Legacies of Life

This month, we’re exploring how art can help us heal through grief, sharing simple ways to express and process loss. Our guest is San Antonio artist Janie Villarreal McClinchie, whose previous work with TOSA highlights the life-saving impact of organ donation. Inspired by her relative, Krizia Keiser, who saved three lives as a registered donor, this conversation honors legacy and healing through c...

We’re shining a light on the Transplant Games of America, apowerful national event that celebrates life, honors organ donors and uplifts the transplant community. We talk with Bill Ryan, the President and CEO of the Transplant Foundation, who is also a donor dad and the Vice President of Patient & Donor Affairs at Organ Procurement & Transplant Network,about the meaningful activities that...

We’re diving into the heart of TOSA’s Friends for Life volunteer program with our special guest, Linda Brady, Family & Recipient Engagement Coordinator. Linda joins us to talk about what makes this volunteer community so meaningful. We also take a look ahead at TOSA’s 2nd Annual Luckyto Have You: Volunteer Appreciation Casino Night, giving listeners a preview of the celebration planned to hono...

We’re unveiling a new alignment between Texas Organ Sharing Alliance and Southwest Transplant Alliance under the Gift of Life Alliance. Adriana and Edwina sit down with both organizations’ Presidents and CEOs to explore what this collaboration means, why it matters and, most importantly, how it will impact the families who choose to give the gift of life through organ donation. For more informatio...

Dia de los Muertos is a tradition that celebrates life and connections with loved ones who have passed. From thevibrant symbolism of marigolds and sugar skulls to the deeply personal stories shared by families, this holiday highlights how remembrance can be both healing and joyful. In this episode, Adriana and Edwina discuss TOSA’s altar and Ofrendas y Recuedros , an event for families to come tog...

TOSA recently added a new feature to its website allowingdonor families to connect to grief courses to help them on their journey. This month, we sat down with Litsa Williams, a Program Director and one of the founders of What’s Your Grief, a compassionate online platform designed to support grieving families. We explore the inspiration behind their work, the development of their grief support cou...

To observe Father’s Day, this month’s focus is on theoften-overlooked topic of men's grief, exploring how societal expectations can shape the grieving process of men. Adriana and Edwina visit with donor dad Alex Menchaca whose young son tragically passed away but became an organ donor, turning his loss into a legacy of life for others. For more information about organ donation or Texas Organ S...

For a special National Donate Life Month episode, we're joined once again by TOSA President & CEO Joe Nespral to talk about the myths and misconceptions that keep individuals and families from saying “yes” to organ donation. We know families often face questions about the donation process and we hope these answers alleviate any concerns for donor families when sharing their loved one's...

Marking the anniversary of the loss of a loved one is an opportunity for us to continue the bonds we hold with those we have lost. By either gathering as family and friends for a meal or going through old photographs, it’s important to mark the day by finding ways to keep your loved one’s memory alive. For today’s episode, TOSA President & CEO Joe Nespral joins Adriana and Edwina to talk about...

Finding positivity after the loss of a loved one seems impossible. But by remembering our loved ones fondly and the positive moments with them, we can remain connected with our departed as we grieve. In today’s episode, Adriana and Edwina visit with Kevin Karschnik, a keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author who specializes in leadership and communication to learn new tips in the positive mindset....

When faced with the loss of a loved one, many of us turn to our faith. From religious rituals or traditions, families can find comfort or even meaning in their loss. Our guest this month is Amber Smith, the mother of River who became an organ donor in 2019. Following her loss, Amber relied on her faith to help her manage her grief. We discuss her journey and how she has healed through her faith. F...

Organ transplant recipients wake up from their life-saving surgery with so many emotions. For most, the relief of knowing their wait for a second chance at life is over and the gratitude to their donor and their family are their first thoughts, and even the first thoughts before going into surgery. Often, though, many patients struggle with the weight of feeling like someone died so they could liv...

Legacies of Life turns 1! This month we’re reviewing what we’ve learned and visiting with TOSA volunteers to talk about their special meeting only one year after a donor’s tragic death. Donor mom Donna and double lung recipient Norma offer their insights about correspondence and the joy that can come from closure of letting a donor family or recipient know what donation has meant to their family....

National Donate Life Month is an observance to celebrate and honor those who have given the gift of life and a time to provide life-saving education about the need for more donors. We’re visiting with TOSA President & CEO Joe Nespral to talk about the gratitude we have for donor families and how they can come to our offices for a moment of peace at our Wall of Heroes, which honors each of TOSA...

National Donor Day , an observance to highlight the need for organ, eye, tissue, blood and bone marrow donors, is also meant to honor donors and their families. Lemuel Bradshaw, a two-time heart recipient, joins us to talk about his transplant and his work as a public relations manager with United Tissue Resources. To learn more about United Tissue Resources, visit unitedtissueresources.org. For m...

Grief during the holiday season is hard. We know it can feel challenging to know how to balance celebrating with family and friends when someone is no longer with us. This month we’ve got an early episode with Cindy Waddle, a Program Supervisor at Children’s Bereavement Center Rio Grande Valley to learn how we can deal with our emotions and help one another get through the season. Our Legacy Lette...

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a celebration of life and death. By creating an altar at home, we can pay tribute to those we miss the most while keeping their memory alive. In this episode we speak with Cyndi Stojanovic, the museum director at Mission Historical Museum, about the museum’s annual Community Altar Exhibit and how this holiday can help us grieve. To learn more about the Miss...

August 30th is observed as National Grief Awareness Day and we’re welcoming our first guest. Tara Storch is the co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation and a donor mom. Her group helps donor families with free grief support. Today we’re talking about what she’s learned and how we can use free resources to help us heal. For more information about Taylor’s Gift Foundation, visit TaylorsGift.org . For...

In the first episode of the Legacies of Life Podcast, we're introducing you to Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) and talking about our mission to save lives through the power of organ donation. Your hosts Adriana and Edwina will also get into how the Donor Family Aftercare Department supports donor families. In each episode, we'll end with a Legacy Letter from either a transplant recipie...

Introducing the Legacies of Life Podcast dedicated to helping those who grieve. Our new episode is coming soon! Brought to you by Texas Organ Sharing Alliance's Donor Family Aftercare Department, hosts Adriana and Edwina will speak with bereavement experts and discuss the realities of grief. TOSA, an agency dedicated to helping individuals and families give the the gift of life through the pow...