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Life Stories

Organ, eye, and tissue transplants transform lives. They save people who are dying, restore sight, turn loss into hope, and forge profound bonds between total strangers.

The stories on this page will introduce some of the people who make up America’s diverse transplant community.

Read on to learn more about these special transplant recipients, donor families, and living donors. These people are living proof of the incredible truth: organ, eye, and tissue transplants change lives.

Featured Story
Texas
Blake
Heart Recipient
One person can save eight lives and improve 50 others.
See Blake's Story
California
Abhishek
Karma is a big deal. If you sign up as an organ donor, it would be a good deed.
Hawaii
Abraham
“I feel very proud of my son...The light was shining on him. He was a giver who gave to the very end.” – Malani
North Carolina
Adrianne
“There literally is that constant reminder in my chest that I’m here because of someone else.”
Texas
AJ
“I literally have a second chance at life.” - AJ
Arizona
Alan
Thanks to a second cornea transplant, Alan no longer has to live in fear.
North Dakota
Alanna
“Mom, you can’t go yet, you’re going to be a grandma,” Alanna’s son told her as she lay on a hospital bed.
Texas
Alejandro
“Thanks to their gift, he now has the opportunity to see the world and all its beauty.” — Alejandro’s family
Maryland
Alisa
"Receiving a kidney will do more than restore me to health. It will mean freedom."
Kentucky
Amelia
"The real heroes are the donor families. I look at it this way: there could have been two tragedies, but my donor family turned their tragedy into a blessing. I’m forever grateful." — Amelia
New Mexico
America
America is a two-time kidney recipient
Florida
Anand
“No one knows when they may die, but when you go, you can leave a legacy.” — Tribhawan, Anand’s Father
California
Angel
“People feel like I’ve taken something out of me, but really I’ve gained something completely immeasurable that no one can ever take away from me.”
Nevada
Angelo
“I’m grateful to be alive. Every day is a gift.”
Minnesota
Anne
Anne’s donation transformed the lives of several recipients and their families. In gratitude, she was named a “Star of Life.”
Maryland
Aretha
“Life is a gift. Gifts are meant to be given if someone has another chance at life.” – Aretha
California
BJ
In his death, BJ gave life to 4 other people.
Texas
Blake
One person can save eight lives and improve 50 others.
Michigan
Brandon
“Brandon was a giving person. This was his last gift.” — Constance
New York
Brendan
I wouldn’t be able to do anything that I do today without my donor and her family.
Louisiana
Brennon
“I could hear him telling me, 'Mom, are you serious? If I could help 70 people, of course I would.'” – Megan, Brennon’s mother
Maryland
Brittany
“I know that I am not just reaching my goals, but your goals as well.” — Brittany
Massachusetts
Caitlin
“Say yes, check the box and tell your family. You have the chance to do something great.”
District of Columbia
Caleb
After receiving a new kidney, Caleb now enjoys T-ball and “all things superheroes.”
Texas
Carlee
“Yes, you can have two heart transplants but you can do whatever you want to do, or be who you want to be.”
Texas
Carlton
Thanks to Carlton’s gift, a 69-year-old woman suffering from end-stage liver disease is alive and is progressing well.
West Virginia
Cecil
"If Cecil could be a donor at 95, there is no reason for anyone else not to step up and take the step to be an organ donor."
Florida
Cesar
“I had two kidneys. I gave away one...one healthy kidney...I did what I wanted to do and what I had to do as a husband.” – Cesar
California
Chris
"Your well-being changes from loss of hope...to hope...to better times ahead."
South Dakota
Christina
“The giving of oneself is just the ultimate way of saying thank you for being created.” — Christina
Michigan
C’Aira
“It’s like I’ve been given my life back. Literally. My children are grateful. My family is grateful. I’m grateful.”
Maryland
Daisy
Rosa and Francisco decided to donate Daisy’s organs, a decision that helps them deal with their pain to this day.
New York
Dalton
“As our family began the Honor Walk, the choirs followed, and their voices filled the halls.” – Dexter, Dalton’s father
New Jersey
Dan
“Words can’t express how that act of selflessness has transformed me and gives me a new lease on life.”
Maryland
Daniel
“I'm looking at myself, what was left of me, but I still had my mind. So everything told me to fight so my son could have his father." – Daniel
Maryland
Danielle and Jonah
“Your children are a part of you,” says Danielle. For son Jonah, receiving a part of his mom’s liver proved to be a lifesaver.
Wisconsin
Derek
“I’m taking care of this heart.”
California
Dr. Daw
“As a physician, our mother had cared for so many people. This last gift she made is an everlasting testament to her character.” — the family of Dr. Daw
California
Ernest
“With his donation, five lives have been saved. He did a great thing.” — Bernice, Ernest’s Wife
Texas
Estevan
“Estevan was the best child anybody could have. He never met a stranger. He was an angel and a gentleman. It was an honor being his mother.” – Rosie, Estevan’s mother
Indiana
Faith
“That’s what I wanted to do. Not for Steve, not for anybody else. It was for me, period. There was never any doubt.” – Faith
California
Febronio
"My brother had such a light when he was born," his sister says, adding that his light continues to shine on thanks to his donations.
New York
Frank & Alisa
“I'd either drop dead or I’d have a normal life. I was so tired of waiting, so sick of being in the hospital. Whatever happened, I wouldn’t be sick anymore.” – Frank
Pennsylvania
Gabriel
For Gabriel, the gift of life included the gift of a childhood that he enjoys to the fullest.
Hawaii
Gene
In his wife Deborah’s words, he was “a wonderful husband and a very humble man.”
Arizona
George
“The reason why I'm [promoting organ and tissue donation] is because I was able to get a second life. This is my way to give back because I am living, from here it will catch on.” — George
Pennsylvania
Glenn
Glenn comes from a long line of boxing professionals. But waiting for his kidney was the most challenging fight of his life.
Indiana
Haley
The onset of a rare blood condition eroded Haley’s quality of life in every way, until a five-organ transplant sent her spinning in a new direction.
Wisconsin
Henry
“Your legacy can live on with organ donation.” – Audrey, Henry’s sister
Connecticut
Janet
“The need for transplantation can affect anyone—young, old, male, and female in any ethnic or cultural group.” — Janet
South Dakota
Jasmine
“You have an opportunity to honor the life that you cherished with your loved one — to make a difference in another life and find peace.” – Mark, Jasmine’s father
California
Jason
“We are so grateful … we want to express our deepest appreciation to the donor’s parents.” — Jason’s parents
Illinois
Jazmyne
Tanyice and Clarence are honoring their daughter Jazmyne’s spirit of giving by establishing programs and community events that promote organ donation.
Georgia
Jillian
A loving daughter is inspired by her father’s gift of life.
California
John & Kristy
“He’s in people’s memories, he’s in people’s lives, and it affects so much more than me. He lives on.” — John’s daughter, Kristy
California
Johnny
Staying true to his generous spirit, Johnny’s mother donated his corneas and tissues.
Maryland
Kathryn
“I’ve seen the lowest of lows. The only thing you can do is be positive.” – Kathryn
California
Kelly
“We think of Kelly’s donor family and thank them in our hearts every day.” — Cathy, Kelly’s mother
California
Kelvin
“After four months of waiting, he received the call. ‘I was so excited, because it gave me hope. Hope to see my sons grow up and spend more time with my wife and family...” – Kelvin
Georgia
Ken
Ken won three swimming medals at the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and now competes in triathlons.
California
Khalieghya
“What an amazing gift that mother would give to me and my family. I will be forever grateful.” — Khalieghya's mother
Minnesota
Klarissa
Klarissa has participated in two National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and speaks on the importance of organ donation.
Pennsylvania
Leah
“At just 8 weeks, we knew only a transplant could save our baby’s life.”
Maryland
Linda
“To us, every day is an ice cream sundae with a great big glop of whipped cream and a cherry on top. We are alive. We are here and we thank you, thank you, thank you." — Linda
Colorado
Manuel
“Manuel has taught me a lot about courage. Life goes on and he goes on with it.” — CoCo, Manuel’s caregiver
Georgia
Marshall
“I kept asking myself how someone who doesn’t even know me could become an altruistic donor?”
Texas
May
World champion martial arts competitor May continues her winning ways with an allograft transplant.
Nevada
Michael
“What an amazing gift that I can still have a part of my son available to me anytime, even with the people that I haven't met yet.” Courtney, Michael’s Mother
Texas
Mikey
The family has continued to give back to their community as LifeGift Vital Volunteers
Florida
Mireya
“When I was at my sickest, I felt there was no hope left for me. Now I provide hope to those who are waiting for the gift of life.” — Mireya
Texas
Nicholas
When Texas passed organ donation legislation, Nicholas and his mother were present to celebrate donors and their families.
Delaware
Onyi
"I hope that my donor’s family knows I’m running for them. I hope it eases their pain a bit by knowing their child or loved one is in me."
Michigan
Patrick
“I feel, as I’m sure many recipients do, a drive and responsibility to use this phenomenal gift to its fullest; to use it not only to benefit my own life, but the lives of others." — Patrick
Arkansas
Rhonda
“Through donation, we have found peace. Rhonda is our beautiful guardian angel.”
California
Ricardo & Yadira
“You gave that second chance to me and my family, and I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.” Ricardo thanks his sister, Yadira.
New Jersey
Robert
“I thank God that I said yes [to organ donation] as Robbie was able to save five lives.”
Virginia
Robin "Junior"
“I’m very proud of my son, very proud of his vision, and he understood more than me,” says the mother of Junior, an organ donor. “He knew what he was doing.”
New York
Roxanne
“I want to sign up the most people in the United States. That’s my goal.”
Ohio
Ryan
“Even though I lost my mom, I would 1,000% do it again. I have no regrets about doing it.”
Tennessee
Sabrina
“I can’t tell you how wonderful my life has become. An organ donor truly saves lives and gives hope.” — Sabrina
California
Sara
"As a family, this is our story. I have to embrace it. I want to have the legacy of Lucas live on.”— Mona
North Dakota
Sarah & Cameron
After a fatal car accident, Sarah’s son Cameron saved and restored over 20 lives. His gifts even helped his mother heal.
Alabama
Savannah & Kayla
A pair of siblings gave life to more than 100 others, thanks to organ and tissue donations.
California
Sergio
“Thanks to my sister, Claudia, I am alive today and doing what I love to do most: helping others.” — Sergio
California
Shutong
“Shutong’s donor, Matthew, saved other lives indirectly. One woman made the decision to become a donor when she heard Shutong’s story.” — Shutong’s mother
New York
Stephen
“Without that mother and her now ten-year-old daughter, my story would be quite different. So life is good once again.” — Stephen
Illinois
Steve
“It’s an incredible gift, and there’s no age limit on who can give, and who can’t.”
New Jersey
Talea & Lakisha
“My daughter was a miracle child. I try to honor her gifts every day.”
Colorado
Tony
"There are so many people who die each day waiting for a chance at life. And I've run into so many donor families who are so proud of that last gift.”
Maryland
Walter
“Even though we lost a husband, father, grandfather and a friend, the heavens gained an angel.”
Puerto Rico
Yatska
Following her lifesaving kidney transplant, Yatska became a volunteer for LifeLink of Puerto Rico.