My story of donating a kidney is one of faith. If you would’ve told me at the beginning of 2010, that I would be having major surgery and giving a kidney to someone I barely knew in January of this year, I would probably have looked at you like you’re crazy. I’m so thankful that God is in control and allowed me to be a part of this experience, because it has done nothing but…
On October 20th, 2019, our families suffered the most tragic loss imaginable. Our two youngest children were on their way home from a visit with their birth mom and she was involved in a terrible deer/car/tractor trailer accident on I-86 near Barton, Ny. Our son Zachary, 7, died instantly and Trinity, 11, was flown from Robert Packer to Upstate Golisano with a brain injury. We later learned we had lost her as well. Because of…
Kaci is an altruistic living kidney donor who jokes that she gave away her kidney at the quick lube. Kaci fell so in love with transplantion through her donation that she went to nursing school and now works for LifeGift in Family Care. Her journey from donor to advocate, and from nurse to Family Care Specialist, shows a dedication that goes beyond the ordinary. Finding a true passion, Kaci turned a selfless act into a…
Dear Donor Family, First of all, I want to tell you how sorry I am for the loss of your loved one. The depth of pain you must be experiencing is unimaginable. I pray daily for strength for your family, and the gift of life your loved one has provided me. I have two children a wonderful wife and a passion to pay back society for this miraculous 100% transplant recovery. I was diagnosed with…
My Hero doesn’t have A Face. He gave me The Gift of Life, to continue my journey in Life. In Honor of My Anonymous Donor. He gave me the ride of My Life on Donate Life’s “Teammates In Life” Rose Bowl Parade Float in 2017. He gave me strength to participate in The Transplant Games of America, receiving Medals in Swimming, Cornhole, Bowling, and Team Volleyball. He also gave me strength in continuing My Musical…
I am the biological mother of donor, Allyiah Elizabeth Asher, who was born on July 8, 1996 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was killed in a horrific car accident that took her life on October 5, 2012, in Austin, Texas. Allyiah was only 16 years old. She had a lot of emotional issues she was dealing with, which stemmed from an abusive childhood. She was my amazingly beautiful girl who had a lot to offer this…
In 1962, when Janis Babson was ten years old and understood that she was going to lose her battle with leukemia, the only thing she feared was that she would be forgotten. Small chance! Inspired by an appeal she had seen on television, she drew from her grieving parents a promise to donate her eyes to an eye bank when she died. And by this act of faith, by giving the gift of sight to…
I am very privileged to be the mom lucky enough to have Cade as my son for 15 years. He was a handsome young man who liked playing football and loved playing the violin. He was active in our church and working towards his Eagle award in scouting before he returned to his heavenly home. He was an amazing young man who had a smile for everyone he met. He was kind hearted and compassionate….
Jimmy was 19 and so, so full of life and energy. It’s still hard to believe he could be taken from us. He was an organ donor, but his organs were so traumatically injured, they couldn’t be donated. They were able to use some tissue; I’m told it was used for orthopedic and reconstructive surgeries. He lived and loved hard. He did everything 100%. He was doing what he most loved doing, riding his motorcycle,…
July 15, 2009, began a new life’s journey for me and my family. We were on our way back home from our summer vacation and Garry my husband got sick. It was three days before he allowed me to take him to the Emergency room. Garry was then diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. For those of you who don’t know, this disease is genetic. Garry’s father Elmer was also diagnosis with this very same disease…