2020 Episodes: 125 - 150

Release Date: 12/18/2020

Show Notes: We talk to kidney and pancreas recipient Nic Whitacre who talks about his harrowing journey to the gift of life and a cure to his Type 1 diabetes. His hero is Chris Gregory, whose story was documented by his father in a book and on our podcast. His story has been translated to the silver screen through the movie 2 Hearts. We give tips for living with different, varying opinions and personalities, plus honor hero, Reese Gorman.

Release Date: 12/04/2020

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.

Release Date: 11/20/2020

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.

Release Date: 11/06/2020

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.

Release Date: 10/23/2020

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.

Release Date: 10/09/2020

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.

Release Date: 9/25/2020

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.

Release Date: 9/11/2020

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.

Release Date: 8/28/2020

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.

Release Date: 8/14/2020

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.

Release Date: 7/31/2020

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.

Release Date: 7/17/2020

Show Notes: Transplantation Science is an educational program that delves into the biology and science behind donation and transplantation. We talk with Ken and Anne from Donor Alliance, the organization who created the program. Remarkably, this story begins with Ken telling us how he was NOT a proponent for donation. Hear why he changed his mind and has since educated thousands of students about the importance of organ and tissue donation using the Transplantation Science program. Then learn tips for giving yourself a nudge in the right direction, plus we honor Donor Alliance hero, Kenzie Kingry.

Release Date: 7/03/2020

Show Notes: Can donation cure type 1 diabetes? You don't want to miss this story filled with love and resilience! On episode 138, Kristine Neal from We Are Sharing Hope South Carolina joins our hosts to chat about their work in South Carolina. Kristine is joined by volunteer and pancreas recipient, Kim Perkins, who has been cured of type 1 diabetes and is living life to the fullest thanks to the gift of life. Sara offers tips for combating panic attacks during our moment for mental health, and we honor South Carolina hero Keegan.

Release Date: 6/19/2020

Show Notes: Glenna and Amanda Frey are the mother and daughter power team who founded the non-profit Kidney Donor Conversations. They are using their career backgrounds and personal experiences with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) to help educate the public about living kidney donation and make it easier to understand. Sara explains toxic positivity and we honor hero Timothy Thompson.

Release Date: 6/05/2020

Show Notes: Have you ever seen something about donation on TV and thought, no, that’s wrong? Donate Life Hollywood’s founder, Tenaya Wallace, tells us about the Donate Life Hollywood Activate App. Through this app (available in the Apple or Google Play app stores) people can respond immediately to a negative storyline, support a positive storyline, learn about casting opportunities, upload real-life stories and much more. Then we talk about resiliency, especially during the pandemic, and honor hero, Jarred Brown, on episode 136.

Release Date: 5/22/2020

Show Notes: Our friend Chuck Stinson from MORA, Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, is our guest host, sharing a special story about an organ donor from Mississippi. Chuck welcomes David Wilbanks, father of Walker Wilbanks, who explains how a brief conversation about his son’s decision to be a donor impacted five different communities. We also honor Walker in the hero segment and answer a question about the Mississippi donor registry.

Release Date: 5/08/2020

Show Notes: On this episode, we welcome Lisa Bradshaw to hear about her own connection to transplantation and the inspiration behind her Don’t Wait Project. She calls DON'T WAIT stories, the nouns in life: the people, places, things and ideas despite the obstacles. We share tips for coping during the Coronavirus pandemic, listen to a special voicemail from a familiar voice, and honor hero Kelsey Bagwell.

Release Date: 4/24/2020

Show Notes: Our friend Chuck Stinson from MORA, Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, guest hosts with Lori to share a special story with us. Mary Margaret Hyer, Miss Mississippi 2019, joins to share her unique connection to organ, tissue and eye donation which became her platform, Advocate, Celebrate, Donate. Then they honor a hero from their state, Danielle “Bay Bay” Bryant, and answer a question they hear often from Mississippians.

Release Date: 4/10/2020

Show Notes: On episode 132 we talk to our friend, colleague, professional athlete and two-time heart recipient, Simon Keith. Simon worked at Nevada Donor Network and now leads the Simon Keith Foundation, aiming to provide financial support primarily to kids who had a life-saving organ transplant and have a desire to return to an active lifestyle. Then, a mental health moment to discuss the difference between being selfish and self aware. We honor Nevada Donor Network hero, Michael “Mikey” Sigler, and answer one of your questions on The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 3/27/2020

Show Notes: On episode 131, we chat with our friends at Gift of Hope in Illinois. CEO, Kevin Cmunt tells us how Gift of Hope is supporting donor families and about his role as Chief Storyteller. Then Kevin introduces us to a dynamic couple, the Grobmeiers, who created the Maddog Strong Foundation after their daughter, Maddie “Maddog” Grobmeier became a donor. The Grobmeier family uses Maddog’s story to inspire teens to have a conversation about organ and tissue donation. We discuss tips for coping with anger and shame within intimate relationships, we honor hero Maddie “Maddog” Grobmeier and answer a listener’s question here on The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 3/13/2020

Show Notes: On episode 130, we welcome our friend, Remonia Chapman from Gift of Life Michigan to gab about their campaign, Let’s Talk. This program was created to spark conversations and build a culture of trust within African-American, Arab-American and Latinx communities. Then we discuss managing workplace stress, honor Michigan hero, Emilio DeFoe, and answer your question here on The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 2/28/2020

Show Notes: On episode 129, we welcome award winning community activist and organizer, Melvin Giles, to hear his story about blowing bubbles and touching hearts in Minnesota. Melvin’s loved one, Mary Salter, became a donor and is our honored hero in this episode. Learn how he’s using her memory to inspire peace and ease people's concerns about becoming an organ, tissue and eye donor with some help from our friends at LifeSource. In our Mental Health Moment, we discuss how men grieve and then answer a question about the waiting list.

Release Date: 2/14/2020

Show Notes: February 14th is National Donor Day and what better way to celebrate than to welcome our friend Andrew Mullins, COO at Lifeline of Ohio to talk about how one registered donor left his legacy of life while sparking two landmark milestones in the US: the first adult to donate his heart after circulatory death and also the first to give six organs after circulatory death (also known as DCD). Don’t miss the details of this breakthrough in organ recovery. Then we learn how conflict can benefit a relationship and honor Lifeline of Ohio’s hero, Justice Yoder on episode 128 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 1/31/2020

Show Notes: Two sisters used their grief to spark a chain of events impacting numerous lives when they started a living donor chain. Listen to Hannah and Bethany Goralski’s story of hope and giving to learn how it all started. We offer tips for navigating tough times using effective coping mechanisms, and then we honor hero Scott Fornea on this powerful episode of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 1/17/2020

Show Notes: Over the course of his life, Steven Taibbi, has endured multiple heart surgeries including two heart transplants. Like so many organ recipients, he’s struggled with survivor’s guilt, and penned a book, Grateful Guilt: Living in the Shadow of My Heart. Steven’s story of determination will inspire you to overcome your own struggles. Sara offers tips for cementing connections while being vulnerable, and we honor hero, Travis Buzzard, all here on episode 126 of The Gifted Life Podcast.

Release Date: 1/03/2020

Show Notes: 25 years later, we connect with Reg Green, father of Nicholas Green, to hear in his own words how his son’s story had a global impact, and continues to inspire others to register to be organ, tissue and eye donors. Sara shares tips for transforming how to deal with stressors. Then, in our honoring a hero segment, Reg Green rejoins us to share more about his son Nicholas Green and we get an intimate look at the little boy behind the movement.