By Morgan Mathews, liver recipient
My parents knew from the time I was an infant that I would need a transplant. I was born in 1981 with a rare genetic disorder that affected my liver. This was a time before transplantation was common, and my parents did everything they could to keep me healthy Read More »
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For the past thirteen years, Lori Gaitten, of New Straitsville, Ohio, has touched many lives through her work at the American Red Cross. As a donor recruitment representative in southern Ohio, she saves lives by organizing blood drives across the state.
Lori often helps families coordinate blood drives who want to give back after a loved one received the lifesaving gift of blood. Last year, a high school principal contacted her about hosting a blood drive in her daughter’s name. During the planning stages of the blood drive, Lori learned that eight-year-old Darby was in need of a kidney transplant. Read More »
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The Zanesville Times Recorder published a powerful editorial today that we wanted to share with you. The piece was printed in response to the loss of Warsaw, Ohio resident, Sherie Burris Hunt, who died last week before she was able to receive a kidney transplant. Sadly, 18 men, women and children – just like Sherie - die each day in the U.S. because a transplant didn’t come in time.
We were touched by the paper’s call to action: honor Sherie by registering as an organ donor. If more of us took action to sign up in the Ohio Donor Registry, we could prevent the tragic deaths that occur due to lack of organ donors. Lifeline of Ohio would like to thank the editorial team at the Zanesville Times Recorder for honoring Sherie and showing readers that by signing up as organ and tissue donors, lives can be saved.
You can read the editorial here.
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On Christmas Day in 1998, Joey Johnson, gave the ultimate gift. He saved five lives after he died suddenly at the age of 19.
“Christmas Day is usually a time of joy and celebration for our family,” said Bernetta Calloway, Joey’s mother. “But that day brought more sorrow than we ever experienced.” Read More »
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I think health fairs are great. You usually get some incentive for attending, perhaps a reusable shopping bag to carry the swag given out by vendors or, if you’re really lucky, a snack!
As a new Lifeline of Ohio employee, my incentives for attending health fairs are to educate the public about organ and tissue donation and to hopefully sign people up in the Ohio Donor Registry by sharing the Donate Life message. Read More »
Leave a Comment »The Fort Hayes High School film department will host a film festival Saturday, February 19, entitled “The Morale Dilemma.” Organ donation was chosen as one of the topics students wanted to address in a three minute short film format. Read More »
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By Bobbi Shaffer, heart recipient
All my life I thought I had asthma. I treated the condition and tried to work out to improve my stamina – what I didn’t know at the time was that I was aging my heart. I did everything I could to take good care of myself but one day when in 2001, I passed out at work and doctors discovered that I had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Read More »
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By Sue Murphy, donor mom
Flowers, candy, cards and hearts. All of these things come to mind when one mentions Valentine’s Day. This year the word HEART is most important to our family.
Last Friday, my husband, Mike, I got to spend some time with our son’s heart recipient, Russ. Our son, Jason, was a registered donor and saved three lives after his death. For the last two years we have joined Russ and family members at OSU’s Ross Heart Center for a Valentine Party for all heart transplant recipients. What a happy time this is! Read More »
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By Janie Scarborough, donor mother
I would like to introduce you to an incredible young woman, Sarah Jane Scarborough. She is my only child and my best friend. She brought more joy to my life in 24 years than most people experience in a lifetime. Read More »
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The Love of a Father
by Rex Kennedy (Donor Father) As I write this it is a beautiful day, June 21, 2002. I’m trying to remember the last time I was happy. I have some good days, but I’m not truly happy. There is something missing.
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