The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Show Notes: Join us for an educational and engaging conversation about the Islamic perspective on organ, tissue and eye donation. We are joined by Karim Ali and Samuel Shareef, members of the Muslim Life Planning Network, which is an organization created to assist in educating American Muslims on donation and other end of life issues. Imam Johari Malik explains Islamic teaching and laws, including what a Fiqh Forum is, and how this religious ruling clarified the Muslim stance on donation. We also speak to Collin Ross, the Vice President of Global Development at Eversight, who is partnering with Muslim Life Planning Network to build trusting relationships with the Muslim community through learning. Samuel Shareef’s shares his daughter Danielle “Dani” Shareef’s story, who is our donor hero in this episode, and Sara gives us tips to help fight caregiver burnout.

Show Notes: On episode 148, we welcome Jessica Fisher from LAORA in Florida to talk about their program to engage faith leaders called The Pray Project. Learn how The Pray Project is supporting donor families in LAORA's service area. Then we chat about the differences between affirmation and validation. We honor LAORA hero, Trevin Reddick, and answer one of your questions.

Show Notes: Eye Donation Month is an annual event held each November to raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation. Eye Bank Association of America President and CEO, Kevin Corcoran, joins us to talk about the observance's theme, “A Community of Compassion”. Kevin introduces us to Nia, whose daughter Zoe is a cornea recipient. Nia shares her daughter's story to inspire others to build a community of compassion. Then we go through some tips you can add to your emotional first aid kit. We circle back to Zoe's story, honoring her hero, Aolani on this special episode, with guest host, LOPA's Susana Ruddock.

Show Notes: On this episode we introduce you to father and engineer, Nick Jones. His son Matty had a rare kidney condition, resulting in the need for a transplant. Learn how his son's journey through his illness inspired Nick to focus on innovation to increase the number of lives saved through transplantation. He brings ideas and technology to OmniLife, helping to build their mobile application which streamlines communication between OPOs and transplant centers, and improves efficiency across the transplant care continuum. Then we discuss two ways to build resilience, and honor hero Kye Law.

Show Notes: October is National Liver Awareness Month and our hosts talk with a two time liver recipient, John Hoffman. His first transplant was performed by Dr. Thomas Starzl, one of the pioneers of transplantation. John is currently writing his memoir and hopes to inspire others who may be on the same road he’s traveled. Then, we chat about tips for praising children effectively, answer one of your questions and honor hero, Zander Liotto.

Show Notes: On episode 144, learn about the pivotal role coroners play within the donation process. Chuck Credo, who serves as chair of LOPA's coroner subcommittee, explains how coroners and medical examiners work to honor a person's wish to be a donor while preserving evidence which may be needed to determine the cause of death. Portions of the discussion may be sensitive for some people. Listener discretion is advised. Then Sara shares tips for coping with uncertainty and we honor hero Alexis Molliere.

Show Notes: On episode 143, we welcome Mary and Bob Evans, the driving force behind the Jeffrey Campbell Evans Foundation. They watched their son wait for a heart transplant, saw the challenges he encountered while waiting and even faced their own challenges as Jeffrey's caregivers. This inspired Mary and Bob to help other families on their own transplant journeys and focus on one of the most basic needs, housing close to the transplant center. Then we offer tips for being your authentic self and honor hero, Dillon Webre.

Show Notes: On episode 142, we welcome Francesca Ferrante from CORE, who introduces us to one of their extraordinary volunteers, Craig Smith. Craig is a heart recipient and started his own nonprofit, Second Chance Fundraising, as a way to get people talking about the need for more registered donors. He helped CORE kick off their College Challenge program, which helped add hundreds to the donor registry just in the first year. We offer tips for managing feelings of dread, honor CORE hero, Mathew Christie and answer your question about raising awareness on your college campus.

Show Notes: Woody Overton, host of the award-winning Real Life Real Crime podcast, joins Lori as co-host of this special episode. Lori and Woody were brought together by a dynamic teacher, Kelly Jennings, of Livingston Parish Literacy & Technology Center. Learn how they are working together to educate and inspire more people to register as donors, and how the tragic story of one of Kelly’s former students has motivated them all. We honor Reese Catherine Graham in our hero segment and Kelly shares tips for other educators who want to spread the donation message.

Show Notes: Get ready for a lively conversation to kick off 2020's National Minority Donor Awareness Month! On this episode we welcome a special co-host, Sheron Raymond, a veteran Community Educator with LOPA. Sheron and Lori are joined by three amazing guests: Marion Shuck, the current president of AMAT and the Director of Family Services and Community Outreach of Gift of Hope, Janice Whaley, the CEO of Donor Network West, and Remonia Chapman, Director of Detroit MOTTEP and Community Manager from Gift of Life Michigan. These women share their experience and knowledge about the history of this observance, reasons for racial disparities in donor registration rates and why the need for donation is more prevalent in multicultural communities. Then, we honor hero Roshawn Drumgoole to round out this special episode highlighting the need to have One Voice, One Vision...To Save and Heal Lives.