National Donate Life Month: Help Spread the Word

Apr 18, 2017 | Mayo Clinic Transplant Staff | @mayoclinictransplantstaff

April is National Donate Life Month – a time for our transplant community to rally together and thank the donor families and living donors who have given the ultimate gift of a second chance. This month also provides us with the opportunity to educate those who haven’t found it in their hearts to register as an organ donor.

One of the most powerful ways to spread the word is through the stories of those who have been touched by organ donation. Throughout April on our Facebook page, we’re highlighting some of our most outstanding donor and recipient stories. We encourage you to read the stories yourself and share them with those around you.

Meet Tara

Heart transplant recipient Tara catalogs a full life thanks to her organ donor. "Since my transplant, I have been able to meet my five nephews and three nieces, and become godmother to three of them. I also was able to see my Dad beat cancer. And I've been able to advocate for organ donation awareness. None of this would have happened without my donor and the transplant I was able to receive.”

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Read Tara’s full story.

Meet Matt

A stranger gave firefighter Matt a kidney. Simply put, he needed a hero.

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Read Matt’s full story.

Meet Stacy

Stacy, kidney transplant recipient, found her mantra in a T-shirt. “I found a T-shirt before my last transplant that said, ‘No one fights alone.’ This became so important to me, because I’ve had so much support through my life. I wear that shirt in honor of my family, the care team at Mayo and the family of the person who donated to me.” She hopes to encourage people to consider organ donation as a way to help other families.

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Read Stacy’s full story.

Meet Reagan

Reagan, lung transplant recipient, is grateful for 10 years and counting thanks to an organ donor. “I’ve been able to be a daughter to my parents, and a mother to my children, and a wife to my husband. It’s an amazing gift that I’ll never be able to repay.”

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Read Reagan’s full story.

Meet Jolinda

Jolinda, living donor kidney transplant recipient, turned her life-altering experience into a mission to raise awareness for organ donation. Her co-worker, Dawn, donated her kidney and that gift meant everything to Jolinda. “It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. I'm still in awe,” she says. “I felt like I had a front row ticket to watch God perform a miracle through Dawn.”