Life Stories

Organ, eye, and tissue transplants transform lives. They save people who are dying, restore sight, turn loss into hope, and forge profound bonds between total strangers.

The stories on this page will introduce some of the people who make up America’s diverse transplant community.

Read on to learn more about these special transplant recipients, donor families, and living donors. These people are living proof of the incredible truth: organ, eye, and tissue transplants change lives.

Featured Story

Texas

Carlee

Two-Time Heart Recipient & Donor

“Yes, you can have two heart transplants but you can do whatever you want to do, or be who you want to be.”

See Carlee's Story

Karma is a big deal. If you sign up as an organ donor, it would be a good deed.

“I feel very proud of my son...The light was shining on him. He was a giver who gave to the very end.” – Malani

Adrianne looks at the camera and smiles

“There literally is that constant reminder in my chest that I’m here because of someone else.”

“I literally have a second chance at life.” - AJ

Alan looks to the side and smiles

Thanks to a second cornea transplant, Alan no longer has to live in fear.

Alanna smiles while looking off-camera.

“Mom, you can’t go yet, you’re going to be a grandma,” Alanna’s son told her as she lay on a hospital bed.

“Thanks to their gift, he now has the opportunity to see the world and all its beauty.” — Alejandro’s family

Alisa

"Receiving a kidney will do more than restore me to health. It will mean freedom."

"The real heroes are the donor families. I look at it this way: there could have been two tragedies, but my donor family turned their tragedy into a blessing. I’m forever grateful." — Amelia

America is a two-time kidney recipient

“No one knows when they may die, but when you go, you can leave a legacy.” — Tribhawan, Anand’s Father

Angel smiles at the camera next to a dog and a smiling man.

“People feel like I’ve taken something out of me, but really I’ve gained something completely immeasurable that no one can ever take away from me.”

Angelo and a woman sit in a booth together, arms around each other, smiling at the camera.

“I’m grateful to be alive. Every day is a gift.”

Anne’s donation transformed the lives of several recipients and their families. In gratitude, she was named a “Star of Life.”

Aretha, wearing glasses, looks at the camera, smiling.

“Life is a gift. Gifts are meant to be given if someone has another chance at life.” – Aretha

In his death, BJ gave life to 4 other people.

One person can save eight lives and improve 50 others.

“Brandon was a giving person. This was his last gift.” — Constance

I wouldn’t be able to do anything that I do today without my donor and her family.

“I could hear him telling me, 'Mom, are you serious? If I could help 70 people, of course I would.'” – Megan, Brennon’s mother

“I know that I am not just reaching my goals, but your goals as well.” — Brittany

“Say yes, check the box and tell your family. You have the chance to do something great.”

District of Columbia

After receiving a new kidney, Caleb now enjoys T-ball and “all things superheroes.”

“Yes, you can have two heart transplants but you can do whatever you want to do, or be who you want to be.”

Thanks to Carlton’s gift, a 69-year-old woman suffering from end-stage liver disease is alive and is progressing well.

Cecil

"If Cecil could be a donor at 95, there is no reason for anyone else not to step up and take the step to be an organ donor."

“I had two kidneys. I gave away one...one healthy kidney...I did what I wanted to do and what I had to do as a husband.” – Cesar

"Your well-being changes from loss of hope...to hope...to better times ahead."

“The giving of oneself is just the ultimate way of saying thank you for being created.” — Christina

“It’s like I’ve been given my life back. Literally. My children are grateful. My family is grateful. I’m grateful.”

Rosa and Francisco decided to donate Daisy’s organs, a decision that helps them deal with their pain to this day.

“As our family began the Honor Walk, the choirs followed, and their voices filled the halls.” – Dexter, Dalton’s father

Dan got a life-saving kidney through living donation.

“Words can’t express how that act of selflessness has transformed me and gives me a new lease on life.”

“I'm looking at myself, what was left of me, but I still had my mind. So everything told me to fight so my son could have his father." – Daniel

Danielle and Jonah

Danielle and Jonah

“Your children are a part of you,” says Danielle. For son Jonah, receiving a part of his mom’s liver proved to be a lifesaver.

Derek wears a hat and looks at the camera with a small smile.

“I’m taking care of this heart.”

“As a physician, our mother had cared for so many people. This last gift she made is an everlasting testament to her character.” — the family of Dr. Daw

“With his donation, five lives have been saved. He did a great thing.” — Bernice, Ernest’s Wife

“Estevan was the best child anybody could have. He never met a stranger. He was an angel and a gentleman. It was an honor being his mother.” – Rosie, Estevan’s mother

“That’s what I wanted to do. Not for Steve, not for anybody else. It was for me, period. There was never any doubt.” – Faith

Febronio

"My brother had such a light when he was born," his sister says, adding that his light continues to shine on thanks to his donations.

“I'd either drop dead or I’d have a normal life. I was so tired of waiting, so sick of being in the hospital. Whatever happened, I wouldn’t be sick anymore.” – Frank

For Gabriel, the gift of life included the gift of a childhood that he enjoys to the fullest.

In his wife Deborah’s words, he was “a wonderful husband and a very humble man.”

“The reason why I'm [promoting organ and tissue donation] is because I was able to get a second life. This is my way to give back because I am living, from here it will catch on.” — George

Glenn comes from a long line of boxing professionals. But waiting for his kidney was the most challenging fight of his life.

The onset of a rare blood condition eroded Haley’s quality of life in every way, until a five-organ transplant sent her spinning in a new direction.

Henry

“Your legacy can live on with organ donation.” – Audrey, Henry’s sister

“The need for transplantation can affect anyone—young, old, male, and female in any ethnic or cultural group.” — Janet

Jazzy

“You have an opportunity to honor the life that you cherished with your loved one — to make a difference in another life and find peace.” – Mark, Jasmine’s father

“We are so grateful … we want to express our deepest appreciation to the donor’s parents.” — Jason’s parents

Tanyice and Clarence are honoring their daughter Jazmyne’s spirit of giving by establishing programs and community events that promote organ donation.

A loving daughter is inspired by her father’s gift of life.

John Kristy

“He’s in people’s memories, he’s in people’s lives, and it affects so much more than me. He lives on.” — John’s daughter, Kristy

Staying true to his generous spirit, Johnny’s mother donated his corneas and tissues.

“I’ve seen the lowest of lows. The only thing you can do is be positive.” – Kathryn

“We think of Kelly’s donor family and thank them in our hearts every day.” — Cathy, Kelly’s mother

“After four months of waiting, he received the call. ‘I was so excited, because it gave me hope. Hope to see my sons grow up and spend more time with my wife and family...” – Kelvin

Ken won three swimming medals at the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and now competes in triathlons.

“What an amazing gift that mother would give to me and my family. I will be forever grateful.” — Khalieghya's mother

Klarissa has participated in two National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and speaks on the importance of organ donation.

A toddler, Leah, smiles and waves at the camera.

“At just 8 weeks, we knew only a transplant could save our baby’s life.”

“To us, every day is an ice cream sundae with a great big glop of whipped cream and a cherry on top. We are alive. We are here and we thank you, thank you, thank you." — Linda

“Manuel has taught me a lot about courage. Life goes on and he goes on with it.” — CoCo, Manuel’s caregiver

Marshall looks at the camera, a blue sky behind him.

“I kept asking myself how someone who doesn’t even know me could become an altruistic donor?”

World champion martial arts competitor May continues her winning ways with an allograft transplant.

Mikey

“What an amazing gift that I can still have a part of my son available to me anytime, even with the people that I haven't met yet.” Courtney, Michael’s Mother

The family has continued to give back to their community as LifeGift Vital Volunteers

“When I was at my sickest, I felt there was no hope left for me. Now I provide hope to those who are waiting for the gift of life.” — Mireya

When Texas passed organ donation legislation, Nicholas and his mother were present to celebrate donors and their families.

Oyni

"I hope that my donor’s family knows I’m running for them. I hope it eases their pain a bit by knowing their child or loved one is in me."

“I feel, as I’m sure many recipients do, a drive and responsibility to use this phenomenal gift to its fullest; to use it not only to benefit my own life, but the lives of others." — Patrick

“Through donation, we have found peace. Rhonda is our beautiful guardian angel.”

Ricardo and Yadira stand together against an event backdrop.

Ricardo & Yadira

“You gave that second chance to me and my family, and I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.” Ricardo thanks his sister, Yadira.

Robert's high school senior portrait; Robert looks off camera and smiles.

“I thank God that I said yes [to organ donation] as Robbie was able to save five lives.”

Robin looks at the camera and smiles.

“I’m very proud of my son, very proud of his vision, and he understood more than me,” says the mother of Junior, an organ donor. “He knew what he was doing.”

“I want to sign up the most people in the United States. That’s my goal.”

Ryan, standing next to his smiling mother, smiles at the camera.

“Even though I lost my mom, I would 1,000% do it again. I have no regrets about doing it.”

“I can’t tell you how wonderful my life has become. An organ donor truly saves lives and gives hope.” — Sabrina

"As a family, this is our story. I have to embrace it. I want to have the legacy of Lucas live on.”— Mona

Sarah & Cameron

After a fatal car accident, Sarah’s son Cameron saved and restored over 20 lives. His gifts even helped his mother heal.

Sisters, Savannah and Kayla.

Savannah & Kayla

A pair of siblings gave life to more than 100 others, thanks to organ and tissue donations.

“Thanks to my sister, Claudia, I am alive today and doing what I love to do most: helping others.” — Sergio

“Shutong’s donor, Matthew, saved other lives indirectly. One woman made the decision to become a donor when she heard Shutong’s story.” — Shutong’s mother

“Without that mother and her now ten-year-old daughter, my story would be quite different. So life is good once again.” — Stephen

“It’s an incredible gift, and there’s no age limit on who can give, and who can’t.”

Talea smiles at the camera with her hand on her chin

Talea & Lakisha

“My daughter was a miracle child. I try to honor her gifts every day.”

Life Stories: Tony

"There are so many people who die each day waiting for a chance at life. And I've run into so many donor families who are so proud of that last gift.”

Walter

“Even though we lost a husband, father, grandfather and a friend, the heavens gained an angel.”

Following her lifesaving kidney transplant, Yatska became a volunteer for LifeLink of Puerto Rico.