Let's Talk About Life

Lifebanc covers 20 counties in Northeast Ohio, serves approximately 4.2 million individuals, and includes several large cities, including Cleveland. The depth of complexity is unimaginable when providing services to a population of this size. Especially ensuring citizens are safe and have access to housing, food, and healthcare. We know that organ donation and transplantation are a tiny fraction o...

Last week, we discussed the loss of a young man, Trenton Riggins-Walker. Trenton died by suicide. We continue the conversation with Bill Walker and Kolnita Riggins-Walker to learn how they put their grief into action by creating a safe space for other young people called Trent’s Room. Also, Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Manager of Bereavement Services, provides insight into grief resources for those lef...

The unthinkable occurred when Bill and Kolnita Riggins-Walker’s son Trenton died by suicide. Trent had struggled with mental health issues, but his death still came as a shock. Listen to Part One of a poignant story as they take us on a journey of parenting an intelligent, talented, and unique young man, their devastating loss, and what organ, eye, and tissue donation has meant to them. Call 988 –...

Charlene Johnson-Boyd shares her story of being diagnosed with heart failure and told there was nothing more doctors could do because of her age. Charlene wouldn’t take no for an answer and was told of a transplant center that would include her in their program—a compelling journey and discussion about aging and transplantation.

Lifebanc is committed to supporting donor families long after losing a loved one. There are many programs and events available, a list of which can be found on our website under the “For Families” tab. However, a new and uniqueprogram centers around donor family members helping other donor families through the Peer Grief Companion Program. Listen as Elissa Berman, Bereavement Services Manager, and...

When it comes to organ, eye, and tissue donation, the number-one misconception is that medical personnel won’t try to save your life if you’re a registered donor. Even though it’s completely false, that misconception is pervasive, especially in black communities. In this week’s episode, listen to a family of color address the misconception head-on. Before starting at Lifebanc, Community Outreach P...

August is a busy month, but we must slow down and learn about Minority Donor Awareness. We talk with an expert on the subject, Linda Kimble from MOTTEP, donor mom, […]

In 2014, with two failing lungs, the future wasn’t looking too bright for Griff Hill. As a father of two and a husband to his wife Linda, Griff had a […]

As a teacher in the Shaker Heights Schools, Chante Thomas knows kids. She put her expertise to use when becoming a published author. Her characters tell us about their culture […]

Meet Edmund Wilson III going above and beyond in his new position as Community Outreach Program Manager. Edmund went through baptism by fire when he started at Lifebanc at the […]

Jennifer Ackerman loved to sing. Ever since the fourth grade, she had been part of a choir in some way. But on what was to be a normal Sunday morning, […]

As a young boy, Garrison Markins endured a medical history that prevented him from playing and being active. As he grew older, doctors saw much improvement and cleared him to […]

Tiffany Lang, BSN, RN, NE-BC, is the nurse manager for an Intensive Care Unit at the Cleveland Clinic. She works with a team of approximately 100 individuals and many other groups. […]

Professionals in the medical field are often seen as one-dimensionalpeople whose identity is in their uniforms. In this episode of “Let’s Talk About Life,” we connect with three women who work at University Hospitals Cleveland […]

April brings a renewal of life with spring and is a sacred season for religious celebrations. All faiths have differences in theology, however, an interesting fact is that they have very […]

"At this point, my filtration level is about 14%... and, at 10%, it means you are definitely in need of dialysis." Brendan Coakley

"It didn't take me long to realize this was a song that needed to be written." Dan Modlin, musician

In the book Rare Birds, a 12-year-old boy is dealing with the underlying dread that his mom will need a heart transplant to live. The family also relocates to Florida to wait […]

"It's been 15 years, and it still brings me comfort that something positive came out of it." Rochelle Ogbuji, Donor Mom

Reggie & Maria Roundtree play traditional drums to educate the community. But Reggie has a special connection to the rhythm since he is a heart transplant recipient. Listen to this […]

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and spent time with those you love. We also hope you were able to honor and share fond memories of those individuals […]

We love sharing the stories of men, women, and children receiving the gift of life and enjoying restored health. We also love to talk with donor families who have been […]

Listen to Lee and Larry Elmore share their story of watching Lee's grandmother go blind and then learning she had the same disease.

Lisa Knoll knows a lot about service. As a young girl, her mom’s transplant set her on a path of giving back. For twelve years, she’s served her country in […]

A mother’s instinct is powerful. After giving birth to her son, Shawna immediately knew something was wrong. After being released to go home, she left one hospital and took her […]