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

Name: Tom Brock Age: 65  Home: Hartland Transplant: Heart Why did you need a transplant and when did it happen?  In the summer of 1987, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease affecting my heart muscle, and was transferred to Henry Ford Hospital. I remained in intensive care for over six months with an enlarged

Readers share their messages  The back bumpers of thousands of vehicles across the state sport the Donate Life logo specialty license plate which encourages residents to give the gifts of life, sight and mobility.  The $35 plate became available in Michigan in 2012. Proceeds from sales go to the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund

Donors give life, sight and mobility to thousands  Q: Can anyone be a tissue donor? A: People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. Medical experts will decide each patient’s medical condition at the time of death to determine what tissues can be donated.  Q: How are tissues removed and what

The organ donation process is carefully regulated for patient safety and conducted with the utmost respect for donors and their families. Organ procurement organizations (OPO) such as Gift of Life Michigan must adhere to medical, ethical and legal standards.  Brain death is death. Physicians at hospitals across the nation make the determination, or declaration, that

Gifts pay for efforts to grow the Donor Registry  Gift of Life’s annual fundraising appeal is underway with an email campaign and a brochure mailer for friends and advocates of Gift of Life, donation and transplantation.    The funding generated from this campaign will make some important things possible, said Susan Rink, Gift of Life’s

Groundbreaking Michigan Medicine partnership ‘has the potential to help thousands’  Dr. Tim Frankel is in the midst of groundbreaking research into pancreatic cancer, and the key to his findings is the generosity of organ donors from Gift of Life Michigan, just a few miles across town.  Since 2021, this state’s organ donors have provided more

Making the decision to become an organ donor upon your death is the first step in the organ donation process. But before a patient can become an organ donor, several things must happen.   After every attempt to save the patient’s life has failed, a doctor will determine and declare a patient dead when either their

Choosing to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry gives you the opportunity to create a lasting impact on others’ lives. Making that decision known to your family is just as important.   In Michigan, your decision to someday help others through donation is protected by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Law, a state law that

Signing up to be an organ donor is just the first step in making your decision known. The next step? Sharing that decision with those closest to you. In Michigan, your decision to someday help others through donation is protected by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Law, a state law that has been in place since