#BeTheGift Connections

February is Heart Month and it’s the perfect time to talk about the Gift of Life. On this #BeTheGift Connections: “Stories from the Heart,” we have two special stories to share with you. Our first story truly illustrates the circle of life. We talk to two mothers…a donor hero’s mother from Tennessee and a recipient mother from Chicago, brought together because of a heart transplant. In our second...

Our Tennessee County Clerks are key partners in helping Tennessee Donor Services  save and improve lives. In the January   #BeTheGift Connections: “Connecting with our Clerks,” several county clerks share why increasing donor awareness is important to them.  Grainger County Clerk Angie Lamb’s husband’s life was saved through a liver transplant.  A good friend of Loudon County C...

Imagine giving a priceless gift that costs nothing — a gift that not only changes lives but can save them. That’s the gift of organ and tissue donation.  And what better time to talk about it than during the season of giving. On the December #BeTheGift Connections: “A Season of Giving,” we share two special stories of giving and the impact it has on others. In this month’s program, Lisa Rouss...

Did you know that all major religions support donation as an act of love and generosity?  On November’s #BeTheGift Connections: " Faith, Beliefs, and Donation" , in observance of National Donor Sabbath, we explore how one’s faith and beliefs can influence the decision to be a donor. We hear the extraordinary story of a donor hero and his heart recipient, and the role faith played throughout....

In October’s #BeTheGift Connections we learn about the importance of tissue donation. More than 2.5 million people receive a tissue transplant each year to repair injuries and defects, restore sight and improve or restore mobility. Sometimes a tissue transplant can even save a life. We also learn about the many tissues that can be donated and how they are used. In addition, an orthopedic surgeon d...

In September's #BeTheGift Connections,  we celebrate our partners at the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS).  September is National DMV Appreciation Month. We talk about the successful partnership between Tennessee Donor Services and the TDOS Driver Services Centers. Plus we have personal stories from Driver Service Center staff who share their connections to transplant recipients. It...

August's second episode of #BeTheGift Connections continued our focus on National Minority Donor Awareness Month. The discussion examines the inequities affecting communities of color in healthcare, donation and transplantation. We also talk with two physicians about the challenges relating to these disparities and creating greater awareness and acceptance of organ and tissue donation. In addition...

Did you know nearly 60% of patients on the national transplant waiting list are from multicultural communities?  In our August #BeTheGift Connections we focus on National Minority Donor Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation within minority communities. This first program, in a series of three, highlights the personal stories of...

Nationally, almost 80,000 patients last year received a cornea transplant. In the July edition of #BeTheGift Connections: “The Marvelous Gift of Sight,” Dr. Erich Groos, Associate Medical Director for Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank and Dr. Deborah DiStefano walk you through how donor tissue gives hope to many who are blind or visually impaired. In addition, we will explore the important role of an...

In the June #BeTheGift Connections: “Being Dad,” we recognize Father’s Day and the influence that fathers have on their children, we talk with three dads who are organ recipients. They share how the gift of life has enabled them to play an active role in their children’s lives. Plus, they relate how being a recipient has impacted how they view their role as a father. Register to be an organ and ti...

In the May #BeTheGift Connections: "Birth Tissue: A Mother's Gift," we learn about a living tissue donation that many are not familiar with… Birth Tissue. According to the American Association of Tissue Banks, there is an increasing demand for this type of tissue because of its versatility and numerous clinical applications. Today expectant mothers can choose to donate their placenta after the del...

On the April #BeTheGift Connections: "Saving Young Lives,” we highlight April being Donate Life Month and the week of April 25th being designated National Pediatric Transplant Week.  We have two inspiring stories about remarkable young people. One is a story of Kainen Boring, a donor hero, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 17. His family knew he had talked about being an organ donor...

In the March #BeTheGift Connections: "The Miracle of Living Donation," we learn about living organ donation through two special living donor stories. In addition, we have a conversation on the advances in this area of transplantation with a transplant surgeon. Our guests include Finley, a three-year-old kidney recipient, Dr. Alan Koffron, Surgical Director for the Erlanger Health System Kidney Tra...

In recognition of National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, we have a couple of special stories on February's #BeTheGift Connections. Marcia Cunningham, a heart recipient, shares her transplant journey of waiting for and receiving a new heart. Dr. Jonathan Menachem, a transplant cardiologist with Vanderbilt Health Transplant Center discusses the strides that are being made in the field of heart tr...

The January 2022 #BeTheGift Connections: “New Year, New Life” features two organ recipients, both of whom are celebrating their one-year transplant anniversary this month! They share their transplant experience and what this second chance means to them. Register to be an organ and tissue donor at BeTheGiftToday.com.