
Featured | March 25, 2025
Honoring life through art
Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo has found a way to honor her sister, Chadapron Haney—affectionately known as “Guy.” “Guy was a force,” Palee said. “She was incredibly generous,…
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Blog | April 17, 2025
Dior Chambers is waiting for that life-saving gift
Dior Chambers is no stranger to kidney disease. It has touched every corner of her life—from losing her father, Elijah Coley, to renal failure in 2001, to watching her husband, Dominique survive 14 years of…
Blog, News | April 16, 2025
Michigan Senate recognizes April as Donate Life Month, introduces new bills focused on organ, eye and tissue donation education
Today, the Michigan Senate adopted Sen. Kevin Daley’s (R-Lum) resolution to recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month. Celebrated each April, the national observance is a time to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue…
Blog | April 15, 2025
“I’m so thankful I’m here and for the gift of life”
Brett Bowman, from Woodhaven, Mich., was born with cystic fibrosis. Growing up he was in and out of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. He lost his younger brother Blake to the disease in…
Blog, News | April 15, 2025
CBS Evening News shows organ donation in action at Gift of Life Michigan
Gift of Life Michigan opened its doors to CBS Investigative Correspondent Tom Hanson last summer, providing him unprecedented access to allow viewers an inside look at the organ donation process from beginning to end. The…
Connections | April 11, 2025
Erik
Erik’s selfless decision to donate inspired his daughter Erika to honor his memory through advocacy
Connections | April 11, 2025
Greg
Through the pain of losing her husband Greg, Shalonda found purpose in raising awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation.
Blog, Stories of Hope | April 10, 2025
“Where I was, was not who I was”
When Saginaw-area resident Londel Cook was diagnosed with end stage renal failure at a young age, he didn’t understand the severity of his illness. “I didn’t take any of it seriously because I was 23,”…
Blog, Stories of Hope | April 9, 2025
Turning pain into purpose
Gift of Life Michigan Community Outreach Coordinator Shalonda Griffin’s late husband Greg was the ‘greatest person she has ever met.’ “He put the color in my world,” she shared. “I always think about the “Wizard…
Blog, News | April 9, 2025
Donor mother Debra Wyant to receive Gift of Life Michigan’s Honoring Life Through Donation Award, May 2
Debra Wyant, the mother of Michigan’s first and only hand donor, has exemplified what it means to honor life through donation since 21-year-old Shayna Sturtevant became a donor nine years ago in Muskegon. Debra will…
Blog, News | April 1, 2025
Gift of Life Michigan hosts Genesee County Interfaith Breakfast Thursday, April 24
GRAND BLANC – On Thursday, April 24, Gift of Life Michigan will host the inaugural Genessee County Interfaith Breakfast. The free event will take place at the Captain’s Club Golf and Event Center in Grand…
Blog | March 31, 2025
Paying it forward through advocacy and awareness
In October 2013, Grosse Pointe Shores resident Dave Galbenski was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the liver’s bile ducts, causing inflammation and, ultimately, liver failure. “In that moment,…
Blog | March 26, 2025
One act of generosity saves two lives
For more than 15 years, Larry Gates, from Ann Arbor, lived with progressively worsening kidney function. His creatinine levels had always been on the high side, but slowly they began to increase. In 2019, he…
Blog | March 26, 2025
Cornea transplant helps basketball star get his shot back
Sixteen-year-old Cooper Boike loves to play basketball. Standing tall at 6’3, he plays both point guard and center positions for Genessee Christian High School in Burton, located just outside of Flint. In 2024 he had…
Blog | March 25, 2025
Honoring life through art
Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo has found a way to honor her sister, Chadapron Haney—affectionately known as “Guy.” “Guy was a force,” Palee said. “She was incredibly generous,…
Blog, News | March 24, 2025
Hurley Medical Center named Gift of Life Michigan’s Hospital of the Year
FLINT, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan has named Hurley Medical Center in Flint as its Hospital of the Year for 2025 for its outstanding commitment to organ and tissue donation. The hospital is the…
Connections | March 21, 2025
Steven
One act of kindness, impacted Steven, Larry and Jamie’s friends, family and the communities they live in.
Connections | March 21, 2025
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.
Connections | March 21, 2025
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.
Blog, Stories of Hope | March 14, 2025
“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….
News | March 10, 2025
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…
Blog | March 4, 2025
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…
News | February 21, 2025
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | February 18, 2025
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…
News | February 11, 2025
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,…
Connections | February 10, 2025
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.
Blog, Stories of Hope | February 7, 2025
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | February 6, 2025
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…
News | January 14, 2025
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…
News | January 9, 2025
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…
Blog | December 12, 2024
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…
Blog | December 12, 2024
Transplant Throwback: Tom Brock
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…
Blog | December 11, 2024
Donate Life license plates drive awareness
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…
Blog | December 11, 2024
Facts about tissue donation
Blog | December 11, 2024
Facts about brain death and how it’s determined
Blog | December 11, 2024
Gift of Life launches annual appeal for financial giving
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…
Blog, Stories of Hope | December 10, 2024
Volunteer Spotlight: Two-time lung recipient gives hope to those waiting for a miracle of their own
When Michael Love woke up groggy from his lung transplant surgery in 2015, he instinctively felt his nose for the cannula that had delivered life-sustaining oxygen for the previous six months. It wasn’t there. “I…
Blog | December 10, 2024
Gift of Life organ donors provide the ‘holy grail’ of pancreatic cancer research
Blog, Stories of Hope | December 10, 2024
A donor mom becomes leader in the donation community
Blog | December 9, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Sheila Alston has been saving and healing lives for 40 years
Blog, Stories of Hope | December 9, 2024
“Precious gifts saved my dad.”
Blog | November 27, 2024
The Facts: The organ donation process
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…
Blog | November 27, 2024
The Facts: What is first person authorization?
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,…
Blog | November 25, 2024
I decided to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. What happens next?
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…
Blog | November 11, 2024
Veteran shares struggle in hopes to inspire “at least one”
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…
Blog | November 4, 2024
The Facts: Brain death, circulatory death and comas
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…
News | November 4, 2024
Grand Rapids pickleballers take on Guinness World Record for a worthy cause
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…
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…