Gift of Life Michigan

We Honor Life
Through Donation

Choosing to become an organ and tissue donor can make an impact on many lives. Read the stories of donors and recipients, and find out how you can make a difference!

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Tommy Schomaker received a heart transplant at age 8, allowing him to grow up and become a nurse helping other kids dealing with chronic disease and cardiac challenges.

Read the digital LifeLINES magazine

LifeLINES is available as a digital magazine flipbook. Check it out!

Rabbi Moshe Tendler

Religion and organ, eye and tissue donation

Signing up to become an organ and tissue donor is a personal decision, shaped by individual, family and sometimes faith-based considerations.

Deb Gustafson

Deb received a kidney, now offers comfort to families from her heart

Deb Gustafson’s life changed at church one morning when a friend named Bonnie sidled up to her and whispered, “I want to be tested.” 

Donor sister Patty Jo Herndon and lung recipient Debora Dearring at the 2025 Champions Gala

Gift of Life Michigan’s 2025 Champions Gala

Congratulations to the individuals and organizations honored this year for their extraordinary efforts to promote and advance organ, eye and tissue donation in Michigan. 

Josie Springer

Josie Springer lends skill and compassion to life-saving mission

“There are days, even after all these years, that I cry. That’s no different than the day I started. But donors and their families are heroes. There’s no greater gift.”

Behind the Scenes of “The Final Gift”

CBS News Spotlights Gift of Life Michigan’s Lifesaving Work

The family of Mitch Potter says their goodbyes at the hospital before he is moved to Gift of Life Michigan to give his final gifts.

Gift of Life Michigan welcomed CBS News inside its Ann Arbor facility last summer, giving viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the organ donation process as part of a national spotlight on this lifesaving work. The segment aired on the CBS Evening News on April 14 and was accompanied by a powerful documentary, A Final Gift, now available online.

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Connections. Stories. Impact.

Dior

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Erik

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Greg

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Events

LIFE Walk/Run

Join us for the state’s largest celebration of the gifts of life, sight and mobility! You can run the 10K or 5K, walk the 5K […]

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Donate Life Night at the Zoo

Explore John Ball Zoo after-hours at this exclusive event! Check out resources from our community partners, and enjoy some Dippin’ Dots on us! We’ll also […]

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Check Your Heart Open House

Please join us for our annual Community Open House. Our doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with a brief program starting promptly at 2:15 p.m. […]

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Check Your Heart Capitol Rally

Join hundreds of organ, eye and tissue donation supporters at the State Capitol in Lansing to encourage legislators to pass laws supportive of donation and […]

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Sign up to donate life

Donation in Multicultural Communities

Since 1971, Gift of Life Michigan has honored life by connecting people who need vital organ and tissue transplants with donors.

Omar Garcia holds a framed photo of his daughter, Ceci, who was a donor at age 11.

Hispanic Experience

The decision to donate is an important decision. We know that faith and family informs this decision.

It wasn’t until Mary Taylor’s son, Charles, died of an aneurysm at age 32 that she learned he had joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Charles’ generosity inspired others in his family to register, too. Mary is pictured here with three of her children.

African American Experience

Despite a history of mistrust and misinformation, doctors will work just as hard to save your life.

Mohamed El-Souri received a heart transplant as a teenager.

Arab American Experience

We are partnering with healthcare professionals and community leaders to ensure information about organ donation is culturally sensitive and consistent with faith beliefs.

Making a Difference

Who We Serve

Woman holding heart icon

Donors

Learn how to become a donor, what organs are eligible for donation, and more.

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Donor Families

We help you and the rest of your family cope, grieve, understand and – if you wish – become an advocate of donation.

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Recipients

While GOL doesn't work directly with/assign organs to recipients, transplant recipients are why we do what we do.

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Volunteers

Want to get involved? Find out how you can make a difference through volunteering with Gift of Life Michigan!

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By the Numbers
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Number of Michigan patients who have received a life-saving organ transplant in the past 10 years.
Number of lives saved each day by an organ transplant in the United States.
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Number of people on the national organ transplant waiting list.
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Recent Posts

Gift of Life Blog

Lisa Haney
Blog, Stories of Hope | May 7, 2025

Transplant Throwback: Lisa Haney

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Photos of transplant recipients on a mural at Gift of Life Michigan
Blog | May 7, 2025

A message to the donation community

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Gift of Life staff holding their hands in the shape of hearts
Blog, LifeLines | May 7, 2025

Gift of Life’s employee giving hits a new high

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His time as a nurse assistant at Mott helping pediatric heart patients is a full-circle experience for Tommy.
Blog, LifeLines, Stories of Hope | May 7, 2025

Tommy Schomaker survives and thrives helping sick kids like him

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Dorrie Dils at the podium during the 2025 Champions Gala
Blog | May 7, 2025

Gift of Life Michigan’s 2025 Champions Gala

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Blog, Stories of Hope | May 7, 2025

A mother’s mission

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Blog, Stories of Hope | May 7, 2025

A son’s gift of healing

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Patrick Wells-O'Brien, VP of communications and external affairs
Blog, LifeLines | April 30, 2025

Education legislation would bolster the Donor Registry

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