Let's Talk About Life

Not so very long ago, if a patient in end-stage organ failure was HIV positive, in most cases, they were told to go home and get their things in order.  Brianna Doby Donation Community Consultant at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine discusses the creation of the HOPE Act which gives a very vulnerable patient population hope for a second chance at life. It also allows the LGBTQ community to be registered organ, eye, and tissue donors.

When we are in despair and grieving for someone we love, is it acceptable to laugh and experience joy too?   Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Senior Bereavement Counselor discusses when humor is useful and the health benefits it provides during times of tension and grief.

At the beginning of the summer of 2012, a tragic car accident took the lives of four local teenagers. One of the teens, Kevin Fox was able to give the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Devastated family and friends of Kevin, struggled to find a positive outlet for their grief.

Listen as Colleen Fox, shares her brother's decision to be an organ donor and why the Gift of Life Walk & Run gives them a reason to celebrate that decision and Kevin each year.

The 2020 Gift of Life Walk & Run will be going virtual this year. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, Lifebanc believes that it's in the best interest of all participants, staff, volunteers, and hosts to shift to a virtual event.

Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc CEO discusses the event and some of the innovative ways we are offering participants and teams to engage with us and each other to raise funds for the mission Lifebanc and organ, eye, and tissue donation.

For more information about the Gift of Life Walk & Run click here.

There are approximately 1,000,000 tissue transplants that take place each year. Not everyone understands the impact and importance of tissue donation to save lives. The Gift of Tissue episode explores the many uses of donated tissue and the dedication Lifebanc maintains before, during, and after the recovery of those gifts.

Julie Caldro, the Director of Tissue Services for Lifebanc shares her knowledge and appreciation for all those who chose to heal & save lives through the gift of tissue donation.

To become a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor click here now.

When she created the Five Stages of Grief, was Elizabeth Kublier-Ross describing grief experienced when someone we care for passes away? 

An interesting and enlightening discussion with Eliss Berman, Lifebanc Senior Bereavement Counselor and her colleague, Jennifer Stern, a Licensed Independent Social Worker and an M.A. in Clinical Social Work and explain why Life is Not a Stage.

If you are struggling with grief and are a donor family, visit the resources section for donor families. If you are not a donor family, feel free to reach out to Jenniffer Stern at Transformative Grief.

Saving and healing lives have never meant more than at this moment in time and Nurse's Week has never been so meaningful. While the frontline nurses continue gaining ground on the pandemic, a specialized nursing group has quietly gone above and beyond to save lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Michele Martynyszyn, Organ Services Manager at Lifebanc has an inspiring discussion about the unique career opportunity nurses have to help heal others differently at Lifebanc.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration or TSA will require a federally compliant driver license, identification card or another acceptable form of identification (such as a US passport or military ID) to fly within the U.S.  The compliant ID takes the place of a standard driver’s license. When renewing a license at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Ohioans can ask for the Real ID and to save lives through the Ohio Donor Registry!

For more information about the compliant license, visit the Ohio BMV website and to become to become a registered donor, click the button at the bottom of the page,

We cannot let the month of April fly by without extending our gratitude for all Lifebanc Ambassador Volunteers. They are the core of our community outreach and education efforts. Lifebanc staff member, Caitlin Zagar, community outreach coordinator explains the importance and duties of our volunteers. Caitlin is joined by two volunteers, recipient Mindy, and donor mom, Lynn who share their reasons for serving the community to save lives.

There is nothing like a crisis to exacerbate emotions. As we are learning, sheltering-in-place for a long period can induce a rollercoaster of feelings, especially for those who are already coping with loss and grief.  Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Senior Bereavement Services Counselor explains why we are feeling emotional and offers advice on how to cope during this crisis.