Let's Talk About Life

Part two of our conversation with  longtime Cleveland TV personality, Jan Jones.  As we learned last week,Dr. Sheldon Artz was an amazing man and his transplant story was certainly dramatic and unique. After his heart transplant, Jan and Shelly shared 15 added years together.  During those years, becoming Lifebanc ambassadors and advocating for organ donation became a passion for them. Even after Shelly sadly passed away, Jan remained dedicated to Lifebanc and the cause of organ donation. So much so, she and her family are taking their support to a whole new level!

Their story was magical, like something out of the movies. Longtime Cleveland TV personality Jan Jones and renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Sheldon Artz, or “Shelly” as we came to know him, fell in love and began a journey together that would challenge even the strongest of couples. With a history of heart issues, Dr. Artz was thrilled when a heart for transplant became available. To everyone’s shock, however, the donor heart didn’t begin to beat after transplantation. Listen as Jan recalls what happened next and how their story continued.

Being winded and out of breath was unusual for Griff Hill. He and his wife were active and had just returned from a ski trip. Griff went for a diagnostic procedure that turned into an emergency. He was in the hospital for over 30 days and never thought he would require a lung transplant to save his life.

Mindy Kraft’s life was in jeopardy.

For years, she had endured medications, treatments and procedures that allowed her to make it to this point.  She was feeling worse and worse and knew that her options were few.  Doctors said that a liver transplant was the only option left. She was placed on the waiting list, but there were no guarantees that an organ would be found in time for transplant. 

If there is one word the describes Dr. Tania Markarian’s commitment to organ donation, it is passion.

Tania witnessed the triumph of a recipient receiving new life through transplantation and the tragedy when a close friend passed away, despite receiving a transplant because the long time he spent waiting took an enormous toll on his health.

That’s when Tania became a one-woman army and took on organ donation as her mission.

Eddie and Kathy Cheyfitz had settled into a nice pace in life until a minor dental procedure lead to the discovery that he was in kidney failure.

Eddie was preparing to begin dialysis, but his wife Kathy felt sure they would find a living donor before he got to that point. So it was a moment of relief when a long-time family friend, Karen, said she wanted to be tested and proved to be a good match. And then COVID hit.

Fred Dunlap was living his life. He and his wife Barbara were happily married; he enjoyed his job, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. But life drastically changed after Fred suffered a heart attack and was told he would need a heart transplant.

Fred overcame so much to stay alive while on the waiting list, but things looked bright once he received the heart transplant. However, the challenges have not stopped for Fred, but he continues to face each one with a heart of courage.

Keira was born to make a difference. At eleven years old, she was vibrant, a natural helper, and had plenty of energy. In October of 2017, Keira suffered an asthma attack and stopped breathing on the way to the hospital. Although ER doctors were able to revive her heart, her brain had gone too long without oxygen. Not even 24 hours earlier, Keira was singing and making videos on her phone; now, PICU machines kept her heart beating and her lungs functioning. Lifebanc representatives approached her parents with the opportunity to donate Keira’s organs.

Inspired by their daughter’s spirit, Kristy and Scott Christie instantly knew that donating would be the perfect way to honor her life. But, what they didn’t expect was how that decision would open doors for hope and healing.

Surgeries populated her childhood years to correct Biliary Atresia, a congenital condition. Doctors performed operations on baby Tessa at two, three months and when she was a one-year-old. The procedures continued between ages four and five, but they were temporary measures until the unavoidable occurred. Her family remained brave, but the situation was dire. Tessa was in organ failure and needed a liver transplant to live.

Listen as Tessa Farese talks about her story, her young donor, and what a blessing each day is for her and her young sons.

On any given morning, more than 300,000 listeners start their day focusing on their faith and positivity by tuning into 95.5 The Fish – a contemporary Christian Music station here in the Cleveland Area.  One of the familiar voices on the morning show is the traffic guy David Sprouse.  Dave is probably most recognized for cheerfully sending morning commuters off with “keeping you and your family safe” and can be heard Monday through Friday 6-9 AM. He also does voice work on sister stations 1220 AM 96.9 WHKW The Word and 1420 AM The Answer.

But what many listeners are not aware of is that David is in kidney failure and waiting faithfully on the national transplant list for a kidney.