From Bribery Charges to Life-Saving Donation: Former Official’s Extraordinary Act of Selflessness
A former New York City official, facing unresolved bribery allegations, found himself in the extraordinary position of donating a portion of his liver to a constituent in need – a decision that also led to the discovery of a potentially life-threatening health issue.
Eric Ulrich, 40, shared his story with NBC New York, detailing how the uncertainty surrounding his legal battles unexpectedly created the space for an act of profound generosity. “Dealing with the legal and political situation I’m in right now, it gives you a lot more time than I care to mention,” Ulrich explained. “Your life is definitely put on pause.”
For the past eight months, Ulrich quietly explored the possibility of donating a significant portion of his liver to Anthony Blandino, 59, of Ozone Park. Blandino, a longtime supporter of Ulrich’s during his time on the City Council, had been waiting for a liver transplant with no suitable deceased donor match. “The reality is there are a lot of patients — Antonio is one of them — who need a liver but they’re just too low on the list to get one,” stated Dr. Nabil Dagher of the Northwell Transplant Institute in Nassau County, who successfully performed the transplant on Tuesday. “Living donors shorten the wait on that list.”
Blandino himself described Ulrich’s offer as “his gift from God.”
Ulrich kept his intentions closely guarded, sharing the plan with neither the recipient, his 13-year-old daughter, nor the Manhattan District Attorney’s office prosecuting his case. “I’ll be damned if they tell me what I can do,” Ulrich asserted. “I’m trying to save somebody else’s life.”
The process of becoming a living donor required extensive medical evaluation. During this period, Ulrich revealed he was “looking for a sign from God.” That sign arrived unexpectedly during a routine colonoscopy, the final test in the donor screening process. Still recovering from anesthesia, Ulrich recalled the doctor’s words: “He said I was a lucky young man. He said ‘in essence you’re trying to save someone else’s life and you wound up saving your own.’”
Dr. Robert Brunner, the Northwell gastroenterologist who performed the colonoscopy, confirmed the remarkable turn of events. “It still gives me chills. Him deciding to donate his liver saved his life from colon cancer,” Brunner said. He explained that he discovered and removed a large precancerous polyp, potentially weeks or months away from developing into cancer. Brunner noted that, given current medical guidelines recommending colonoscopy screenings begin at age 45, Ulrich likely would not have discovered the polyp in time without the donor evaluation. “In all my years of practice, I can’t recall another moment like that. Just pure goodness on the side of a patient ended up with just an amazing result.”
The discovery solidified Ulrich’s resolve. “I knew that I had to move forward with it. This was the sign that I needed.” He jokingly dismissed any notion of a transaction, stating, “There’s no quid pro quo. You can’t sell your organs.”
Ulrich reflected on the irony of a defendant facing bribery charges finding the opportunity for such selfless action and receiving an unexpected health benefit in return. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Nothing is coincidence. Good things can come from bad situations,” he said. “I would like to think that I would have done it before – even when I was in my previous life. People should not let things externally impact what happens deep down inside.”
In January, a judge dismissed the most significant bribery charge against Ulrich – allegations that he received a favorable deal on his Rockaway Park apartment, citing that prosecutors had withheld exculpatory evidence from the grand jury. However, Ulrich still faces additional charges related to accepting baseball tickets and artwork in exchange for allegedly leveraging his position as buildings commissioner.
Ulrich shared his story with NBC New York with a clear purpose. “We believe this story might inspire and encourage other people to sign up as an organ donor.”
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