I have been working in the field of organ and tissue donation for more than 15 years and have always enjoyed the work that I do. I know donation has the power to provide a measure of comfort for donor families and can save lives for recipients. One of the things that keeps me going in this profession is the stories of how people are helped by the work Lifeline of Ohio does.
The experience I had last week has renewed my commitment to the cause. I was privileged to accompany a local donor family as they honored their son, Jeremy Doyle, for his “Gift of Life” by having his floragraph placed on the Donate Life Rose Parade® Float. Read More »
You might not be surprised to learn that Thornville, Ohio resident Mark Burgess dons a Santa suit each winter. Standing 6’2”, Burgess’ snow white beard and sweet demeanor make him the perfect jolly old elf!
“I stopped in Frankenmuth, Michigan once and left with a Santa Suit,” said Burgess, who has played Santa Claus for more than 20 years. Read More »
Whether it was growing up a Buckeye fan, supporting Ohio State as an undergrad at Syracuse University, or choosing Ohio State’s College of Pharmacy for graduate school – this university has always played a part in my life. However, I never thought it would play as big a role as it does today. Read More »
I had the pleasure of attending the Donate Life America spring meeting in Denver last week. It’s always refreshing to connect with new and old colleagues and hear what’s happening around the country as we continue to work toward the goal of registering 100 million Americans. Read More »
My six-year-old daughter LOVES all of the Disney shows aimed at tweens. One of them is “Shake It Up,” about two girls who dance on a kids’ TV show. Normally, I would make up a million excuses to avoid sitting through one of these shows, but a few days ago, I didn’t. Read More »
Every year I have the privilege of assembling the photo tribute for the Donor Family Recognition. This year, it got me thinking.
These photos don’t just represent the donors, but also the lives they touched. Each individual photo shown at the event carries with it family and friends left behind. I think, “How many people?” The pictures also represent the transplant recipients who received the “Gift of Life” through that individual’s donation. Each of these recipients has family and friends who have also been impacted by these gifts. Again I think, “How many people?” Read More »
Hope, Remembrance, and Celebration — concepts that I have experienced separately, but not all at the same time. This changed on April 2, 2011 in a tent full of friends, colleagues, and total strangers.
When I was told that Lifeline of Ohio would be hosting a 24-hour event, I was completely overwhelmed. “How could our small staff pull off such a huge event,” I wondered. The details started coming together in the months leading up to April, and I learned that each hour would be different, but certainly special. Read More »
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 »
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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