‘We’re so, so grateful she made this choice,’ family says Montcalm, MI – Destini Cunliffe excelled at many things, but she is perhaps best known for her ability to make friends. The 18-year-old Montcalm woman’s life was tragically cut short recently; she became an organ donor on Jan. 14, 2021. “She would meet someone and, […]

2020 was third consecutive year with record number of organ donors For the third consecutive year, Gift of Life Michigan has honored the generosity of a record number of organ donors, saving thousands of lives and healing thousands more despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Gift of Life saw an increase in organ donors in 2020,

‘Speak the Difference’ fundraiser caps year-long partnership with Key2Finesse Ann Arbor, MI – Key2Finesse, a student-led nonprofit organization, has generated $75,000 for the Gift o f Life Foundation through a year-long partnership. The Gift of Life Foundation supports Gift of Life Michigan and its mission of honoring life through organ and tissue donation. The funds

Organ and tissue donors can leave a legacy of hope and healing and Dr. Harry Anderson wants to share that legacy throughout the community and across the county. Dr. Anderson, the medical director of the Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital, said the best way to ensure that legacy is to

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation is truly a team effort that requires collaboration between medical staff and transplant centers, along with the compassion and generosity of donors and donor families. The Hurley Medical Center in Flint was honored by Gift of Life Michigan as the Donor Hospital of the Year for going above and

Ann Arbor, MI – Elise Pavlick believes education and communication are the keys to providing hope and healing for patients and their families. A nurse practitioner in the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit at Henry Ford Hospital, Pavlick follows that same philosophy with patients who may become organ and tissue donors, as well as the families

Annual HOSA challenge pits students in friendly competition to register new donors Ann Arbor, MI – There are nearly 400 new organ and tissue donors registered in Michigan, thanks to the efforts of students across the state. The students, from the Health Occupation Students of America – known as HOSA-Future Health Professionals – have just

Two years later, family celebrates heart transplant that saved Grand Ledge mom The Thanksgiving holiday will always hold a special place for Rachel Kuntzsch and her family. It was two years ago that a heart transplant saved Rachel’s life. “I’m just really grateful,” said the 46-year-old Grand Ledge resident. Always active and healthy, Kuntzsch’s life

Team effort, collaboration earn Dr. Joyce deJong 2020 Donation Champion Award Dr. Joyce deJong, the medical examiner for Muskegon, Ingham, Allegan and Kalamazoo counties, was honored by Gift of Life Michigan for her support of organ, tissue and eye donation. Through her work as medical examiner as well as educational role at the Homer Stryker

Few physicians have done more over the years to help fulfill the wishes of donors and their grieving families than Dr. Teresa Jacobs at Michigan Medicine. Dr. Jacobs, the director of the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Michigan Medicine and a renowned neurological surgeon, was honored with the 2020 Donation Champion Legacy Award for