Welcome to the Living
Donor Hall of Fame!
Donation of an organ or
bone marrow while living is an extraordinary gift. Yet, living donors
often do not receive public recognition for their selfless act.
Therefore, Living Donors Online! has established this Living Donors
Hall of Fame to allow transplant recipients, friends, and relatives to
recognize the living donor in their lives. Living donors should also
feel free to nominate themselves, especially those who have been
anonymous donors.
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To add a living donor
to the Living Donor Hall of Fame, click here.
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To edit a hall of
fame entry you have already submitted, click here
to send an email message with your desired changes.
Gift of Life medallions
honoring organ donors © 1995 Gift
of Life Donor Program.
Grace
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Debbie
Relationship to
donor: Daughter
Date of donation:
March 17, 1986
Recognized by:
Debbie
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My mom not only
gave me life once, she gave it to me twice. When she donated her kidney
to me, I was only 17 years old. By her giving me her kidney at that
time, I was able to graduate high school with friends and enter college.
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Aileen
Sperber
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Elliott Sperber
Relationship to
donor: husband
Date of donation:
January 3, 2002
Recognized by:
Elliott Sperber
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My dear wife, at
age 71, donate one of her kidneys to me. Our 50th wedding anniversary
was six weeks before the operations. Six months have elapsed since the
transplant, and now at ages 75 and 72 we are both healthy and enjoying
life to the fullest. Here's hoping that her love and devotion will
inspire others to become donors.
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Michelle
Nichols
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Anonymous donation
Date of donation:
October 29, 2001
Recognized by:
Misti Gray (daughter)
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My mom made an
anonymous donation of one of her kidneys in October 2001. She did this
because she wanted to give someone else who is not as fortunate as
herself a second chance at life. She also hopes that when more people
hear her story and see that she is still in good health, they also will
think about coming forward to donate. She will get to meet her
recipient in three more months, and I know she doesn't have any regrets
at all about what she has done. I am proud of her, and I hope she knows
how much I love her.
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Laura
Hawes
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Mother
Date of donation:
July 25, 2000
Recognized by:
Karen Fritton
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Laura was generous
and very eager to give her mom 60% of her liver to save her life. At
the time of transplant, the procedure was very new and had never been
done at our transplant center. Laurie was brave, and as a young single
mom, went ahead with the surgery fully aware of risks involved and the
recovery she would go through. She certainly deserves to be nominate to
the Hall of Fame.
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Mae
Menard
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Donna Marie Menard
Relationship to
donor: Daughter
Date of donation:
February 15, 1995
Recognized by:
Donna Marie Menard
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My mother donated
her kidney to me, so she gave me life twice. I will always be grateful
to her and I love and respect her very much for all she does for me. I
want to thank my father, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends for
their support. I love you all.
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Shelly
Dowdle
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Bryan Dowdle
Relationship to
donor: Son
Date of donation:
June 17, 1997
Recognized by:
Shelly Dowdle
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Donating to my son
has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. I want to
help other parents who have young children who need a transplant,
especially those with questions about living donation.
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Vanessa
Opokuyamoah-Freeman
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Thomas Moore
Relationship to
donor: Brother
Date of donation:
June 1989
Recognized by:
Joey Yamoah
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My mother donated
her kidney to her brother.
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Patrick
M. Emmett
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Carol Giddings
Relationship to
donor: Ex-wife
Date of donation:
August 28, 1992
Recognized by:
Carol Giddings
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In spite of our
divorce, eight years before you gave me your kidney, I knew you were a
special person in my life and would always be. Thank you for being that
person I knew you were and even stronger than I had ever thought a
person could be.
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Handi
Skorich
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Denise Walderich
Relationship to
donor: Friend
Date of donation:
June 9, 2000
Recognized by:
Denise Walderich
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She gave me the
gift of life at a time when I had almost no hope left. She gives a new
meaning to the word, "friend." Thank you, Handi, for all the wonderful
memories I would have missed without your loving and generous heart.
Your liver
"container,"
Denise
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Michael
Murphy
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Meg Willems
Relationship to
donor: Sister
Date of donation:
November 20, 1991
Recognized by:
Niki Murphy
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I am submitting my
husband's name to the Living Donor Hall of Fame because he is my hero.
He donated his kidney to his sister without ever questioning if it was
the right decision for him and never ever regretted this decision even
when the transplant was rejected. In turn, he has continued to donate
to so many others by providing them with information, interest, and
insight on living donation. He is a true supporter and believer in this
outstanding cause.
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Candice
Ellington
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Robert Moll
Relationship to
donor: Husband
Date of donation:
January 10, 2000
Recognized by:
Robert Moll
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To my dearest wife,
and all living donors,
If the world had
people as yourselves, the world would be a better place. Giving of
yourselves with the possibility of death confronting you is truly an
act of unselfish love. You have saved two lives by freeing up an organ
that someone is waiting for. Thank you for life,
Robert Moll
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Lea
King
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Nancy King
Relationship to
donor: Mother
Date of donation:
February 6, 2002
Recognized by:
Lea King
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I am grateful to
have had the chance to help my mom. Many people do not have the
opportunity to help a loved one in need--just to be able to try is a
wish come true!
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Jess
Coleman
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Nicole
Relationship to
donor: Wife
Date of donation:
July 3, 2002
Recognized by:
Jan Munda
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Jess had only been
married to Nicole for two months when he became her donor. He
generously gave 60% of his liver to her on July 3, 2002. Thank you,
Jess!
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Monique
Martin
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Shantesa Jones
Relationship to
donor: Niece
Date of donation:
May 7, 1999
Recognized by:
Monique Martin
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When I was able to
donate my kidney and give my niece another chance at life, it was the
happiest day ever. I am just thankful I was able to make a difference
and give her a chance to live a somewhat healthy and normal life.
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Cheryl
McCullough (Blechl)
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Randy McCullough
Relationship to
donor: Husband
Date of donation:
December 14, 1999
Recognized by:
Randy L. McCullough
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Cheryl's unselfish
act offered me the ultimate gift of love, the gift of hope, and the
gift of life! At the time of our surgeries, she and I were engaged to
be married (considered unrelated). Now, happily married and walking
through life hand-in-hand, we are engaged in the process of living life
to its fullest! And Cheryl's unselfish acts keep going and going....
Through her continued active involvement in the transplant community at
large and through her diligent participation in various on-line support
groups, etc., she continues to offer guidance, encouragement, comfort,
and hope to so many others! She is truly an Angel on Earth and will
always be the center of my universe!
Thanks Cheryl!!! I
love you!!!!!
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Donna
Lundberg
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Eva Hill
Relationship to
donor: Mother
Date of donation:
January 11, 1998
Recognized by:
Donna K. Lundberg
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For my mom.... I
would do it all over again, you are my inspiration and hero for life, I
love you!
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Nathan
Bishop
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Type
of donation: Liver
Recipient:
Leslie Wisner
Relationship to
donor: Brother-in-law's brother
Date of donation:
January 25, 2002
Recognized by:
Jodie
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I always thought my
husband, Nate, was a very loving, caring and special person. After
going through this, now I also know that he is an angel to Les and his
family. I am so very proud of him, and love him, too!
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Carolyn
Miller
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Donald H. Miller
Relationship to
donor: Wife
Date of donation:
January 31, 2001
Recognized by:
Carolyn Miller
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I gave my kidney to
my husband because I loved him and wanted him to be better.
Unfortunately, he passed away nine months later. He leaves behind three
great kids who love and miss him. It's been almost a year now since
he's been gone...
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Terri
Craft
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Type
of donation: Kidney
Recipient:
Gary Glathar
Relationship to
donor: Stepfather
Date of donation:
May 14, 2002
Recognized by:
Judy and Gary Glathar
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Since the very
moment Gary needed a kidney transplant, his stepdaughter, Terri, was
ready, willing and fortunately a compatible enough match to give him
one of hers. They'd known each other for only six years, but it was as
if they were biological father and daughter. As her mother, Terri has
made me very proud of her over the years, and this was the ultimate
gift she could've given and she did s | |