This Thing Called Life

A Year After Her Kidney Transplant: Carmelita Jones on Hope, Resilience & the Gift of Life Episode Description:  Before kidney failure changed her life, Carmelita Jones was a socially active casino dealer who loved being around people. But as her health gradually declined, she found herself facing a reality she knew little about: dialysis, long treatments, difficult lifestyle changes, and the...

EP 157: Mes de la Concientización sobre el Hígado (Liver Awareness Month) This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www...

The Call That Changed Everything: Jon McSorley's Liver Transplant Journey Episode Description In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson sits down with Jon McSorley, whose diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a serious liver disease, led to a life-threatening medical journey and the need for a liver transplant. While attending a conference in Minnesota, Jon received the...

Title: "Legacy in Life and Loss: Adria Johnson on Her Son’s Gift of Hope" 🎙️ Episode Summary In this powerful and emotional episode of This Thing Called Life, we sit down with Adria Johnson, President and CEO of Metro United Way in Louisville, Kentucky, as she shares the deeply personal story of losing her son, KJ, in a tragic car accident. KJ made the selfless decision to become an organ donor —...

Episode Summary Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Lineman Orlando Brown Jr. opens up about his family’s powerful story of resilience and awareness in the face of Type 1 diabetes. After losing his father to diabetic ketoacidosis and supporting his brother through the same diagnosis, Orlando has turned his personal loss into a mission for generational health.  In this episode of This Thing Called Life, O...

Celebrando el inicio del Mes de la Herencia Hispana (Celebrating the start of the Hispanic Heritage Month) This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://ww...

Episode Title: Remembering Reco Gunnels: Turning Legacy Into Lifesaving Action   Episode Description:  In this powerful episode of THIS THING CALLED Life, host Andi Johnson welcomes Kelly Gunnels, Ashley Smith of Hoxworth Blood Center, and Officer Johnson with the Cincinnati Police Department Community Relations Unit for an inspiring conversation about community, remembrance, and the power of givi...

This Thing Called Life podcast host, Andi Johnson, announces that the podcast is taking a summer hiatus to recharge and prepare for the upcoming season. Reflecting on Past Seasons: Andi highlights the diverse stories shared in the library of episodes, which include: Donor families finding purpose through loss. Recipients who received a second chance at life. Living donors who made extraordinary ch...

Episode Title: A Community of Hope: Sera's Journey to a Life-Saving Kidney Transplant Episode Description:  In this inspiring episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson sits down with Hali and Sera Davis to share their family's remarkable journey from uncertainty to hope. They reflect on the power of resilience, the unwavering support of their community, and how one young stranger's deci...

Network For Hope is in the community this weekend sharing information about Organ, eye, and Tissue donation and registering new donors to join the mission of saving lives.   Resources: Donatelifeky.org https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https:/...

Episode Title: From Waiting to Living: Maria Valentina Almeida’s Journey After Kidney Transplant Episode Description: On this weeks episode of This Thing Called Life, just weeks after receiving the life-changing phone call she'd been praying for, Maria Valentina Almeida returns to share what life looks like after a successful kidney transplant. From years of declining kidney function to receiving...

Episode Title: A New Lease on Life: Jim & Kim Wildenmann's Journey of Hope, Love, and an Intestine Transplant  Episode Description: For years, Crohn's disease slowly took more and more from Jim Wildenmann—until his body could no longer tolerate any nutrition, not even liquids. With few options remaining, Jim underwent a rare intestine transplant at the Cleveland Clinic, one of only a handful o...

This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO h...

Episode Title: Connected by Hope: How Sister Keli and Stephanie Bates Found Friendship Through Transplant Episode Description: What happens when two people who have walked through illness, uncertainty, and waiting find each other on the other side of survival? In this heartfelt episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson welcomes Sister Keli and Stephanie Bates, whose connection began thr...

Episode Title:   The Gift of Life: Inside Pediatric Transplants with Dr. Mo   Episode Description: Saying “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation can change everything. In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Dr. Monique “Dr. Mo” Goldschmidt from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center shares her passion for pediatric transplantation and the journey that brought her to Cincinnati. She re...

This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO h...

Episode Title: One Voice for Life: Imam Hossam Musa on Faith, Service & Organ Donation Episode Description: In this episode of This Thing Called Life, we sit down with Imam Hossam Musa, spiritual leader at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, for a thoughtful conversation about faith, service, and community leadership. Imam Musa shares insight into the role of an Imam, the importance of i...

This episode of TTCL will feature a radio interview of Tom Daskalakis from TriHealth Clinton Regional Hospital with Brett Milam the Community Relations Associate for Network for Hope on Healthcare Chat with Tom. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://aopo.org/ RegisterMe.org/N...

EP 144: When Everything Changes Overnight: Corie Blount on Fighting for His Son, CJ Episode Description: On this episode of This Thing Called Life, former University of Cincinnati standout and 11-year NBA veteran Corie Blount shares a deeply personal story far beyond the game. His 25-year-old son, CJ, went from a simple headache and fatigue to a life-altering diagnosis: dangerously high blood pres...

This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO h...

EP 142: Living Proof: How A Transplant at 7 months Sparked a Life of Impact     Episode Summary Haley Williamson’s life began with a fight—and it turned into a mission. In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Haley shares her experience of receiving a liver transplant as an infant and how that second chance shaped her path. Now at 27 years old and working with Network for Hope, she connects wit...

EP 141: Hope Springs Eternal this Donate Life Month   Episode Summary In this special episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson shines a light on Donate Life Month, observed each April—a time dedicated to honoring organ, tissue, and eye donors, celebrating transplant recipients, and raising awareness about the life-saving power of donation. Andi reflects on the profound impact of donati...

EP 140: "Strength in Every Generation: Orlando Brown Jr. on Family, Football, and Understanding Type 1 Diabetes"   Episode Summary Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Lineman Orlando Brown Jr. opens up about his family’s powerful story of resilience and awareness in the face of Type 1 diabetes. After losing his father to diabetic ketoacidosis and supporting his brother through the same diagnosis, Orlando...

This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega. This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation. Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO h...

EP 138: "A Leap Of Faith, Chelsea's Altruistic Kidney Donation Journey"   Episode Summary Chelsea McNicholas, a Hospital Partnership Liaison with Network for Hope, joins This Thing Called Life to share how a social media post and her faith led her to become an altruistic kidney donor for a Child. Chelsea recounts starting the testing process after hearing about a friend’s mother's need. Although s...