Iowa Methodist Transplant Center

04/30/2026

Today is the last day of Donate Life Month 2026. Thank you for taking the time to read our stories this month - we are honored and grateful that so many families allow us to share the legacy that their loved ones have left behind - what they meant to this world and what donation means to their family. You can find the following story, as well as over 150 more, in the Wall of Heros. You can visit the wall in person on the Methodist campus, or access it on line. For more information reach out to meg.rodriguez@unitypoint.org
And if you want to be a donation champion - encourage others to put a Yes on their license and/or consider being a living donor!

Our Hero Story today is Carol Haywork, submitted by her son.

Carol said she was shy growing up and hardly said a word. She certainly outgrew that. She loved to talk to people about anything. She would drum up a conversation with complete strangers anywhere. She would sometimes learn their life story. She said she wasn't being nosey, people just tell me things. lol. When she was going through rehab at Lutheran, she made friends with the staff. She would tell them that she loved them because she felt love from them in their care. She would be so happy she could help people through the donor network and I , as her son, find some peace knowing she did so.

04/28/2026

Today's Hero submission is Destanne Campbell - we appreciate her family sharing her story. Because Destanne put a yes on her license they were able to follow her wishes and her legacy will live on through the lives of 2 recipients. You can also see her story in the Wall of Heroes on the Iowa Methodist Campus.

Late in the evening on February 21, 2025, we learned that our precious Destanne Ann Marie Campbell 23 yrs old, had taken her own life. In the very early hours of February 22, it was confirmed that she was no longer with us.

In the midst of our shock and grief, the Iowa Donor Network discovered that Destanne had chosen to be an organ donor. With the little time we had before we had to let her go, preparations began to determine what gifts she would be able to give.

Destanne was a deeply caring person who loved giving to others from the kindness of her heart. It was only fitting that even in her final moments, she continued to give. Two recipients — a 22 year old young man and an older woman — received the gift of life through the donation of her kidneys.

Knowing that parts of her live on in others is the greatest comfort our family could ever receive.

Destanne’s presence on this earth has left a tremendous void in the hearts of her family and friends. They cherish her memories, hold her close, and miss her dearly.

04/27/2026

As we wind down Donate Life Month, we will have a few more stories to share with you from the submissions this year for the Wall of Heroes, housed here on the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children's Hospital campus.

Eli Smith -
Eli was a healthy and active 11-year-old until he passed away due to an acute illness in April 2024.

While losing Eli has been the most difficult experience our family has faced, the decision to donate Eli's organs was surprisingly easy for us to make. We knew Eli could offer hope to those in need and felt it was important to say “yes” because we were given the opportunity. We've learned Eli was able to help five people through the gift of his heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Eli’s donation has brought us comfort in our grief and is a source of pride to those who knew him.

When our family was asked to share a few words about Eli with the transplant teams ahead of his donation surgery, we felt these were the ones that described him best: competitive, inquisitive, cheerful, compassionate, loving, thoughtful, and brave. We now add another word to that list when describing him to others- superhero.

04/24/2026

https://who13.com/hello-iowa/the-importance-of-living-kidney-donation/

There are many misconceptions about organ donation, but you don’t have to wait to change someone’s life. Dr. Monica Rebielak of Iowa Methodist Transplant Center talks about the importance of …

04/22/2026

Today's hero is Adaline "Addey" Baltzley-Pace. This is her family's story for her page on the Wall of Heroes:

“Adaline Malaya Baltzley-Pace, 8, passed away at her home on May 9, 2025 from Pneumonia surrounded by her family. She was able to give the gift of organ donation and her family is thankful that Addey can live on in the lives she was able to help.

She was born August 5, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Addey attended Crocker Elementary School. Addey was not a big fan of the outdoors, but loved having tea parties, listening to stories, and being read to from the comfort of the indoors. She loved being goofy and was a major daddy’s girl. Addey brought joy to everyone she met and will be missed deeply.”

04/22/2026

Donor Remembrance Day 🥀

Donor Families or Recipients who are in contact with their donor families - this is a chance to honor your hero! It's a short form to honor them in a national virtual garden of heros!

🌼 Honor Your Donor Hero on Donor Remembrance Day 🌼
April 30 is Donor Remembrance Day, a national observance dedicated to honoring and celebrating organ and tissue Donor Heroes and the lives they touched.

To recognize this special day, donor families, transplant recipients, and community members are invited to “plant” a forget-me-not flower dedication in AOPO’s Virtual Donor Hero Garden by completing a short online form. Each dedication serves as a meaningful tribute to the lasting legacy of Donor Heroes across the country.

As a thank you for participating, you will receive a packet of forget-me-not flower seeds in the mail to plant this spring, a living symbol of remembrance and the life transforming impact of donation.

You can visit the Virtual Donor Hero Garden to view tributes from across the country here:
aopo.org/donor-remembrance-day/
If you would like to submit a dedication and honor your loved one, please complete the short form here:
aopo.org/donor-remembrance-day/remember-your-hero/

04/22/2026

Keep an eye/ear out for Dr. Rebielak's interview today on Hello Iowa!

What a great meeting tonight! Thank you to everyone who came. A special thank you to Dr. Monica Rebielak, Transplant Surgeon at Iowa Methodist Transplant Center, for being our guest speaker tonight. She has such a passion for what she does and you can tell that right when you meet her. She gave us a very insightful account of the transplant process. We were so lucky to have her speak! She will be on Hello Iowa tomorrow on WHO13News at 11am speaking about Donate Life month and organ donation. You’ll have to give it a listen.

04/21/2026

This family not only found the strength and grace to help others through the act of organ donation, they are also giving back to Blank Children's Hospital through a foundation they started in their son, Archie's, honor.

04/21/2026

This week is National Pediatric Transplant Week. In honor of that we will be sharing some new pediatric donor stories this week. Stay tuned for our first story coming out this afternoon.

04/17/2026

Coming in May! Iowa Methodist Transplant Center is excited to be headed to Dyersville, IA, for a special day of connection, community, and purpose as we join some amazing folks to raise awareness about living organ donation!
Wanna Have a Catch Day | Living Donor Awareness Game May 9, 2026 at the Field of Dreams Movie Site!
⚾ Every throw
⚾ Every catch
⚾ Every conversation
…it all makes a difference ❤️
Be part of the special event: https://charity.pledgeit.org/wannahaveacatchday050926

04/17/2026

We are halfway through Donate life Month!
If you haven't already, check out the Fauna 10K at Fauna - Transplant Support - it's a great way to get involved!