This Thing Called Life

By Network For HopeSociety & Culture Medicine Health & Fitness Relationships Personal Journals

This Thing Called Life episodes

July 08, 2025EP 120: The Dual Role of Advocacy in Organ Donation with Hannah Boylan, Family Support Supervisor at Network for Hope
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, host Andi Johnson sits down with Hannah Boylan, a Family Support Supervisor at Network for Hope, to explore the delicate and vital world of organ donation. Hannah offers a behind-the-scenes look at how her team supports families during one of the most difficult moments of their lives—navigating the decision to donate a loved one’s organs.
With a background in bioethics, Hannah shares how she became involved in this work during the COVID-19 pandemic and how her training helps her think clearly through emotionally complex situations. The episode dives deep into the concept of dual advocacy—supporting both donor families and recipients—and emphasizes the importance of accurate information, compassionate care, and honoring each donor’s legacy.
Listeners will gain a new appreciation for the unseen emotional and ethical work that goes into organ donation and walk away with a better understanding of how memory-making items like heartbeat recordings, Medals of Honor, and Honor Walks play a crucial role in healing and closure.
✨ Episode Highlights
Introducing Hannah Boylan: Hannah shares how she discovered her calling during a clinical ethics lecture and transitioned into organ donation work during the height of the pandemic.
The Power of Bioethics in Real Life: Her background in Bioethics allows her to step back, analyze difficult situations, and support families with clarity and compassion.
Understanding Dual Advocacy: Hannah explains the critical need to balance the needs of donor families and patients on the transplant waitlist—both of whom deserve care, attention, and respect.
Writing About Moral Distress in the Field: Hannah discusses her published work addressing the emotional toll and moral complexities faced by those in organ procurement—an area often left unspoken in bioethics literature.
Behind-the-Scenes at Network for Hope: Andi and Hannah talk about the collaboration between organ procurement organizations and hospitals, how and when Family Support teams get called in, and the sensitive timing involved.
Compassionate Keepsakes for Donor Families: From teddy bears and heartbeat recordings to Medals of Honor, Hannah shares how these items help families process their grief while celebrating the heroic choice of donation.
Honor Walks: Some hospitals line the halls with electric candles and staff members during an Honor Walk, paying silent tribute as the donor is moved toward the operating room—a deeply moving moment of collective respect.
Misinformation and Myths About Donation: Hannah discusses the widespread misunderstandings about organ donation and urges the importance of education and transparency in order to empower families to make informed decisions.

📝 Key Takeaways
Dual Advocacy Is Critical: Organ donation professionals must walk a fine line between supporting grieving donor families and honoring the urgent needs of those on the waitlist. Both require empathy, ethics, and balance.
Memory-Making Matters: Keepsakes like heartbeat recordings, Medals of Honor, and Honor Walks offer comfort and help transform a painful moment into a lasting, meaningful tribute.
Education Is Empowerment: Combating myths and misinformation ensures that families can make donation decisions rooted in truth, compassion, and clarity, not fear or misunderstanding.

📢 Tweetable Quotes
“ It's an honor to work with people who're having the worst day of their life, right? And they're able to step away from that grief for a moment, and they're thinking about those people on the wait list…” - Hannah Boylan

“And I think to do this work, you have to be thinking about the recipients on the wait list, but you also have to know that you're providing that comfort to the donor families that you're working with.” - Hannah Boylan

“I think also, when I go into this ethics training, that it changes my mindset. I can separate myself from the situation and look more objectively. If I break down the problems and think about ethical principles that I've been trained in, and that helps me, even if it doesn't give me a clear answer, it lets me think about things in a little bit of a different way, which I find really helpful.” - Hannah Boylan

“Donation is so rare, right? We think that's important to highlight, I think that's something that people don't realize.” - Hannah Boylan and Andi Johnson

“I think donation can be scary. It's a big decision. It's a decision that can't be taken lightly. Families deserve to make the decision that's best for them, but they deserve to have that right information.” - Hannah Boylan

Resources:
Donatelifeky.org

https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
RegisterMe.org/NetworkforHope
33 min
June 24, 2025EP 119: "Bridging the Gap: The Power of Organ Donation in Kentucky"
Title: "Bridging the Gap: The Power of Organ Donation in Kentucky"

🎙️ Episode Summary
In this powerful episode, host Andi Johnson sits down with Shelley Snyder, Executive Director of Donate Life Kentucky Trust, to explore the life-changing impact of organ donation across the Bluegrass State. Together, they discuss how the organization supports those waiting for tranplants, honors donor families—true heroes in the community—and works to educate Kentuckians on the critical importance of registering as organ donors. Shelley shares heartfelt stories and explains how Donate Life Kentucky fills the gaps in care, awareness, and advocacy, one life-saving conversation at a time.

✨ Episode Highlights
Andi Johnson welcomes guest Shelley Snyder, who shares the mission and outreach of Donate Life Kentucky Trust.
Shelley explains how the organization supports every aspect of the donation journey:
➤ Those waiting for transplants
➤ Recipients of life-saving organs
➤ Families of heroic donors
She proudly highlights partnerships with Network for Hope and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, with Commissioner Matt Cole serving as board chair.
Shelley details key programs:
Scholarships for youth
Support for children on transplant waiting lists
Financial aid for transplant recipients and donor families
The Transplant Patient Assistance Fund (est. 2001) has provided over $800,000 in care-related expenses.
The Donor Family Support Program has distributed approximately $100,000 in aid, covering needs such as hotel stays, meals, and living essentials.
Shelley clarifies the distinction between the work of Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and the Trust’s role in wraparound support and community outreach.
Her personal story includes:
The sudden loss of her father, Dennis Evren, whose tissue donation restored sight and helped someone walk.
Her mother’s successful surgery was thanks to donated tissue.
Shelley shares touching stories, including:
A family who lost a daughter and the life-changing impact of her donation.
Jonathan is a transplant recipient, turned powerful advocate.
She emphasizes how circuit court clerks were instrumental in founding the Trust, and how public speaking, community engagement, and media partnerships fuel the mission.
The impact of media portrayals, such as Grey’s Anatomy and The Pit, on raising awareness is explored.
Shelley highlights multiple ways people and businesses can support:
Sponsorships

Third-party fundraising

One-time and recurring donations
She also introduces the “Gift of Life Stories” section on the website, a collection of inspiring personal testimonies.
The episode closes with a heartfelt encouragement to register as an organ donor and get involved in this life-giving mission.

📝 Key Takeaways
The Donate Life Kentucky Trust supports not only organ donation education but also provides real-life aid to those on the transplant journey.
Through philanthropic support, the Trust has helped provide over $900,000 in aid across programs for recipients and donor families.
Shelley’s personal experience—from the loss of her father to her mother’s surgery—deeply informs her work and passion.
The organization was founded by circuit court clerks and continues to rely on that community involvement to grow its reach.
You can make a difference by registering as a donor, sharing the message, or supporting the organization financially.

📢 Tweetable Quotes

“Our real focus is on supporting all areas connected to donation and transplantation, so those who are on the waiting list, those who have received the precious gift of life and those incredible heroes and their families who gave.”
- Shelley Snyder

“I should say, and the registry is so key, as you know, to ensuring that lives are saved. “
- Shelley Snyder

“I've always said, If I ever win the lottery, all my money would go to helping these incredible, heroic donor families who have given the gift of life at the worst time in their lives.”
- Shelley Snyder

“I say that with the OPOs, because there's a clear distinction of what our role and responsibilities are. So it's just it's great to have that partnership with the trust. “
- Andi Johnson

“I just, I love this mission so much. It's been a part of my life since I was 17 years old.”
- Shelley Snyder

“His gift of tissue is going to help someone walk. And we learned later that he gave sight to a 22-year-old and a 29-year-old.”
- Shelley Snyder

“People can be organ donors and save a life, and we need to get the word out. And so they started doing that through driver's license, accepting the $1 donations, and that went into a trust, and that's what our organization was founded on, and that was in 1992.”
- Shelley Snyder

“We find that public speaking is really, really impactful, because we are able to share the facts and talk directly to people and open the door.”
- Shelley Snyder

“We rely on businesses and individuals to work with us to make all of these programs possible. And we have a wonderful team.”
- Shelley Snyder

Resources:
Donatelifeky.org
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
31 min
June 10, 2025 EP 118: "Mes de concientización sobre la salud mental" (Mental Health Awareness Month)
This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago on La Mega.
This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and
the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation.

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://aopo.org/
8 min
May 27, 2025EP 117: Spreading Realistic Positivity: David Galbenski’s Mission to Champion Living Donation
🎙️ Episode Summary
Spreading Realistic Positivity: David Galbenski’s Mission to Champion Living Donation

When David Galbenski received a life-saving liver donation from his brother-in-law, it was more than a second chance—it was a call to action. In this powerful episode, David shares his personal journey from transplant recipient to national advocate for living donation. Discover how his gratitude turned into purpose through the creation of the Living Donor Awareness Games, a movement spreading hope, education, and inspiration across the country. Tune in to hear how one extraordinary act of generosity is now saving countless lives.

✨ Episode Highlights
Andi opens the episode by introducing David Galbenski and invites him to share why today’s venue, the Great American Ballpark, holds special meaning and its connection to living donation.
David explains how the Cincinnati Reds have been strong partners in hosting the Living Donation Awareness Games—an annual event that brings awareness to the power of living donation.
He shares how the energy of the game helps paint a vivid picture of what living donation represents.
The conversation turns personal as David reflects on living with a rare autoimmune disease for six years before pursuing a transplant.
With the unwavering support of his wife Lynn, they embraced living donation as an option—an act of courage and love that led to his brother-in-law, Mark, stepping up as the donor.
David highlights how vulnerability is a key part of the recipient’s journey and underscores the emotional rewards for living donors that are often overlooked.
Faith played a central role in David’s healing and recovery, providing strength through uncertainty.
Mark’s own journey as a donor came with challenges, but he had the blessing of a brother who is a surgeon, guiding him through the process.
David shares how baseball became a powerful platform for spreading hope and awareness, including the upcoming launch of a new national observance—“National Want-To-Have-A-Catch Day,” celebrated every second Saturday of May.
He also honors the medical professionals behind transplant surgeries and their life-saving work.
The discussion touches on legislative efforts to support living donors—such as ending insurance discrimination, offering tax credits, and introducing a 12-week leave policy.
David and Andi explore the research from Kindness.org, which found that becoming a living donor for a friend ranked as the number one act of kindness.
Finally, David shares the emotional tools that helped him through recovery—visualization, music, and keeping faith alive during the waiting period.

📝 Key Takeaways
The Cincinnati Reds have been long-time partners in the Living Donation Awareness Games, helping bring the message of hope and generosity to a wide audience.
David’s transplant journey began after living with a rare disease for six years, and his story shows how love, faith, and family can lead to life-saving decisions.
His brother-in-law Mark’s heroic donation reminds us of the incredible emotional and spiritual rewards of being a living donor.
Baseball has become a unique platform for David to inspire stories of hope, raise awareness, and advocate for policies that remove barriers for donors—including financial and workplace support.
Through kindness, advocacy, and storytelling, David’s mission continues to save lives and bring light to the gift of living donation.

📢 Tweetable Quotes

“Well, the Reds have been a tremendous partner in launching Living Donor Awareness games that we've been doing now for three or four years.”
- David Galbenski

“And so what we loved about that was baseball was this perfect vehicle, yes to allow living organ donation to come to life. And then here's the beauty of living organ donation yes tied to baseball, another great metaphor, the ultimate double play.”
- David Galbenski

“I really leaned in my faith on this journey…”
- David Galbenski

“So I call it Realistic positivity, right? Let's embrace life with everything, but let's make sure we're confronting the facts right, acronym head-on, right. But then doing it with optimism, absolutely, doing it with faith, doing it with a desire to say, when I get through this, I'm going to pay it forward.”
- David Galbenski

“And they surveyed 10s of 1000s of people to say what would be the biggest overall kind act that someone could do. The number one overall act of kindness, out of 1692 acts that they surveyed, was giving and becoming a living donor for a friend.”
- David Galbenski

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
39 min
May 13, 2025EP 116: "Full Circle: Interview with Markeyah Lewis on Life, Lupus, and the Gift of a Kidney"
🎙️ Episode Summary
"Full Circle: Interview with Markeyah Lewis on Life, Lupus, and the Gift of a Kidney"
Markeyah Lewis was diagnosed with Lupus, leading to early kidney failure. When her mother wasn’t a direct transplant match, they turned to Advanced Kidney Donation—a life-changing decision that helped Markeyah receive her transplant in 2022. Now a mother and soon-to-be Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Markeyah shares her powerful story of resilience, motherhood, and the miracle of second chances.

✨ Episode Highlights
Andi introduces Markeyah Lewis and invites her to reflect on how they first met four years ago, during her battle with lupus.
Markeyah shares her inspiring story of resilience and hope amid life-altering circumstances.
She describes undergoing hemodialysis during her senior year of college.
Her mother, although not a direct donor match, was determined to help.
Markeyah explains how Advanced Kidney Donation allowed her mother to donate to another person—making Markeyah a priority on the transplant list.
In 2022, her mother donated a kidney to a stranger named Charlie, with whom they still keep in touch.
Andi and Markeyah discuss the importance of honoring the gift of life after a transplant.
Markeyah offers heartfelt advice for those battling chronic illness, emphasizing the importance of a strong support system.
They explore the role of faith in navigating health struggles and finding purpose.
Markeyah shares her deep gratitude for her mother’s selfless act.
She opens up about her pregnancy journey, which was unexpectedly smooth despite the risks associated with lupus and kidney disease.
Markeyah also details her mother’s donation journey and her current health.
She expresses thanks to their medical team and looks forward to becoming an occupational therapist.
The episode concludes with Markeyah reflecting on her first Mother’s Day.

📝 Key Takeaways
Markeyah's story sheds light on the power of organ donation and the impact of Advanced Kidney Donation. Her mother’s courage to donate a kidney to a stranger not only saved a life but also gave Markeyah a new beginning.
Despite the challenges of chronic illness, Markeyah’s journey illustrates the importance of faith, community, and perseverance.
Her experience of motherhood and her educational pursuits underscore the promise of living life fully post-transplant.

📢 Tweetable Quotes
“I believe it's called advanced kidney donation, where she is not able to donate to me, but she is able to donate to someone else who is in need of a transplant, and that essentially makes me a priority.”
- Markeyah Lewis

“So your mom affectionately named her kidney that she donated brown sugar. Yes. So brown sugar is doing well with Charlie.”
- Markeyah Lewis

“And so I think that is like the biggest promise that I can keep, again, to my donor and their family and myself, is just to continue to live my life fully.”
- Markeyah Lewis

“It was often hard for me to imagine what my life would be like, not on dialysis or, you know, not battling a chronic illness. And it may seem simple, but really truly, just don't give up.”
- Markeyah Lewis

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
29 min
April 29, 2025EP 115: "Healing After Loss: Gretchen Starnes on Grief, Hope, and the Gift of Life"
Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Gretchen Starnes, Family Aftercare Manager with Network for Hope (Louisville), an organization that also supports families after the loss of a loved one through organ donation. Gretchen shares the deeply human side of her work—walking with families through the grief process, offering comfort, connection, and compassion in the wake of profound loss. We explore how the gift of life through donation can bring a measure of hope to unimaginable sorrow, and how Gretchen and her team help families navigate that journey with care and grace.
✨ Episode Highlights
Gretchen Starnes discusses her role as a Family Aftercare Manager at Network for Hope.
She describes the Aftercare Department’s mission to support donor families and ensure their needs are met with compassion and understanding.
Gretchen shares her personal journey, beginning as a Family Support Worker and transitioning to Aftercare, highlighting the critical role of empathy in her work.
She reflects on working with grief and the full spectrum of emotions that come with it, reminding us: “There’s nothing wrong with you when you’re grieving.”
Andi asks Gretchen about the myths and misconceptions surrounding grief and bereavement support.
Gretchen explains that support systems often fade after the first year of loss and shares her experience that, for many, the second year is even harder.
The organization offers 15 months of ongoing support through mailings, in-person meetings, and online resources.
Families find healing and comfort in sharing stories, memories, and legacies of their loved ones.
Donor families play a vital role in encouraging and supporting newly bereaved families through direct connections.
Gretchen talks about the emotional challenges donor families face when reaching out to donor recipients and how the organization offers guidance through that process.
They reflect on the powerful impact of the Holiday Honor Walk, which brings donor families together to foster connection, support, and healing.
Gretchen emphasizes the importance of saving lives through organ donation and the value of being surrounded by a strong, supportive community.
She also highlights the importance of self-care, a healthy team environment, and emotional support to navigate the difficulties inherent in this deeply meaningful work.

📝 Key Takeaways
Gretchen Starnes shares insight into her work as a Family Aftercare Manager at Network for Hope and the organization's mission to meet the needs of donor families with compassion.
She and Andi explore the realities of grief, the range of emotions involved, and the common myths and misconceptions about supporting grieving families.
Gretchen explains how donor families approach donor recipients and describes how the donor community's connection fosters healing, hope, and resilience.

📢 Tweetable Quotes
"I think that is the honor that all of us in aftercare have, to walk beside these families during their grief and really establish rapport and relationship with them."
— Gretchen Starnes
"Doing this work really restores my faith in humanity."
— Gretchen Starnes
"There's nothing wrong with you when you're grieving. What you need is someone to walk beside you, to help you take that next breath, the next step, and to help support them."
— Gretchen Starnes
"One of the greatest fears for most people who are grieving is that people will stop saying their loved one's name, or that they will forget those details of their loved ones."
— Gretchen Starnes
"There are moments it's okay to be sad and where we need to cry, and tears are cleansing. Yet we also want to show that hope that comes from the amazing gift that loved one gave, so I think the Honor Walk kind of brings all of those things together."
— Gretchen Starnes

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
45 min
April 15, 2025EP 114: A Heart for Hadlee: A Story of Hope, Healing, and a Grateful Heart with Jon and Felicia Rohman
Episode Summary
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jon and Felicia Rohman to share the remarkable journey of their daughter Hadlee, who underwent a life-saving heart transplant in 2020—right amid a global pandemic. What began as a terrifying health issue became a testimony of faith, resilience, and appreciation for the incredible gift of life. Years later, Hadlee is thriving, healthy, joyful, and full of gratitude. Join us as Andi Johnson interviews the Rohmans, who open up about their challenges, the community that rallied around them, and the beautiful, beating heart of their daughter’s second chance at life.

✨ Episode Highlights
Andi Johnson welcomes Jon and Felicia Rohman, a husband-and-wife team and proud parents of four.

The conversation centers around Hadlee, their third child, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Felicia recounts Hadlee’s birth in 2017 and the significant right-sided heart failure she experienced by late 2019, which made organ donation the only viable option.

Jon discusses the mental and emotional preparation required as they faced the reality of a potential heart transplant.

The couple acted quickly, getting Hadlee placed on the transplant list in January 2020. She received her new heart on May 28, 2020—coincidentally, their son’s birthday.

Jon reflects on the emotional toll of the process, including a failed donation and navigating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Felicia shares the complexity of maintaining infection control while managing the needs of their other children. During this time, Jon resigned from his job to be with Hadlee full-time at the hospital.

Jon honors Felicia’s strength as she worked two jobs—80 hours a week—while homeschooling and caring for their children at home amid the pandemic.

Today, Hadlee is flourishing with a new baby sister and enjoys activities such as swimming, soccer, and dancing.

The Rohmans express deep gratitude to the donor family, highlighting the life-changing impact of the transplant.

Felicia reflects on how their faith sustained them through hardship and the emotional conversations they had with their children.

The couple emphasizes the vital importance of organ donation and the hope it brings to families in need.

Jon encourages other families to lean into their communities and be open to receiving help.

They also speak to the power of social media in spreading Hadlee’s story and building a network of support.

The Rohmans express appreciation for organizations such as Donate Life and Network For Hope for amplifying their journey and giving them a platform to share.

📝 Key Takeaways
The Rohmans candidly share their daughter Hadlee’s powerful story of survival through a heart transplant during the global pandemic.

They reflect on their mental and emotional journey as parents navigating uncertainty, especially at the height of COVID-19.

Their testimony highlights the sacrifices they made, their unwavering faith, and the critical support of their community, family, and social media network.

Tweetable Quotes:
“At the beginning of 2020, she started to have a pretty significant right-sided heart failure. So really, at that point, our only hope was organ donation and transplant.” - Felicia Rohman
“They said she was one of the quickest to be put on the transplant list — So January, 2020, and then she actually had her transplant, May 28 of 2020, which is ironically our son's birthday.” - Felicia Rohman
“I don't think I fully appreciated everything that she (Felicia) was doing while I was in the hospital with Hadlee. But with me having quit my job, she was working two jobs, 80 hours a week, with the other two kids at home, navigating COVID, and then having to do homeschooling, and everything else in that capacity.” - Jon Rohman
“There were a lot of tears on the way back home because they didn't understand the full magnitude of everything that was going on. But yeah, I think just supporting each other and just kind of trying to maintain some sense of normalcy through things with our faith, it is really kind of what got us through.” - Felicia Rohman
“It just gives hope, not only to the recipient families, but as those things are going on, hope that something better can come out of it and and to just be able to acknowledge that you can see good following a storm.” - Felicia Rohman

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
27 min
April 01, 2025EP 113: "Living in the Moment: Zach Wells on Overcoming Adversity and the Gift of Hope"
Episode Summary
In this inspiring episode, Zach Wells a TV sports anchor shares his incredible journey of receiving a kidney donation from his brother. Zach opens up about the unexpected news that his kidney was failing and the challenges he faced battling kidney disease, and the profound lessons he learned about hope, resilience, and the importance of prioritizing health. Tune in as Zach offers a raw and honest conversation about overcoming adversity and the power of family, health, and seizing the moment.

Episode Highlights
Zach Wells was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2007 and experienced a gradual decline in kidney function before receiving a transplant in 2018.
He recalls the moment he first learned something was wrong—his wife left him a message from a business trip, urging him to check his test results after his doctor raised concerns about his creatinine levels.
Determined to manage his condition, Zach relied on diet, exercise, and medication but ultimately knew that a transplant was the best path forward.
Before his diagnosis, Zach was a self-proclaimed workaholic, often neglecting his health in favor of his career. He later realized that without prioritizing his well-being, his time was limited.
He reflects on the physical toll of kidney disease—the fatigue, nausea, and other symptoms—while balancing parenthood and work responsibilities.
Throughout his journey, Zach found unwavering support from his wife, Caroline, and his family, which made all the difference.
His brother turned out to be a perfect donor match, bringing renewed hope and gratitude.
Zach discusses the emotional and physical impact of his illness, the dedication of his medical team, and the perspective he gained through this experience.
Inspired by Zach’s story, Andi sheds light on the kidney transplant crisis and the need for greater awareness about living donors.
Prospective donors undergo rigorous screening, but their generosity can transform the lives of over 100,000 people currently on the transplant waitlist.
When asked for advice to men facing kidney disease or dialysis, Zach encourages them to stay present, be patient, and stay committed to their medical care and fitness routines.
He highlights the importance of hope, scientific advancements, and the skilled professionals who make transplants possible.
Zach expresses deep gratitude for his transplant surgeon, doctors, and everyone who played a role in his recovery.

Key Takeaways
Zach’s journey with kidney disease began in 2007, leading to a transplant in 2018.
His initial reluctance to seek medical care due to work commitments taught him a valuable lesson about balance and self-care.
The support of his family, medical team, and a generous kidney donation from his brother gave him a second chance at life. He now finds joy in the little things and is committed to raising awareness about kidney disease and transplantation.

Tweetable Quotes:
“So about managing the disease, doing everything I could to be as healthy as I could, drink as much water as I could, have the best diet that I possibly could, knowing that probably the chances of this reversing, the chances of this having a better outcome, were not going to be a very high so it's a long road.” - Zach Wells
“I think transplants really reward the patient. They reward the dutiful, they reward the optimistic.” - Zach Wells
“I was a workaholic. All I thought about was work. And I thought that I can't deal with this or go to the doctor, because that's going to interfere with my work schedule. But I learned very quickly that if I didn't get balance and prioritize this as another full-time job, that I wasn't going to be around very long.” - Zach Wells
“I was not feeling well at all. I was run down. I had like, bags under my eyes. I would randomly sweat, I felt nauseous.” - Zach Wells
“I think that that's one of the many areas where I've been so lucky, is just having an incredible support network of people that have really helped me. That's amazing.” - Zach Wells
“What I want to do is, like, really draw attention to the fact that this is an incredibly solvable problem. Yes, like the people that are waiting, like, the waiting list is over 100,000.” - Zach Wells

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
33 min
March 18, 2025EP 112: Building Legacy: Means Cameron on Entrepreneurship, Community, and Organ Donation
Episode Summary
In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson interviews Means Cameron, a successful entrepreneur from Cincinnati and the founder of the clothing brand BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear. Means shares the inspiration behind launching BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear in 2011, influenced by his cultural experiences and the importance of representation. He discusses the significance of community ownership, legacy, and his personal connection to organ donation.
Cameron highlights the impact of organ donors on his friends' lives, including a fraternity brother who received a kidney transplant. He also addresses common misconceptions about organ donation within the Black community, emphasizing the need for education, trust, and personal storytelling to make the topic more relatable.
The discussion underscores the power of local narratives in raising awareness about organ donation and encourages open conversations within families and communities.
Episode Highlights
Origins of BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear: Means Cameron shares how the brand was born out of his desire to embrace identity, cultural heritage, and community pride.
Meaning Behind the Brand Name: "BlaCkOWned™ wasn’t just about a Black-owned business—it was about owning who we are as a people, our culture."
Legacy and Impact: Means expresses his vision for his legacy: "Fostering Black creativity and dialogue, and showing people they have options."
Connection to Organ Donation:
Means discusses his personal experiences with organ donation, including friends and family members who have received transplants.
He highlights the challenges of mistrust and misinformation about organ donation in the Black community.
Addressing Misconceptions:
Many individuals fear that becoming an organ donor could put their lives at risk in medical settings.
In reality, only 1% of registered organ donors pass in a way that allows for organ donation, while thousands remain on transplant waiting lists.
The Importance of Storytelling: Means emphasizes the need to humanize the organ donation process by sharing real-life experiences to build trust and awareness.
Encouraging Open Dialogue:
Andi asks Means how he would approach someone hesitant about organ donation.
Means stresses the importance of respecting different perspectives while sharing personal experiences to help others make informed decisions.
Final Reflections: Andi expresses gratitude for the meaningful discussion and appreciates Means’ insights on business, legacy, and organ donation advocacy.

Key Takeaways:
Means Cameron’s journey as an entrepreneur reflects his deep commitment to identity, community, and legacy.
His personal experiences with organ donation have fueled his advocacy for increasing awareness and addressing misconceptions.
Andi and Means then dig deeper into educating ourselves and others about how organ donation can help address mistrust and save lives and the importance of humanizing the organ donation process by sharing personal stories and the faces who make it more relatable and trustworthy.

Tweetable Quotes:
“Cincinnati needed something for the culture, something that spoke to our culture, to give us something to be proud about, to speak about our heritage, and for not to just be in private rooms, but for us to be able to take it out into the world. “ - Means Cameron
“So the idea of BlaCkOWned™ came out of me, wanting to have ownership of who I am and never losing it.” - Means Cameron
“And so BlaCkOWned™ wasn't just about a black-owned business. It was about owning who we are as a people, our culture and the name black owned, just came to me. “ - Means Cameron
“One of the most challenging things in our community is that we believe that if we become organ donors, that someone is going to take our organs if we ever are sick or in a doctor's bed and our life is on the line.” - Means Cameron
“ I guess the best thing I can do for anyone that is on the fence is just to share with them my own experiences. “ - Means Cameron

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.
https://aopo.org/
32 min
March 11, 2025 EP 111: Día Nacional del Donante y Salud del Corazón (National Donor Day and Heart Health)
This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago on La Mega.
This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and
the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation.

Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://aopo.org/
9 min

About This Thing Called Life

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This Thing Called Life is a podcast dedicated to acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson introduces you to powerful organ, tissue, and eye donation stories from…

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