The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Show Notes: On this episode we share our excitement for National Donate Life Month in April and welcome Gift of Life Donor Program’s President & CEO, Howard Nathan. Howard talks about the history of organ donation, outreach, education and the innovative programs based out of the OPO’s headquarters in Philadelphia. Learn about their Gift of Life Family House, Gift of Life Institute, and the Transplant Pregnancy Registry. Evan Bunting, a donor from Gift of Life Donor Program, is honored during the hero segment. Sally shares tips for conquering common mental health issues, and we answer a listener’s question on episode 79 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: March is National Kidney Month! On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome Darrian Arch, Miss Indiana USA®, who’s personal connection drove her to become an advocate for Donate Life with Indiana Donor Network. Learn all about this accomplished beauty queen and why her quest to educate others about organ, eye and tissue donation is very close to her heart. Our very own Sally Gentry, a licensed counselor, talks us through common mental health issues, this time focusing in on control tendencies. We honor Indiana Donor Network hero Logan Vanderkleed and answer a listener’s question right here on episode 78 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: March is National Kidney Month. On episode 77 of The Gifted Life Podcast, we take an in depth look at how the kidney allocation system (KAS) has affected those in need of a life saving kidney transplant. We welcome UNOS researcher, Darren Stewart, who gives us insight into how new policies enacted in late 2014 have changed the outlook for those waiting for a kidney. Then we honor hero Kenneth Doucet and answer a listener’s question. For more information on this topic, visit: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov.

Show Notes: On episode 76, we meet Christopher Babin, who selflessly chose to become a living kidney donor. Chris shares his story with us about giving the gift of life and why he’s running to tell others about organ, eye and tissue donation. Then, Randy Falgoust is honored during our hero segment. You will also find out how to reach out, just like Chris, to tell us your story or ask a question. The Gifted Life Podcast is your source for inspiring and informative stories about organ, eye & tissue donation and transplantation.

Show Notes: On episode 75 of The Gifted Life Podcast, our team takes you to the 2018 Rose Parade in California to experience the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. Check out what goes on behind the scenes and hear some of the experiences from the families of the honorees. Learn why American Idol alum, Scott MacIntyre, and former NFL coach Sam Wyche were involved in this year’s celebration. You can learn more about the individual stories of the 44 organ, eye and tissue donors honored on this year’s float, “The Gift of Time,” at donatelifefloat.org.

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast, we welcome a reality star, Bravo’s Below Deck cast member, Nico Scholly. Nico’s younger brother Tristen lost his life tragically in an accident in 2016 and became a hero, giving the gift of life to others. Learn how Nico’s family is using their experience to help other donor families by creating the Tristen Scott Foundation and how it fuels Nico’s passion for organ, eye and tissue donation advocacy. Plus, learn more about Tristen during our Honoring a Hero segment. We also answer a question that came through our Facebook page about finding a donor’s recipient. Visit the Tristen Scott Foundation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TristenScottFoundation.

Show Notes: The Gifted Life Podcast team extends best wishes for 2018 to all our listeners. In this shorter episode, we kick off 2018 with a powerful voice. Our host Lori introduces us to singer and songwriter, David St. Romain. Learn about the inspiration behind one of his songs; a song that has touched lives and promoted becoming a registered organ, eye and tissue donor. We then honor hero Loyd Knotts and answer a question from someone who would like to contact their anonymous living donor on episode 73 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: One person can make a difference to register more organ, eye and tissue donors. On episode 72 of The Gifted Life Podcast, we are honoring our volunteer of the year, Jinx Broussard. Learn about her commitment to utilize her classroom for advocacy on campus at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. Plus, we hear from Jinx’s students from this past semester who tell us some of their notable highlights promoting organ, eye and tissue donation on LSU’s Campus. We honor hero Paula Fealko and answer a listener’s questions about how to start a campaign to promote donation on your local college campus.

Show Notes: On episode 71 of The Gifted Life Podcast we are sharing the microphone with a very gifted soprano, classical recording artist and lung recipient, Charity Tillemann-Dick. She talks about her 2 transplant journeys, meeting her donor’s family, recovery, and her career. She also talks about her new memoir, The Encore, which is spurring a movement to register more organ, eye and tissue donors. It’s an inspiring story of an acclaimed opera singer who received not one but two double lung transplants and went from struggling to draw a single breath to singing at venues throughout the world. Then we honor hero Jason Williams and answer a listener’s question about tissue donation.

Charity on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharityTD

Charity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Charity.Sunshine.TillemannDick

Charity on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charitytd

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life we continue celebrating 20 years with the Louisiana Donor Registry and saying YES to Life. We wanted you to hear powerful stories about what it’s like to have more than 20 years of life after transplant. Two lung recipients, Jane Long and Howell Graham, who both got their second chance MORE than 20 years ago tell us about the full life they’ve been gifted because someone said yes to being an organ, eye and tissue donor. Then we honor hero Elliot Hardy and answer a listener’s question to learn more about longevity after transplant, right here on this Thanksgiving episode of The Gifted Life.