SAN ANTONIO – Matthew Hawkins calls it a "no-brainer."

"Take a semester off school to save my dad's life? It's nothing, you know," he said. "It's like, I can do that. I'm glad I did it."

It's definitely something.

Living donor liver transplant surgeries are the most complex kind performed in the abdomen, according to University Transplant Center surgeon Dr. Tarunjeet Klair, who performed the procedure.

At a ceremony Friday celebrating Hawkins' donation and the recovery of him and his stepfather, Whataburger awarded Hawkins a gift basket of orange and white goodies and free Whataburger for a year.

Hawkins donated the majority of his liver, which Klair said can regenerate back to its original size, to his stepfather, Bill Rogers.

The donation started with news from Rogers' doctor.

"He said something that stuck with me -- that I have end-stage liver disease. End-stage means there's a clock ticking, and when that clock stops, one of two things (happen): You're no longer here, or you need a liver," Rogers said, fighting back tears. "And without him, I would be in a very different spot."

Rogers' mother died of liver disease last year.

"He's been there my entire life. He's done everything for me," Hawkins said. "So I at least owe him to do what I can, at least try. See if I could save his life, you know."

"All the way up until they took us back, I asked Matt, are you sure this is what you want to do? He didn't hesitate one bit," Rogers said.

Asked about one of his biggest complaints post-op, Hawkins said, "I made a big deal about (the food). I was telling them, 'I don't want this hospital food. I need some honey butter. Something good, like Whataburger, you know.'"

Now, Hawkins has plenty of "something good" for the next year.

He also has a life saved -- even sweeter than honey butter.

"Taking a month or two out of your life to save someone's entire life -- it was a no-brainer for me," Hawkins said.