In a collaborative endeavor by the National (Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG), National Minority Donor Awareness Month strives to educate and inspire multicultural communities to consider organ donation. NMDA members include the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Donate Life America (DLA), the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT), National […]
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On Saturday, Aug. 27, a $10,000 grant was presented to the Gift of Life Foundation in honor of a Julia Evans, a heart recipient and cancer survivor, who inspired many. Sandy Chekal, an employee at Crum & Forster, an insurance company with more than 2,500 employees nationwide, was so inspired by Julia’s story she
Foundation grant honors heart recipient who inspired many Read More »
Thousands attend event celebrating life, organ and tissue donation The annual LIFE Walk/Run drew nearly 2,500 people to Belle Isle in downtown Detroit for the event’s 25th anniversary honoring life, celebrating donor heroes and their families and promoting the Michigan Organ Donor registry. The theme for the event, founded by the Detroit Minority Organ Tissue
LIFE Walk returns to historic Belle Isle for 25th year Read More »
Camaraderie, fellowship highlight biennual competition for transplant recipients Mike Roman of Berkley admits he probably shouldn’t go to the Donate Life Transplant Games this year. But the 65-year-old heart recipient said the draw of attending in person again – after Covid forced a virtual platform – was too great to resist, despite his declining health.
Team Michigan heads to San Diego for the Donate Life Transplant Games Read More »
Legislators, transplant recipients, donor families urge Michiganders to ‘Check Your Heart’ There was a clear message echoing across the lawn of the Michigan Capitol recently: Check Your Heart. Supporters of organ and tissue donation, including transplant recipients, legislators, volunteers and more joined Gift of Life Michigan in Lansing to celebrate new life, honor donors and
Donation supporters rally for “Check Your Heart” at Michigan capitol Read More »
Gift of Life is Looking for Workplace Partners Who Can Make a Difference With about 55% of Michiganders registered as organ and tissue donors, Gift of Life Michigan seeks new partners to grow the registry and save more lives. Gift of Life wants to partner with workplaces, community organizations, and municipal clerks to
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Justin Shilling’s legacy as an organ and tissue donor is helping his mother navigate the depths of her grief. She wanted something for his 1,900 classmates, too. The Oxford High School senior was one of four students killed in a shooting at the school last fall. He was able to donate both kidneys, one lung,
Mom helps Oxford High School students remember friend and classmate who saved six lives Read More »
Minorities often wait longer for organ transplants Patrick Price is hoping he will one day receive a new kidney and return to the catering business he loves, but he knows he faces challenges getting there. Patrick was diagnosed with diabetes at age 13, and lost a leg due to complications more than a decade ago.
Saginaw man determined to regain health, mobility Read More »
Gift of Life’s largest outreach event returns to the popular John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids on Aug. 13. Donate Life Day at the Zoo returns to an in-person event after the primarily virtual platform that was necessary because of Covid-19. “We’re really hoping for a crowd. Our event is such a fun way to
Donate Life Day at the Zoo celebrates organ donors, transplant recipients and life Read More »
After more than three decades in leadership at Gift of Life Michigan, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) has recognized Anne Kowalczyk with its Lifetime Achievement award. Gift of Life’s recently retired CFO was pivotal in making sure the organization is financially prepared to fulfill the wishes of donors and their families well into
Gift of Life veteran leader receives national Lifetime Achievement award Read More »
Todd Hart saves lives by taking care of organs from the second they leave the donor until the moment they reach the recipient prepped for a lifesaving transplant. As an Organ Recovery Specialist at Gift of Life Michigan, Todd works with surgeons when the heart, liver, lungs or kidneys are removed from a generous donor,
Staff Spotlight: Todd Hart is responsible for organs on their journey to transplant Read More »
Ronda Harrison never thought she’d live to see 50. Born with cystic fibrosis (CF), the Spring Lake woman said she always knew her life had an early expiration date. “I have always known I wasn’t going to live as long as my friends,” she said. “That has now changed.” It technically started to change
How Many Lives Can a Donor Save? With more than 106,000 Americans currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, there’s no question that we need organ donors more than ever. Every day, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant. What if you could save even one of those individuals? When you sign up to
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Did you know that more than 106,000 Americans are currently on the organ transplant waiting list? For everyone who decides to become an organ donor, up to 75 individual lives can be dramatically improved– think of the incredible impact you could have by becoming an organ donor. If you’ve thought about learning how to sign
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Each day, people enter hospitals in dire need of organ transplants. These people need more than medication or surgery to recover from their conditions – they require organ transplants to survive. With the demand for organs so high, many people often do not receive the transplants they need. We rely on registered organ donors to
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