Read About Those Positively Impacted by
Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation
Life is what you make it.
Donor Family
Warren, an avid football fan, coached little league football and was affectionately known as “Coach Mac.” He lived life in the fast lane between his love of motorcycles and four-wheelers, but his first love was family. Sadly, it was a motorcycle accident that ended Warren’s life. Not long before that fatal... Read MoreWe cannot thank his donor's family enough.
Kidney Recipient
Before A.J.’s birth, doctors informed his family that his kidneys were not functioning and he would require a kidney transplant. They knew he would face challenges as soon as he was born, however, they were not expecting A.J. to join the world a month early. He was immediately placed in the... Read MoreNidia pursues her mission of educating others about the importance of organ donation.
Donor Family
According to his mother, Nidia, Carlos Julian was full of energy, fun and happiness, and he was generous and liked helping others. His greatest virtue was his sensitivity and empathy, especially towards those most in need. Carlos Julian was the second of three siblings and liked horseback riding, baseball and going... Read MoreNow, because of Geoffrey, I have a new family.
Heart Recipient and Donor Family
Doctors initially thought Yolanda suffered an asthma attack, however they soon diagnosed a heart issue - Yolanda’s left ventricular muscle had collapsed. Doctors managed her heart disease with medication for 11 years, yet her health continued to decline. In late 2012, Yolanda’s heart function was down to 5%. She was admitted... Read MoreI’m thankful.
Liver Recipient
Diagnosed with biliary atresia – a disease of the bile ducts - at only 18 months old, Valerie Franks needed a transplant to survive. She received that transplant when she was only two and grew up to live a happy, healthy life with her husband. After eight years of marriage, the... Read MoreBecause of him,
I lived.
Kidney Recipient and Living Donor
In early 2009, Syrita visited her doctor for her yearly checkup; it was far from “routine”. Although she didn’t feel sick, Syrita’s kidneys only functioned at 20%, and shortly after, she began peritoneal dialysis at home. Each night Syrita’s husband Rodney, connected her to a dialysis machine and for eight hours... Read MoreThank you to my donor family for the chance to reach my dreams.
Heart Recipient
To look at Re’Ana today you wouldn’t know the serious medical challenges she overcame in her short 13 years of life. After a friendly childhood game of chase caused Re’Ana to break her ankle, the doctors realized there was more happening in her tiny body – Osteosarcoma, bone cancer. Unfortunately, the... Read MoreI think of my donor family and their loved one daily.
Liver Recipient
Dance has always been a part of Marquita’s life. She began dancing when she was four and knew she wanted to dance professionally. While attending Washington University, Marquita was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease. She worked hard to maintain her studies while battling health struggles, graduated... Read MoreMy donor changed my life forever.
Tissue Recipient
Jonny, a former construction worker, snapped his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while descending a ladder. As a single father, he needed his injury repaired so he could continue to support his family. Jonny received a donated tendon to repair his damaged ACL in June 2017. After three months in physical therapy,... Read MoreThere was meaning for Ella’s life.
Donor Family
Jeff and Jody fell in love in college, moved around the country through their work in church ministry and were eventually led back home to Georgia, where they have continued to raise their four children, Caleb, Abby, Ella and Ava. Tragedy struck their family in early fall 2016, when Ella developed... Read More