The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life a remarkable story about one person’s passion to give the gift of life. Deputy Andre Ardeneaux is our guest and you’ll hear why his pursuit to help others saved another deputy’s life through living donation. How does the process of living donation work? Ochsner social worker, Amy Ronnenburg joins us in studio to outline the steps of living donation. Plus we honor hero, Fred Hart, and answer a listener’s question about living donation right here on The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: This episode features LOPA’s own Shawn-Paul Harrison who shares his inspiration for the Trail Run for Life, now going on it’s fourth year. Then we are joined by fellow podcaster, Rishi Bee, in this special crossover episode. His podcast, Healthy Schmelthy, is the fanciest-schmanciest public health podcast and we partner with Rishi to answer his questions and demystify organ, eye and tissue donation. We honor hero Gene LaBorde and Joy Roussel from Southern Eye Bank is in studio to answer a listener’s question about directed eye donation. Right here on episode 68 of The Gifted Life.

Show Notes: In this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast our hosts chat with T.C. Stallings, one of the stars in the faith-based movie A Question of Faith. The movie centers around three families whose lives become intertwined following a series of tragedies. Go to organdonor.gov to learn more about donation and religion. Donate Life America is encouraging people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors in support of the movie’s message about the power of donation. You’ll also hear about a very special 5K race, we honor Hero Bill Martinez, and answer a listener’s question on episode 67 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: On this episode we salute our partners in donation throughout the country by celebrating National DMV Appreciation Week. Hear about bells ringing in South Carolina DMVs and how these sounds are spurring an uptick in organ, eye and tissue donation registrations when we talk to Donate Life South Carolina’s Tracy Moore, and the state’s DMV director Colonel Kevin Shwedo about their award winning program, Bells for Life. Then, a DMV employee (in Louisiana it’s OMV) shares his personal story and why saying YES at your DMV can heal someone like him. Plus, we honor hero Andrew Kennedy and answer a listener’s question right here on episode 66 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life Podcast learn all about directed donation. What is directed donation you ask? We have a remarkable once-in-a-lifetime story you have to hear! Three men join our hosts to tell their story of sorrow, hope and healing. We honor their special hero, Cassie Edwards, and answer a listener’s question right here on episode 65 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: On episode 64 of The Gifted Life Podcast, experience a NASCAR race through the eyes and ears of a mother, a sister, and others close to Ava Branstetter. NASCAR driver Joey Gase is known not only for his talents on the track, but also revered for honoring donors who gave the gift of life. Hear how Joey and his sponsors, Best Home Furnishings and BK Racing, chose to honor Ava on Joey’s car. It’s a powerful journey captured through a mother’s audio diary. Learn more about Ava Grace Branstetter in our honor a hero segment and a listener calls to get her question answered. All right here on The Gifted Life.

Show Notes: We are excited to share this story with you on episode 63 of The Gifted Life. Star Trek actor Aron Eisenberg is a two time kidney recipient and his transplantation story spans his entire lifetime. Aron played Nog, a fan favorite, on Star Trek Deep Space Nine and you will learn how a deceased donor played a part in helping him rocket his acting career into outer space. We also discover why a living donor is to thank now for the second phase of his life. We read a husband’s story about his living donor hero, Melody Goldman, and answer a listener’s question about donating a kidney to someone in need. Right here on The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: On The Gifted Life, we learn how Canada is making life happen and open this episode with a very special call to action from world-renowned music producer and artist, David Foster. Our hosts welcome donation physician, Dr. Faisal Siddiqui of Transplant Manitoba - Gift of Life, to help us understand how organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation operates in Canada. Learn how this country encourages discussion and registration, saves lives and tackles a common myth about organ, tissue and eye donation. Then the CEO of The David Foster Foundation, Mike Ravenhill then chats with our hosts about what made the award winning music producer and artist, David Foster, decided 30 years ago to help families of children awaiting a transplant. We also honor a Canadian donor hero, Kelsey and answer a question about international donation. All on episode 62 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Show Notes: On Father’s Day 2017, a donor’s father met his daughter, Abbey’s, heart recipient. Bill Conner rode his bicycle a total of 2600 miles from Wisconsin to Florida, making a stop in Ventress, LA. Bill met the recipient of his daughter’s heart, Loumonth Jack, Jr., also known as Jack or Roppy. The video of their embrace, Bill listening to his daughter’s heart and the tears, reached millions throughout the world. One of The Gifted Life Podcast’s hosts, Lori Steele, was there with Bill and Roppy on Father’s Day in Louisiana, and traveled to Florida to be there when Bill completed his healing journey with our Florida partners in donation, Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency. Lori is joined by LOPA CEO, Kelly Ranum, on this episode. Together they recount how this heartwarming story unfolded, inspired thousands in the US to register as organ, tissue and eye donors, and touched the lives of millions worldwide.

Show Notes: On this episode of The Gifted Life we answer a common question. What is brain death? Dr. Aimee Aysenne breaks down the details about diagnosing brain death into terms we can all understand. Then we welcome Libbie Harrison. Libbie’s son, Justin, became a donor after brain death. The question we hear often, how can the heart still beat, when a person’s brain is no longer functioning? Hear how she came to accept Justin’s death and honor his wishes to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. We honor Hero, Major Earl Jenkins and Dr. Aysenne helps us answer a listener’s question here on episode 60 of The Gifted Life Podcast.