Greg

Greg Jones

Since the age of 13, Greg Jones battled Type 1 diabetes. He was able to manage his health until 2013 when he was diagnosed with kidney failure. 

A year after his diagnosis, Greg was placed on the kidney transplant waiting list. Together with his wife Shalonda, they faced the reality of the unknown, navigating a system they both knew nothing about.  

They started to educate themselves and others, creating flyers, speaking at community events, and sharing Greg’s story in hopes of finding a living donor. The experience opened their eyes to the urgent need for organ donors and the lack of awareness surrounding it. 

Greg waited for a kidney transplant for seven years. He received only one phone call for a potential donor. It was a call that did not lead to a transplant.   

In November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg fell ill. Unable to stay at the hospital due to COVID restrictions, Shalonda didn’t have the chance to say her goodbyes to the husband she loved and cared for. Greg passed away on November 24, 2020. 

شالوندا جريفين

Shalonda was Greg’s primary caregiver, balancing work and home responsibilities while ensuring he received the best care possible. She witnessed firsthand how kidney failure drained his strength, turning a once vibrant and strong man into someone who struggled with daily tasks. The stress, responsibility, and emotional weight of caregiving was taking a toll. 

While working at the public library, Shalonda met Gift of Life Michigan volunteers, including Deb Gustafson, who helped her feel less alone.  

In 2017, Shalonda started volunteering at Gift of Life. When the community outreach coordinator position for Flint/Saginaw popped up, she immediately applied and got the job. 

Read Shalonda’s story

Deb Gustafson

Disease had destroyed Deb Gustafson’s kidneys. She’d been relying on dialysis to keep her alive and it was taking everything out of her. She had given up hope.  

One morning at church Deb’s life changed forever. Her friend Bonnie shared that she wanted to be tested in order to donate a kidney to Deb. Bonnie went through testing and was a match. She donated her kidney to Deb in 2018.  

Today, Deb gives back to others as a volunteer with Gift of Life, including working with Shalonda to share her story through the organization’s free educational program, كلنا.  Deb shares her story with Flint/Saginaw high school students to help them better understand the impact organ, eye and tissue donation has.  

Heather Willing

Shalonda spends much of her time as community outreach coordinator visiting Flint/Saginaw area classrooms as part of the كلنا high school education program. One of the classrooms she regularly visits is health teacher Heather Willing’s at Grand Blanc High School.  

Heather was so inspired after experiencing the presentation for the first time that she joined the Michigan Donor Registry and went home and shared the importance of it with her own family.  

She has also welcomed the Grand Blanc View newspaper into her classroom to see كلنا presented to her students and has been a guest on the ABC 12 Morning Show to share its impact.  

Heather was recently honored as Gift of Life Michigan’s Educator Champion for its 2025 Champion Awards.