Featured | October 22, 2024
Sharing her spirit
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…
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Blog, Stories of Hope | October 22, 2024
Sharing her spirit
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | October 15, 2024
Celebrating BRA Day and the gift of tissue donation
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | October 9, 2024
Two-year-old Blake receives life-changing liver transplant
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…
News | September 17, 2024
Michigan organ donor contributes to historic bone marrow transplant
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…
News | September 17, 2024
Gift of Life Michigan’s Sheila Alston receives Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation’s Nurse of the Year DAISY Award
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…
Blog | August 19, 2024
From 8 months to 18 years old: Young man with donated liver reaches another milestone
Blog | August 19, 2024
Motivated U.P. students turn pennies into $1,500 for Gift of Life Michigan
Blog | August 19, 2024
Ossium Health enables organ donors to save even more lives
Blog | August 18, 2024
Myth debunked by fact: Doctors work to save your life if you’re a registered organ donor
Blog | August 18, 2024
New bill would educate more ninth graders about organ and tissue donation
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…
Blog | August 17, 2024
Michigan’s only source for teen education about donation is saving lives
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | August 17, 2024
Transplant Throwback: Chef Oliver Hale
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…
Blog | August 16, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Dain Mendoza lives the mission that saved his mother’s life
Dain Mendoza says he’s fortunate to work for an organization that’s part of his own mother’s story. As a materials supply technician at Gift of Life Michigan, Dain receives, processes and stocks supplies and equipment…
Blog, Stories of Hope | August 16, 2024
Volunteer Spotlight: With her vision restored, Leslie Palacios helps others see the need to be donors
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…
Blog | August 15, 2024
Gift of Life Michigan recognizes volunteers and financial donors at open house
“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. …
Blog, Stories of Hope | August 15, 2024
Mom of five can breath again
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…
Blog | August 14, 2024
Over 13,000 join the Donor Registry through state income tax forms
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | August 14, 2024
Small steps to a big milestone
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…
Blog | July 24, 2024
Can I Sell My Placenta?
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…
Blog | July 23, 2024
How Long Do Transplanted Organs Last?
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…
Blog | July 23, 2024
What Disqualifies You from Being a Kidney Donor?
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….
Blog, News | July 22, 2024
Ryan Cormier Elected Chairperson of Accredited Tissue Banks Council
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…
Blog | July 20, 2024
Donate Life Night in Grand Rapids draws a record number of organ donation supporters to John Ball Zoo
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…
Blog | July 12, 2024
Raising the wings of awareness
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…
News | June 26, 2024
AOPO Names 2024-2025 President and Board of Directors
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…
News | June 25, 2024
Donate Life Night at John Ball Zoo honors those impacted by organ and tissue donation
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….
News | June 13, 2024
Check Your Heart Rally in Lansing focuses on educating the next generation
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…
Blog | June 11, 2024
Can Catholics Donate Organs?
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…
News | June 10, 2024
Check Your Heart Rally at State Capitol encourages next generation to donate life
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…
News | June 5, 2024
Gift of Life Michigan has record-breaking month
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…
Blog | June 5, 2024
Long-term Effects of Kidney Donation
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…
Blog | June 3, 2024
Will Doctors Still Save my Life if I’m a Registered Organ Donor?
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…
News | May 14, 2024
Michigan Organ Donor Registry sees major growth thanks to Check Your Heart Act
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…
Blog | May 10, 2024
A Mother’s Gift
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…
Blog | May 10, 2024
Superheroes Don’t Always Wear Capes
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…
Blog, LifeLines, Stories of Hope | April 17, 2024
Transplant Throwback: David Rozelle
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…
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
First-person authorization: What it is and how it works
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
Champions Gala recognizes leaders
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…
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
Grateful “Kidney Sister” leaves $15,000 donation to Gift of Life
LifeLines, News | April 17, 2024
Gift of Life sets organ and tissue records in 2023
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Leslie Casperson is saving lives Up North
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
Volunteer Spotlight: Sixteen-year-old Evan Cotton and his new heart provide comfort
Blog, LifeLines, Stories of Hope | April 17, 2024
Mallaki receives the gift of life and a new family
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…
Blog, LifeLines | April 17, 2024
Tattoos for life, hope and remembrance
Blog, LifeLines | April 15, 2024
Michigan is behind other states in educating youth about donation
Blog | April 9, 2024
Placenta Donation Explained
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…
Blog | April 3, 2024
What Disqualifies you from being a Living Kidney Donor?
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…
Blog | April 3, 2024
Can a Living Person Donate a Lung?
Organ donation has long been one of the most selfless acts someone can provide. Generous donations of blood, plasma, kidneys and other organs have helped people live through medical emergencies and stay healthy for decades…
News | March 1, 2024
Munson Medical Center Named Hospital of the Year by Gift of Life Michigan
Munson’s John Stanifer, MD and ICU Manager, Eric Jean also to be recognized. Gift of Life Michigan has announced that in April it will honor Munson Medical Center (MMC) as Hospital of the Year along…
Blog | March 1, 2024
Can a Living Person Donate a Liver?
The liver is an important organ. It filters toxins out of your blood. You can’t live without one for more than a few days. Can a living person donate a liver? You might have heard…