Steven
One act of kindness, impacted Steven, Larry and Jamie’s friends, family and the communities they live in.
Transplant House of West Michigan
Tracy and Holly’s experience as transplant recipients inspired them to give back to their community for years to come.
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Chadapron ‘Guy’
Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo found a way to honor her sister, Chadapron Haney—affectionately known as “Guy.
“We are so grateful for them. They didn’t have to donate. They chose to.”
When Cewanda Todd was 19-weeks pregnant, she was told her unborn daughter had a heart condition. “Our doctors told us that she wouldn’t make it,” Cewanda said. “We chose to continue the pregnancy anyway. It was in God’s hands.” Kendall Todd was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a rare heart defect where
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Detroit MOTTEP and Gift of Life Michigan host 15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium, March 19
Event focuses on reflective voices, riveting results and revolutionary future in transplantation The Detroit MOTTEP (Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program) Foundation and Gift of Life Michigan are proud to host the 15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium, focusing on reflective voices, riveting results and revolutionary future in transplantation. “Detroit MOTTEP Foundation is focused
30 Years of Detroit MOTTEP – The beginning of building community, hope and trust
Dr. Alfred Bolden’s involvement with organ, eye and tissue donation started over thirty years ago when he worked at Henry Ford Hospital in the cardiothoracic ICU. As a nurse he saw firsthand the issues African American families faced regarding donation. “Historically there is a lot of mistrust and misinformation that our community faces,” he said.
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Michigan residents can save lives when filing taxes
Tax forms provide opportunity to join Michigan Organ Donor Registry Six million Michiganders file tax returns each year. Giving them the ability to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry by simply checking a box on their state income taxes has the real potential to save lives. “More than 14,000 joined the Donor Registry when they
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Kidney recipient and passionate advocate becomes tissue donor
Deacon Lawrence J. Bailey was a kidney transplant recipient, husband, father and a fervent advocate for organ and tissue donation. Thanks to his selfless decision to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, he helped save and heal multiple lives through tissue donation at the end of his own life. “When he got his kidney transplant,
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New members join Gift of Life Michigan Governing and Advisory Boards
Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce new board members who will bring fresh perspectives to both its Governing and Advisory Board of Directors. Dr. Terra DeFoe, regional director to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, joins the Gift of Life Michigan Governing Board as a passionate advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation. Dr. DeFoe
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Carla
From Carla to Suzanne, Gloria, Dain, and Mike, their stories are woven together through the gift of life—demonstrating how a single act of generosity can ripple through communities, creating lasting connections and inspiring others.
Police officer’s life saved by a colleague
Steven Dye seemed perfectly healthy with no symptoms before he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. “I had gone to visit my doctor for my annual physical,” said the Ann Arbor native. “Not sure how I got it. I never had any symptoms, and I wasn’t diabetic. Steven was in stage 3 kidney failure for
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Gift of donor skin saves a mother of three after severe burn accident
Jen Bennett, a mother of three from Ravenna, Mich., was working hard to get healthier for her family in 2022. Ten months before the accident, Jen had gastric sleeve surgery. “I don’t think I would have survived what happened, if I hadn’t been working towards a healthier lifestyle,” she said. She had just stopped
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Gift of Life Michigan promotes Jeff Patierno to vice president, hires new director of organ services
Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce new promotions and additions within its clinical leadership team. Jeff Patierno has been promoted to vice president, clinical operations and will oversee the clinical operations departments responsible for the organ and tissue donation process from referral to recovery. Prior to joining Gift of Life as associate vice
2024 was a year of historical firsts and innovation for Gift of Life Michigan
More than 206,000 joined Michigan Organ Donor Registry 2024 was a year of growth, innovation and finding new ways to help patients in need for Gift of Life Michigan. The state’s organ and tissue donation program helped 533 people become organ donors and a record-breaking 1,960 give the gift of tissue. Thanks to the generosity
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2025 Champions Gala
Congratulations to the 18 people and organizations we will recognize at Gift of Life Michigan’s seventh Champions Gala on May 2. They were selected from dozens of nominations for their extraordinary efforts to promote or make organ, eye and tissue donation happen in Michigan over the past 18 months and beyond. Without them, and other
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