Blog, Stories of Hope | August 3, 2021
‘His heart is still beating; it’s beating for someone else’
Alex-Michael Springer had his future ahead of him, and things were looking good. The 24-year-old Paw Paw resident was expecting a child and had just…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | August 3, 2021
‘My son lives on in others and he’s always going to live in me’
William Wayne McGee IV was known by several nicknames, including ‘Ugg,’ and ‘Fat Daddy.’ His mother, and at least one of the people he saved…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | July 20, 2021
A journey of faith
Farmington Hills, MI – Dale Milford has always been a man of strong faith, but he said his transplant journey – or, more accurately, journeys…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | June 4, 2021
‘She’s like another daughter’
Jud Lynch knew he would need two things: a haircut and a kidney transplant. The 68-year-old Grand Rapids man just didn’t expect to get them…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | May 28, 2021
‘It’s a miracle, top to bottom. No doubt about it.’
Two decades ago, Mark Otto would’ve been happy to gain just one more year of life. Then 34, his liver was failing and he was…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | May 19, 2021
Rick Springfield and a mountain top: Milford woman donates kidney to sister-in-law, with a few friendly caveats
Candice Desjarlais remembers the exact moment she decided to donate a kidney to her sister-in-law, Thelma. Thelma had just finished a five-and-a-half hour dialysis treatment,…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | May 13, 2021
Kidney recipient says she is living proof of the good organ donation can do
Nancy Banks was just finishing up a dialysis treatment when her phone started to ring. She didn’t recognize the number and was going to ignore…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | May 6, 2021
‘Life is great, but living is greater’
Sarah Ann Scantamburlo has learned to live life to the fullest and make the most of whatever circumstances fate throws her way. “I feel like…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | April 29, 2021
Benzie County man saves lives through donation
Shane Sena was dedicated to his family and friends and enjoyed working on cars. “He was a big brother and a little brother. He was…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | April 14, 2021
Southgate woman celebrates new adventures, life milestones
Rebecca Anderson has been able to watch her daughter get married, graduate from Michigan State University and earn a master’s degree. She has traveled to…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | April 7, 2021
Husband saves wife with donated kidney
Heather Luchies had long known she would need a kidney transplant. Fortunately, when the time came, a donor was closer than she had anticipated. In…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | April 1, 2021
‘I just tell people: think of your loved ones.’
Katy Rozman has a message for young transplant recipients or young people waiting for a new life-saving organ: you are not alone. “Sometimes all we…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | March 25, 2021
‘He was a giver all his life’
Murphy Ainsworth was always fit, healthy and active – an energetic athlete who is remembered by family and friends as positive and carefree, with an…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | March 17, 2021
‘I see life in a different way now’
Aimee Cruz would be the first person to tell you she’s lucky to be alive. Originally from Puerto Rico, the Ann Arbor resident has had…
Fifty for 50, Stories of Hope | March 5, 2021
‘It changes the way you look at everything’
Leah Howell celebrates two birthdays on the same day every year. One is hers, the other is her donated kidney, which she received the day…