Let's Talk Hope

Drug addiction and depression is a debilitating illness and often bigger than the person suffering. Let’s Talk Hope talks to Terri Roman , donor mom, about her daughter Julie and shares the struggles and triumph of her illness and how donation was able to rewrite the ending to Julie’s story.

All major religions in the U.S. support donation and believe it  to be the ultimate act of love and generous. For many people, faith plays and important role in the decision to register as a donor. Michael Zedek , Rabbi Emeritus of Emanuel Congregation shares how the Judaism religion intersects with organ and tissue donation.

Sometimes life and death decisions hinge upon knowing when and where to go to get  life saving tissue or organ transplants and how to get help paying for them. With language and cultural barriers, it's even more difficult. Two remarkable women are helping to provide this service for many of our Latino communities in need. They are Catalina Ramos-Hernandez and Jennifer Aguilera . They talk to host...

Sometimes the gift of donation can come to a person through love and ironically get matched by blood. Anna Valencia , City Clerk of Chicago father Joe’s transplant journey gave her the strength to run for political office. She also talked about how marginalized communities are gaining access to vital city services through the City Key program.  

Making the decision to donate a loved one’s organs is never easy, even when you work for an organ procurement organization. Shaun Martin , Director of Tissue Recovery at Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network had to make that decision when his son Matthew passed away in 2020 at the age of 15. The Martin family decided to give the the life enhancing gift of tissue an area of donation that isn’...

In the aftermath of George Floyd, minority communities, in particular the African American communities, continue to lack the societal resources to help them understand the inequities in the healthcare system. Dr. Dinee Simpson , transplant surgeon, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Dr. Milda Saunder , internal medicine physician, University of Chicago Medicine expose the systematic issues that pl...

Loving son, honor student, track and football star, cared for others and church youth group leader are words that describe Deveraux “2” Hubbard , Donor on a special street banner Downtown Peoria, Ill. Riverfront. Kristie Hubbard, donor mother talks about her son “2”, raising awareness about Factor V Leiden and how honored their family was to have him and other life-giving donors highlighted during...

Let's Talk Hope podcast host Marion Shuck was recently interviewed about her work with the organization by Monica Fox , podcast host of The Journey Continues .  Through her work at Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Marion helped countless families make the powerful decision to donate their loved ones’ tissue and organs. When her husband of 33 years, Reggie, suddenly passed away, she f...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not new to the healthcare and social just systems.  Dr. Donyale Padgett speaks to Let’s Talk Hope about why disparities exist in multiethnic communities and why it's important to learn the community needs and norms and work to eliminate these disparities. 

One of the most challenging parts of the donation process is the wait for a transplant. Laura Barajas reflects on receiving her brother’s kidney, and what her current wait is like. Plus, former United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) public relations director Lisa Schaffner explains how the national waiting list operates.  

Talking to kids about organ and tissue donation can be tough. When Marissa Marton’s son Andrew got his driver’s license at 16, he knew he wanted to be a donor. But he passed away before the family could talk about ​his decision. Marissa talks about the right age to have that conversation with your children. And we speak to Sara Miller, President and Founder of Student Organ Donation Advocates (SOD...

Gift of Hope’s new CEO, Dr. Harry Wilkins , III, discusses the basics of organ and tissue donation and shares his vision for the organization. We also talk with Heather Runyan, a donor wife, who shares the story of her husband Dan and how he was able to bring hope to more than 200 people by the gift of tissue donation.

Stay tuned for the launch on April 22nd!