More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Transplants rely on the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors, and there are not enough donors to meet the need.
Organ, eye and tissue donors save lives. More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. You can help. Learn about ways to be an active supporter of the Donate Life cause.
Kidney donor Diane wanted to help her friend John when she learned he was in renal failure and needed a kidney. Nearly one foot shorter than John, it seemed unlikely that Diane could be his living donor.
Hunter had big plans to become a doctor, but complications from his cystic fibrosis left him as a patient in need of a new liver.
Now over one year post-transplant, Jennifer’s vision has greatly improved, and she is fully able to enjoy all of the things she did prior to the illness: cooking, photography and being her daughters’ biggest fan.
Donor tissue made it possible for Jessica to come back stronger than before. She has a new appreciation for her mobility, and she has added regular weightlifting to her workout routine to help keep her legs in great shape.
Julián, beneficiario de riñón, pasó gran parte de su infancia entrando y saliendo del hospital debido a que sufría de granulomatosis con poliangeítis, una rara enfermedad que limitaba el flujo sanguíneo a sus pulmones y riñones.
Kidney recipient Julian spent much of his childhood in and out of the hospital due to having a rare disease that limited blood flow to his lungs and kidneys.
With the help and encouragement of a dear friend, Kenny created a letter seeking a living kidney donor and sent it to the people in his life, including the listserv of his high school’s graduating class.
Leah tenía 12 años cuando recibió la noticia devastadora de que, sin un trasplante bipulmonar, su padre tendría solo dos años de vida. Afortunadamente, un donante de órganos salvó su vida y de esa manera le dio a la muchacha lo que más anhelaba: tiempo con su papá.
With the transplant, Lita has been able to continue to fill her life with good music, powwows, dancing and the Gathering of Nations. She encourages everyone to consider signing up to be a donor.
While her upbringing had led her to be skeptical about organ donation, she now understands the truth behind the many misconceptions and hopes to share that awareness with others in the Hispanic community.
Mady was born with Hirschsprung’s disease – a condition that affects the large and small intestines. At 9 months old, she underwent a small bowel transplant.
An ACL tear from a sports injury during her freshman year of high school left Makenzie in constant pain, and severely impacted her life both on and off the playing field. Donated tissue made it possible for her to stay dedicated to her active, healthy lifestyle and to achieve her dream of becoming captain of her field hockey team.
Makisha has a beautiful smile and a big heart, but as a double-cornea transplant recipient, it is her eyes that tell the story of her life.
At the time of Cameron’s donation, Sarah knew that as she cried tears of sadness, those awaiting lifesaving and healing transplants were crying tears of gratitude and joy.
In 2011, Chris started dialysis and needed a kidney transplant. One of Chris’ old high school football teammates, Tom, heard about his condition and wanted to help.
Dinorah suffered from high blood pressure, which took a toll on her body. In 2009, her kidneys were failing, and she began dialysis three times a week.
Pediatric heart recipient Erin was just six months old when she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease that severely weakened her heart.
Ieesha has resumed her active lifestyle, and is back to cooking great food and running. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of her tissue transplant, Ieesha achieved what she considers to be her biggest accomplishment yet — completing a full marathon!
As Community Outreach Coordinator for LiveOnNY, I work to provide culturally appropriate Clinical & Family Services to Chinese donor families and community education through different channels such as tabling events, media, and workshops.
After giving birth to their son Tyler in 2000, Lisa’s chronic kidney disease took a toll on her health. She was told she would need a kidney transplant and was eventually placed on dialysis.
Mady nació con la enfermedad de Hirschsprung, una afección que afecta al intestino grueso y el delgado. A los 9 meses, se sometió a un trasplante de intestino delgado.
Living near a hospital in his native country of Burma, Pastor Jum remembers health professionals venturing into the streets to ask for blood donations for patients undergoing surgery and treatment inside the hospital.
Renee is a Native American woman from the Pueblo of the San Ildefonso Tribe in New Mexico. She was a 40-year-old wife and mother of two young girls, working fulltime and physically active, when she suddenly became very ill.
Vanessa tenía 21 años cuando se empezó a sentir mal. Ella trató de ignorar los síntomas y continúo con su vida cotidiana, pero pronto terminó en el hospital.
Christopher had restrictive cardiomyopathy. His heart was enlarged and unable to function properly. Without a heart transplant, Christopher would have only 12 months to live.
Lukas had been only 8 years old when he announced to his family that he wanted to sign up to be an organ donor. And, he did. Not long after he turned 15 ½, Lukas applied for his temporary driver’s license and checked the box to join his state’s organ, eye and tissue donor registry.
Vanessa was 21 years old when she first started feeling ill. She learned that she had Goodpasture syndrome, a rare condition that attacks the lungs and kidneys.
A vibrant and active high school student, Zahra’s world was turned upside down when her health suddenly began failing, leaving her hospitalized and in dire need of a new heart.
Cornea recipient Patrice first began experiencing trouble with her eyesight during the summer after first grade.
As a rabbi, I can think of no higher mitzvah, or commandment, than giving someone else the gift of life,” says Rabbi Glazer.
Knowing nothing about living donation and having never met Chris, Richard took the first steps toward seeing if he was a match and, ultimately, saving Chris’s life.
My kidney donation and my father’s transplant have brought me to realize how precious and beautiful it is to be alive,” acknowledges Sabrina. With her family’s support and guidance, Sabrina is now studying to become a pharmacy technician so that she can continue to help others.
Shortly after Shovon was born, doctors discovered that something was wrong with his heart.
Kidney donor Susan has always been motivated to help others and make positive changes in the world, both personally and professionally.
Susana es esposa, madre de un hijo, orgullosa dueña de dos perros adoptados y, hace poco, donante de riñón no dirigida.
When Tamika received the news that she had breast cancer, she found the power to beat her illness from the support she received by opening
Christopher era un bebé sano y feliz hasta que comenzó a padecer problemas respiratorios a los 15 meses de edad. Al principio, parecía que Christopher
Living donation made it possible for Christine to resume her normal, always-on-the-go routine. She also feels that her new kidney has both enabled and inspired her to do even more.
Dot era una enérgica pastora que ministraba en la iglesia que amaba cuando una enfermedad la dejó con dificultades para respirar y una urgente necesidad de recibir un trasplante parcial de pulmón.
“Because of this transplant, I live,” said Dot. “This gift has given me another day with my family, with my friends, with this world. I have been given time, and my passion is to tell everyone about my donor — my hero. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my donor and God for making that possible.”
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