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 […]
Dior Chambers is no stranger to kidney disease. It has touched every corner of her life—from losing her father, Elijah Coley, to renal failure in 2001, to watching her husband, Dominique survive 14 years of dialysis before receiving a life-saving kidney transplant. Now, Dior finds herself in that same fight. In September of last
Dior Chambers is waiting for that life-saving gift قراءة المزيد »
Today, the Michigan Senate adopted Sen. Kevin Daley’s (R-Lum) resolution to recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month. Celebrated each April, the national observance is a time to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation, encourage registration as a donor and honor those who have given the gift of life through donation. “My son
Brett Bowman, from Woodhaven, Mich., was born with cystic fibrosis. Growing up he was in and out of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. He lost his younger brother Blake to the disease in 2015. As Brett got older, he didn’t let it slow him down. He played baseball and football and had dreams
“I’m so thankful I’m here and for the gift of life” قراءة المزيد »
Erik’s selfless decision to donate inspired his daughter Erika to honor his memory through advocacy
Through the pain of losing her husband Greg, Shalonda found purpose in raising awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation.
When Saginaw-area resident Londel Cook was diagnosed with end stage renal failure at a young age, he didn’t understand the severity of his illness. “I didn’t take any of it seriously because I was 23,” he said. “I was uneducated on organ donation altogether. I wasn’t really interested in trying to get on the transplant
“Where I was, was not who I was.” قراءة المزيد »
Gift of Life Michigan Community Outreach Coordinator Shalonda Griffin’s late husband Greg was the ‘greatest person she has ever met.’ “He put the color in my world,” she shared. “I always think about the “Wizard of Oz”, everything in Kansas was in black and white and then once they got to Oz it was in
Turning pain into purpose قراءة المزيد »
Debra Wyant, the mother of Michigan’s first and only hand donor, has exemplified what it means to honor life through donation since 21-year-old Shayna Sturtevant became a donor nine years ago in Muskegon. Debra will be recognized during Gift of Life Michigan’s Annual Champions Gala on May 2 at The Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit.
GRAND BLANC – On Thursday, April 24, Gift of Life Michigan will host the inaugural Genessee County Interfaith Breakfast. The free event will take place at the Captain’s Club Golf and Event Center in Grand Blanc, at 10 a.m. Interfaith leaders from across the county have been invited to speak including Pastors Jerry and Lynn
Gift of Life Michigan hosts Genesee County Interfaith Breakfast Thursday, April 24 قراءة المزيد »
In October 2013, Grosse Pointe Shores resident Dave Galbenski was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the liver’s bile ducts, causing inflammation and, ultimately, liver failure. “In that moment, my wife and I said okay, we have a choice here,” Dave said. “Do we live with a mindset of
Paying it forward through advocacy and awareness قراءة المزيد »
For more than 15 years, Larry Gates, from Ann Arbor, lived with progressively worsening kidney function. His creatinine levels had always been on the high side, but slowly they began to increase. In 2019, he was placed on the waiting list for a new kidney. “My quality of life was still good considering everything,” Larry
One act of generosity saves two lives قراءة المزيد »
Sixteen-year-old Cooper Boike loves to play basketball. Standing tall at 6’3, he plays both point guard and center positions for Genessee Christian High School in Burton, located just outside of Flint. In 2024 he had his breakout year and even led his team to their district championship game. During one of the playoff games, Cooper
Cornea transplant helps basketball star get his shot back قراءة المزيد »
Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo has found a way to honor her sister, Chadapron Haney—affectionately known as “Guy.” “Guy was a force,” Palee said. “She was incredibly generous, a fashionista, and probably the healthiest person in our family.” Palee shared that her sister lived in a way that
Honoring life through art قراءة المزيد »
FLINT, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan has named Hurley Medical Center in Flint as its Hospital of the Year for 2025 for its outstanding commitment to organ and tissue donation. The hospital is the first to win this honor twice. It was previously recognized in 2020. In 2024, Hurley ranked second statewide in the
Hurley Medical Center named Gift of Life Michigan’s Hospital of the Year قراءة المزيد »
