More than 100,000 people in the U.S. need a transplant to survive. Every day, 17 die waiting. The profound ripple effect of a single organ donor hero extends far beyond each life they save. Meet an EMT, a surgeon and an operating room assistant who, as organ recipients, are able to continue caring for countless others thanks to the power of donation and transplantation.
Every person who registers to become an organ donor has the potential to save up to eight lives, leaving a powerful legacy of kindness. It takes less than a minute to sign up at donors1.org/register.
Stacey
As an EMT for 20 years, Stacey says she’s “usually the one who wants to help people, not the one who needs help.” That’s why it was difficult to accept the news that she needed a kidney transplant when complications from Type 1 diabetes caused her health to decline. A donor hero gave Stacey her life back, especially the opportunity to continue being here for her son, who she calls “the light and joy of my life.”
“Organ donation is such a powerful thing. It’s allowing me to see my son grow up, advance my career skills and just try to be a better human every day,” she says.
Dr. Neal Stansbury
Time was running out for Dr. Neal Stansbury. He had just a few weeks left to live as a rare, dangerous heart condition left the orthopedic surgeon and competitive cyclist so weak he couldn’t climb a flight of stairs. He put his affairs in order and said goodbye to his family. Then, another family he had never met gave him the extraordinary gift of a new heart by saying “yes” to organ donation.
Dr. Neal Stansbury felt great within a few days of his transplant, filled with gratitude for his unexpected second chance at life. Since then, he’s been able to see his daughters grow up and flourish, resume cycling (winning medals in the national and international Transplant Games) and continue caring for patients, restoring their health and mobility. “I wake up every morning and realize I’ve got another day I wasn’t going to have. If that family hadn’t said ‘yes’ to organ donation, I wouldn’t be here.”
Julian
Riding on a hospital gurney instead of pushing it was a complete role reversal for Julian but it marked a major milestone in his transplant journey. He’s usually the one with a caring smile transporting patients or preparing instruments for surgeons to keep things running smoothly in the operating room.
A routine checkup led to Julian’s diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, which required grueling dialysis treatments to sustain his life while he waited for the precious gift of a new organ. He was at work when he got “the call” and gladly went from perioperative services assistant to transplant surgery patient. Thanks to a donor hero, Julian is continuing his career in healthcare and sharing his gratitude. “I’m actual living proof that organ donation works. I’m living a healthy, normal life. I thank my donor from the bottom of my heart for giving me a second chance to be here.”