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Richard “Jake” Jacobson’s motto is “at least one.”  “My hope is that by sharing my story, I might help at least one person who is struggling,” said Jake. “Not just someone on the waiting list…

Most Americans are in favor of organ donation, but not everyone who joins the donor list is able to donate. In fact, only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ…

Four Michigan pickleball players are hoping to set a new world record and raise both awareness and money all in one swing.  West Michigan residents Brad Haverkamp, Julie Ondersma, Sydney Sonday and Caleb Dang will…

Hailey Brouillet was 20 years old and in her junior year at Oakland University when she was hit by a reckless driver in October 2013. She had just come home from studying abroad, something her…

Each year, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Gift of Life Michigan recognizes Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day.  The goal of BRA Day is to increase awareness regarding the range of choices available to…

When Blake Hermann was seven months old, his mother, Molly, noticed that he wasn’t progressing like his twin sister Anna. He had yet to roll over and his coloring seemed a bit yellow. She decided…

A Michigan organ donor has made history and saved the life of a 68-year-old woman from Flint, Mich. Suffering from leukemia, she needed an urgent bone marrow transplant and is now the first person in…

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce that its own Senior Performance Improvement Specialist, Sheila Alston, received the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) Nurse of the Year DAISY Award. Alston was honored…

From the outside, 18-year-old Alex Chandler seems like a typical teenager with a love for video games and spending time with his friends. On the inside, he’s got something pretty special.  Alex received a liver transplant at just 8 months old, which has allowed him to grow up and hit a magic milestone in June as he graduated from Belleville High School with the rest of his class. 

Students at the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District in Kingsford (200 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge) raised more than $1,500 for Gift of Life – all in pennies.

An innovative bioengineering company in Indianapolis is pioneering a novel approach to bone marrow transplants to treat blood cancers and other life-threatening blood disorders. Ossium Health is collaborating with Gift of Life Michigan and other organ procurement organizations to use bone marrow from organ donors.

Terra DeFoe, the mother of organ donor Emilio DeFoe, says doctors will work hard to save your life if you’re a registered organ donor. She says the pervasive myth must end.

Just 21% of new drivers in Michigan are registering as organ donors, and we’re concerned about that low number.  Other states have double that percentage. We don’t think Michigan teens are less generous, they just…

High school students fresh out of a wide-eyed hour of Gift of Life’s All of Us education experience about organ and tissue donation were still standing around Cristal Rivas and her table of human organs…

Name: Chef Oliver Hale (Chef O)  Age: 71  Home: Kentwood, Michigan  Transplant: Kidney, twice    Why did you need a transplant, and when did it happen?  I received my first kidney transplant in 1985 after…

“At least once a week, I walk these hallways and I can’t believe I get to work here,” Dain Mendoza said. “Even on those hard days, you think about someone who is going to get more time with their mom, dad or child because of our donors. That’s so powerful, and I don’t take it for granted.” 

Before Leslie Palacios received two new corneas, her life was a blur.  The Grand Rapids mom of two struggled to read, to cook, to see her son play football and her triathlete husband cross the…

“If I can just add one name to the registry, I can save eight lives,” 2024 Volunteer Champion and two-time heart recipient Chris Kowalski shared in a special video message to a packed conference center.  …

Carla Bussell waited six years to take a good breath.   In 2009, shortly after the birth of her fourth son, she started experiencing shortness of breath. She was tired all the time and started passing…

The Check Your Heart Act became law last year, making Michigan the first state in the nation to place the Donor Registry question on a state income tax form.  That was exciting progress for Gift…

As an Army sergeant and medic, Lisa Haney was trained to save lives. Then her own life was saved during the military discharge process in 2017.   After serving nine years, she submitted her paperwork and…

The placenta is an organ that provides oxygen and vital nutrients to a growing baby. Although the placenta is delivered after the baby is born, many people are left wondering what they can do with…

There’s nothing more powerful than giving the gift of life to another through the generosity of organ donation. If someone is suffering from a failing organ, a new one can restore their health and help…

Donating an organ is one of the best things you can do for someone else. A selfless act that demonstrates your commitment to helping others,, donating a kidney is something that many people can do….

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce that Ryan Cormier, Director of Tissue Services for the organization has been elected Chairperson of the Accredited Tissue Banks Council (ATBC). His term will begin later this…

Donate Life Night at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids experienced its largest attendance yet. More than 1,400 donor family members, living donors, transplant recipients, patients on the waiting list and other supporters from…

For years Brad Gohr watched as his mother, Charmaine Neymeiyer, battled Autoimmune Hepatitis, a disease that slowly attacked her liver. After years of her health fluctuating, she was added to the wait list for a…

OPO Leaders Elected to Champion Organ Donation Mission Today, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) announced the appointment of its new President and the newly-elected members of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors, whose terms…

Registration still open to this free event Gift of Life Michigan’s largest West Michigan event honoring organ, eye and tissue donation returns 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids….

Hundreds gather in support of organ, eye and tissue donation   More than 400 people from across Michigan gathered outside the state Capitol building in Lansing on Wednesday, June 12 in support of organ, eye and…

The tenets of the Catholic faith are something many adhere to. But at times, these tenets can raise questions from those in the faith. One question that comes up for many Catholics is what the…

Hundreds expected in support of organ, eye and tissue donation on June 12 Hundreds of organ, eye and tissue donation supporters are expected to join Gift of Life Michigan in Lansing on June 12 to…

197 people gave tissue in May to heal patients in need May was a record-breaking month for the state’s organ and tissue donation program, thanks to nearly 200 people who donated bone, skin, ligaments and…

The decision to donate a kidney as a living donor should not be taken lightly, as it may come with potential long-term consequences like any other minimally invasive surgery. Studies have shown that living kidney…

There are many myths associated with the medical profession. One of the most common misconceptions is that doctors won’t act fast to save someone’s life if they have registered to be an organ donor. In…

More than 12,000 new registrants added during 2024 tax season Thanks to the Check Your Heart Act, the Michigan Organ Donor Registry has 12,475 new registrants. This increased volume resulted in year-over-year growth for the…

In December 2023, Patricia Laughlin was diagnosed with PCP pneumonia. Patricia had previously been diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis in 2017, a neuromuscular disorder that takes over your bones and immune system. She was immunocompromised and…

Robbie Oxley loved superheroes. On Sept. 19, 2020, the 6-year-old became one. Robbie was left brain dead after a tragic accident near his home two days earlier. Many of his friends, family, first responders and…

Name: David Rozelle Age: 86 Home: Kalamazoo, Michigan Transplant: Heart Why did you need a transplant and when did it happen? I had a serious heart attack in 1984 and made it to a hospital…

Here are the basic facts about first-person authorization, what it means and how it works here in Michigan and other states that adopted the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act or Law.

Congratulations to the more than 20 people and organizations recognized this year for their extraordinary efforts to promote organ, eye and tissue donation in Michigan. Without them, and others like them, Gift of Life’s efforts…

Pat Folkertsma-Garrett left a gift of more than $15,000 to Gift of Life Michigan — one of the largest the organization has received. The money will pay to educate communities about donation and fund critical work to grow the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

Gift of Life Michigan had another record year in 2023 with a record 578 organ donors and 1,858 tissue donors last year, saving hundreds of lives and healing tens of thousands more. The 2023 figures represent a significant 25% increase in organ donors over the previous record in 2022 and a 2% increase in tissue donors.

“I get emotional about my work because I love helping people,” Leslie Casperson said. “I’m honored to work for Gift of Life Michigan and I can’t imagine doing it any other place than with the champions of donation in northern Michigan.”

“A lot of people gave me things when I needed them.” A year after his heart transplant, the now energetic Evan has big plans to do what he can in return.

Ben and Karen Hayes knew no one could care for the foster boy like they could A 7-year-old boy in the foster care system was recovering from a life-saving liver transplant when two strangers walked…

Tattoos are a lasting and creative way to express love and creativity for the people and ideas that matter in life. We’ve seen a lot of meaningful ink from members of the donation and transplant community over the years.

A new state bill requiring a one-hour organ donation presentation for ninth graders in Michigan public schools is up for consideration in the Michigan House of Representatives this spring. That will begin the legislative review process to potentially add Michigan to a list of other states already providing donation education in schools.

Having a child is a life-changing experience. With all of the baby preparation, doctor’s appointments, and the planning- chances are you haven’t been too focused on things like what you’re going to do with the…

Donating a kidney can help save somebody’s life, and Gift of Life Michigan works to provide resources for donors, recipients, and families. However, not everyone is qualified to be a living kidney donor (although you may…