The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Show Notes: Our guest, Karen Hannahs , joins us from Intermountain Donor Services to share some of their special projects, such as the Celebration of Life Monument, designed to help families honor their donor’s gift of life. She and Sally also discuss the healing power of writing to donor family members and recipients. Then, Sally talks about how suicide attempts have surged amongst women in middl...

Show Notes: The Gifted Life Podcast team is back from Utah and excited to share the stories captured at the Transplant Games of America (TGA). Meet Team Louisiana members Mary, Dusty, Warren, Ashley and Isiah. Hear about their individual journeys to TGA thanks to the gift of life . Sally coaches us on slowing down to enjoy life, we pull from TGA’s Reflection Room to honor hero Brayden Brantley and...

Show Notes: On episode 88 we get you ready for the 2018 Transplant Games of America by chatting with TGA President and CEO, Bill Ryan. Sally talks us through some of the mental health benefits of exercise, and Bill Ryan rejoins the conversation honoring his hero and daughter, Michelle Ryan . Be on the lookout for more inspiring stories in the weeks to come as The Gifted Life Podcast team travels t...

Show Notes: On Episode 87 we learn how The Gifted Life Podcast was part of inspiring one women to give the gift of life . Jennifer David called us a few months ago because she was searching for education about living donation , and found The Gifted Life. Now, she is officially a living donor, and we are honored to hear and share her experience. Then, Sally shares her expertise in our mental health...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we are offering an overview of organ, eye and tissue donation facts all in Spanish to celebrate Donate Life ECHO , the national two-week outreach campaign honor multicultural communities. We invite donation and transplantation professionals, Ana Hands of Ochsner Multi-Transplant Institute , Susanna Ruddock of Southern Eye Bank and Maria Ospit...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast we welcome Courtney Tillota from Indiana Donor Network . We learn about the ways IDN is connecting with donor families and providing support after organ, eye and tissue donation . In our mental health minute, Sally tackles one of our most common family aftercare questions. We honor IDN hero Chris Curry and answer a listener’s question right he...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome donor dad, Eric Gregory , who turned his journey into an inspiring book, All My Tomorrows . He shares his personal story of tragedy, transplant and hope. Plus, Sally sparks a conversation about personality. We honor Eric Gregory’s son, Chris Gregory , and hear a special voicemail from a listener who found our podcast and tells us w...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast we welcome Cindy Reed, executive director at the Iowa Lions Eye Bank , who explains the medical advancements made possible by eye donation for research. Plus, Cindy shares her personal connection to the process. Then we honor hero Mathew Manning , a donor from Iowa Lions Eye Bank. Sally gives us suggestions for responding to someone who is gri...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we take our microphones on the road to celebrate heroes giving the gift of life! Hear from several families who tell us personal stories about their loved ones. It’s our team’s privilege to focus on the organ, eye and tissue donors we celebrate on our podcast, including this episode’s hero, Joseph Prichard . Then we answer a listener’s questi...

Show Notes: The Gifted Life Podcast is wrapping up National Donate Life Month by expanding our focus to different types of donation. We welcome Dr. Mark Atkinson of nPOD , Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes. Learn how every pancreas and associated tissues donated for research are allowing for insights in to the Type 1 diabetic process and possibly leading to enhanced medical care fo...

Show Notes: It’s National Blue and Green Day! There’s no better way to celebrate the reason behind Blue and Green Day than to let you hear from families directly impacted by donation. Lori and Sally visited with 3 donor moms at our Donor Family Picnic last month. Each shared their unique experience with donation and what this special day means to them. Then we honor hero, Andre Robinson , and answ...

Show Notes: On this episode we share our excitement for National Donate Life Month in April and welcome Gift of Life Donor Program’s President & CEO, Howard Nathan . Howard talks about the history of organ donation, outreach, education and the innovative programs based out of the OPO’s headquarters in Philadelphia. Learn about their Gift of Life Family House , Gift of Life Institute , and the Tran...

Show Notes: March is National Kidney Month ! On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome Darrian Arch, Miss Indiana USA® , who’s personal connection drove her to become an advocate for Donate Life with Indiana Donor Network . Learn all about this accomplished beauty queen and why her quest to educate others about organ, eye and tissue donation is very close to her heart. Our very own Sa...

Show Notes: March is National Kidney Month . On episode 77 of The Gifted Life Podcast, we take an in depth look at how the kidney allocation system (KAS) has affected those in need of a life saving kidney transplant. We welcome UNOS researcher, Darren Stewart, who gives us insight into how new policies enacted in late 2014 have changed the outlook for those waiting for a kidney. Then we honor hero...

Show Notes: On episode 76, we meet Christopher Babin, who selflessly chose to become a living kidney donor . Chris shares his story with us about giving the gift of life and why he’s running to tell others about organ, eye and tissue donation . Then, Randy Falgoust is honored during our hero segment. You will also find out how to reach out, just like Chris, to tell us your story or ask a question....

Show Notes: On episode 75 of The Gifted Life Podcast, our team takes you to the 2018 Rose Parade in California to experience the Donate Life Rose Parade Float . Check out what goes on behind the scenes and hear some of the experiences from the families of the honorees. Learn why American Idol alum, Scott MacIntyre , and former NFL coach Sam Wyche were involved in this year’s celebration. You can l...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome a reality star, Bravo’s Below Deck cast member, Nico Scholly. Nico’s younger brother Tristen lost his life tragically in an accident in 2016 and became a hero, giving the gift of life to others. Learn how Nico’s family is using their experience to help other donor families by creating the Tristen Scott Foundation and how it fuels N...

Show Notes: The Gifted Life Podcast team extends best wishes for 2018 to all our listeners. In this shorter episode, we kick off 2018 with a powerful voice. Our host Lori introduces us to singer and songwriter, David St. Romain . Learn about the inspiration behind one of his songs; a song that has touched lives and promoted becoming a registered organ, eye and tissue donor . We then honor hero Loy...

Show Notes: One person can make a difference to register more organ, eye and tissue donors . On episode 72 of The Gifted Life Podcast, we are honoring our volunteer of the year, Jinx Broussard. Learn about her commitment to utilize her classroom for advocacy on campus at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication . Plus, we hear from Jinx’s students from this past semester who tell us some of thei...

Show Notes: On episode 71 of The Gifted Life Podcast we are sharing the microphone with a very gifted soprano, classical recording artist and lung recipient, Charity Tillemann-Dick . She talks about her 2 transplant journeys, meeting her donor’s family, recovery, and her career. She also talks about her new memoir, The Encore , which is spurring a movement to register more organ, eye and tissue do...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life we continue celebrating 20 years with the Louisiana Donor Registry and saying YES to Life. We wanted you to hear powerful stories about what it’s like to have more than 20 years of life after transplant. Two lung recipients, Jane Long and Howell Graham, who both got their second chance MORE than 20 years ago tell us about the full life they’ve been gi...

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life a remarkable story about one person’s passion to give the gift of life . Deputy Andre Ardeneaux is our guest and you’ll hear why his pursuit to help others saved another deputy’s life through living donation. How does the process of living donation work? Ochsner social worker, Amy Ronnenburg joins us in studio to outline the steps of living donation ....

Show Notes: This episode features LOPA’s own Shawn-Paul Harrison who shares his inspiration for the Trail Run for Life , now going on it’s fourth year. Then we are joined by fellow podcaster, Rishi Bee , in this special crossover episode. His podcast, Healthy Schmelthy , is the fanciest-schmanciest public health podcast and we partner with Rishi to answer his questions and demystify organ, eye and...

Show Notes: In this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast our hosts chat with T.C. Stallings , one of the stars in the faith-based movie A Question of Faith . The movie centers around three families whose lives become intertwined following a series of tragedies. Go to organdonor.gov to learn more about donation and religion. Donate Life America is encouraging people to register as organ, eye and tiss...

Show Notes: On this episode we salute our partners in donation throughout the country by celebrating National DMV Appreciation Week . Hear about bells ringing in South Carolina DMVs and how these sounds are spurring an uptick in organ, eye and tissue donation registrations when we talk to Donate Life South Carolina’s Tracy Moore, and the state’s DMV director Colonel Kevin Shwedo about their award...