Local News

Bears' Tillman On Daughter's Heart Transplant

Cornerback Hopes To Draw Attention To Importance Of Organ Donation

CHICAGO (CBS) ― If it seemed like Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman's mind was some place else at times during the pre-season, he had a pretty good reason why.

His 6-month-old daughter, Tiana, underwent a heart transplant last month. The good news is she's back home on the road to recovery.

Tillman shared his story Friday at Children's Memorial Hospital, where he and his wife spent the past three months, day and night.

The Tillmans are thankful their baby girl is alive today because of the Berlin Heart device, which was used for the first time here in Illinois., and, of course, finding a donor.

"Probably the toughest thing that I had to battle with, and I still battle with it now, is I knew in order for my daughter to live, another kid had to die," Tillman said. "I struggled with it and struggle with it and the biggest thing that I got out of it was you're taking something negative and turning it into a positive, instead of just having two negatives."

Coach Lovie Smith said, "What we tried to do as the Bears organization for Charles was just let him know we were there for him, whatever we could do to help, we would do it. And as far as camp and football and things like that, I told Charles, if he felt like coming to practice, come to practice, but take care of his family and go from there."

"I think the purpose of this press conference is really not to tell my story, but just to let people know about organ donation… get that awareness out to everyone," Tillman said. "It saved my daughter's life."

The Charles Tillman Foundation is focusing its efforts on helping other families who are dealing with their child's heart problems. If you'd like to become an organ donor go to DonateLifeIllinos.org.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---