues rule his life, so he persevered to accomplish his life goals, which included being an advocate for good education for all children, regardless of their background.”

He was a principal and superintendent of schools, a Three Rivers College board member, and he served six years as an education advocate in the Missouri House of Representatives, she said.

When he was about 57, his liver began to fail and he was diagnosed with liver failure, and “he was added to the transplant list with Mid-America Transplant in St. Louis,” she said.