Mid-America Transplant

05/23/2026

“Out of all my scars, this is my favorite one. It’s shaped like a puzzle piece. I could have died at any time from insulin resistance. Now I’m diabetes-free. No more insulin for me.

Thank you for my new pancreas. Thank you to my donor, who gave this as a final gift. Thank you to the hospital for my care.

Please be an organ donor. Take care of yourself and your health for those who love you.”

—Destiny

05/22/2026

It is our privilege to be part of episode two of Gifted the Docuseries. Thank you to Robert Horsey and the team at Gifted Productions, LLC for highlighting our work and for honoring organ, eye, and tissue donor heroes and their families.

Through personal stories of three donor families, “Gifted” aims to inspire viewers to register.

05/22/2026

"In October of 2016 I had a routine knee replacement. I’d never had a problem with prior surgeries, never had an issue with my liver and was in great health going into surgery. Within days, my husband wasn’t able to wake me up. After an overnight stay in ICU at my local hospital, I was flown to the university hospital.

When I got my liver I was in multi-organ failure and only had hours to live. Thankfully, a matching liver was found and it saved my life with little time to spare. It was a long and grueling recovery with lots of ups and downs. My donor lives on in me and there are few words to express how grateful I am to my donor and their family."

—Diana

05/21/2026

"Thank you to organ donors and their families for making those decisions. I received a donated kidney in January 2003. Fingers crossed, I’m still kicking. Organ donation saves lives."

—Nancy W.

05/20/2026

"As an organ recipient, I did write my donor’s mother. It was incredibly difficult to do. Even for the recipient, transplant is trauma. Please forgive them if they never write, but know they are extremely grateful.

This is the letter I wrote:

‘Greetings to the family of a life giver! May the peace and comfort I now feel be yours, also.

I am in a debt of gratitude to both my donor and his/her family for the life that I have been given. I know your loss has been great. I pray for you often.

I received my new liver on September 18th. I now call that my 'second birthday'! My recovery has been excellent. After only a few short months I am walking several miles a day, doing some light office work, and enjoying my family. I am no longer jaundiced and sick. I feel 'good'. I am blessed.

Because of my donor’s gift, I will be able to fulfill the many roles of my life. As a son, I will be able to foster my parents as needed into old age. As a husband, my wife is not a widow and will have me to love and provide for her. As a father, I will finish raising my two teenage daughters, pay for their educations, and hopefully know grandchildren one day. As a child of God I will continue in the ministry and service He has allotted for me to do.

It is your decision if we communicate further. I am willing to correspond as you feel the need or desire. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can help. I understand either way.

For 'our' liver and the myriad of blessings that continue to flow from the gift of my new life, both my family and I thank you!

May God bless and keep you always.’"

—Steve

05/19/2026

At age 25, Maria was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive kidney disease. After two decades of battling the disease, her kidneys eventually went into complete failure.

She was referred to the Mayo Clinic to begin the process of evaluation and placement on the kidney transplant waiting list. After a procedure to remove a mass on her right kidney, Maria started daily dialysis treatments. Her sister traveled from North Carolina to be with her and shared Maria's story on social media, asking friends and family to consider becoming a living donor. A cousin they had never met reached out after seeing the message.

Maria's transplant took place in June of 2022. The surgery was successful, and because of her cousin's generosity, Maria was given a second chance at life.

"Today, I am blessed to be here, healthy and able to enjoy life again. My son will graduate from high school [this month], and I look forward to watching him build a beautiful future. This journey taught me that miracles are real, that family can arrive in unexpected ways, and that a single act of love can save a life." 💙💚

Story via Maria and Donate Life America

05/19/2026

This month, we joined the Springfield Cardinals in honoring donor heroes and their families, celebrating transplant recipients, and supporting those waiting for the gift of life. The first pitch was thrown by the family of Lillie Hicks, a devoted wife and mother, whose kindness and quiet strength touched everyone she met.

It is our privilege to connect with families in Springfield and to share more about the impact one person can have as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. 💙💚

05/18/2026

"Today I celebrate life! Forty years ago, I was given a second chance through a lifesaving liver transplant. Because of one selfless decision, I have been able to live four more decades filled with love, family, memories, laughter, challenges and countless blessings.

My donor's name was Kevin. He was only 18 years old when he passed away. In the midst of unimaginable grief, his family chose to give the gift of life, and I became one of the people forever changed by that generosity.

There are no words big enough to express my gratitude. I carry Kevin's gift with me every single day. I think of the life he never got to fully live, and I honor him by cherishing the life I was able to continue because of him.

Today is not only a celebration of survival, but a remembrance of a young man whose legacy lives on through others.

Thank you, Kevin, for 40 beautiful years. You will never be forgotten. God bless you!"

—Colleen D.

05/17/2026

"I was a pediatric ICU nurse for more than 22 years until I faced a medical emergency myself. Rushed to the hospital, I spent two weeks in the ICU. My kidneys shut down, and I began my life journey as a dialysis patient. Lost in my tragedy, I wanted to quit.
But then one day I received the call from the transplant center on Oct. 3, 2025, at 11:21 a.m. I was told this kidney was from a young man in his early 20s, very healthy and strong. I have cried many tears for this young man and his family. I am thankful for his gift and heartbroken at the same time.

I have two sons in the same age range. I don’t know what I would do if I lost them and had to make the decision to donate their organs. I would, because they have told me they would want to help others live.

I don’t know who my donor is or where he is from. I don’t even know if his family will ever see this, but I so want to say thank you for giving me life. I promise to care for this kidney as long as I have life. THANK YOU 💕."

—Jeannette L.

05/16/2026

“On May 4, 2012, it was anything but ordinary. At 4 p.m., my husband and I were getting ready to leave when two sheriffs came up my driveway. All I said was, ‘Which one of my boys is in trouble?’ They asked if I was Greg's mom. They asked to come in. We sat in the living room when one proceeded to tell me that Greg was in an accident. In my mind, I prayed that he was in the hospital. My prayers weren’t wrong, but he was in the morgue.

My life, as well as my oldest son’s life, changed.

When I was contacted by the organ procurement organization (OPO) about tissue donation, I said that I needed to contact his dad, my ex, to see if he would like to do this. He said 'yes'. They called back, and I gave them permission. I went through all their questions to the best of my knowledge.

I chose to have him cremated. Since he was such an outdoorsman, we placed his ashes in a goose decoy, since he wouldn’t fit in a duck. I hated finding out from his girlfriend Ashley that he had asked her dad for permission to marry her. Coming from a 23-year-old, chivalry isn’t dead.

I have only heard from two recipients, for his cornea and a tendon graft. I have received a list of where his donations all went. Greg was always a person who helped others, whether asked or jumping in. Knowing he continued to help others with his donation of skin, tendons, veins, and more, he continues to live.
I speak his name to keep his memory alive.

I am pleased to introduce to you my son Greg, forever 23, pictured with his dog Gus."

—Denise

05/16/2026

"This was my wife, Lisa. She was 44 when she had a brain bleed that took her within three days of it being found. Through organ donation, her heart, liver and two kidneys were recovered for recipients, saving four lives. I’ve been doing my best to inform people about how important it is to donate."

—Jody F.