I can't put Into words the appropriate amount of appreciation, love & feelings I have. It’s beyond mere words that I can send to my donor family.

I was 36, a wife and mother to 3 kids. At the time, my kids were 13, 14 and 15. I had never even been away from them and now, I was sick, really sick. I couldn't even perform daily activities, including barely bathing myself, much less help my children with homework or sporting events that they participated in. It got to a point that I couldn't even clean the house.

I had always been active. I kept going in and out of the hospital. Finally, the military base we lived on sent me in an ambulance from Biloxi Mississippi to Ochsner in New Orleans. I was in New Orleans for a week to have a workup on my liver. Every test under the sun, all to tell me I was dying! I had to have a transplant. I had to have a full liver. A living donor with a piece of liver would not be a option.

I knew then someone would have to die for me to live, and that isn't something to take lightly much less knowing if they don't, I will die for sure. My children will lose me no questions asked. I was told I had to be within so many miles of the hospital if I was to go on the list. After a week of tests I was sent home to Biloxi. I was even more sick, so very sick due to the toxins building. Half the time I was so toxic that I was talking crazy. I wasn’t home 3 days before I had to go back to the ER, and they immediately sent me by helicopter back to New Orleans where I spent the next 6 months of my life in ICU.

I would walk the halls. I cried. I saw people come and go. My kids couldn't visit until they were called in because I was nearing the end. I was scared, lonely and afraid.

One day I was told a liver matched however, someone else needed a heart and a liver and they matched too. So I was going to be taken to pre-op and prepared for transplant in case the liver and heart patient declined. Well I don't know how long I was in pre-op before I was taken back to my ICU room. The transplant was a no-go. The liver was given to that patient and I was devastated. The doctors told me I could have only HOURS to live, and then magic happened. Another match became available. I was sent back to pre-op, this time it was my time.

I still don’t know much about my donor. I was told it was a MALE IN HIS 30s with possible hepatitis. Do I want it? I said yes. To this day, I still test NEGATIVE for hepatitis, praise the Lord. After the transplant surgery, I woke up on a ventilator. I found out later that I was on life support for 3 months. I woke up with a trach in my throat and had to learn to walk and talk and eat again.

I had my transplant on Aug 26th, 2015 and woke up in late October. I was able to return home by November.

Bless the family who selflessly gave me a chance at life, even though they have to grieve their loved one. I am a testament that life does go on even if it's not in the shell of the body of the hero who had to move on to Paradise. Bless you donor family. I can never, ever thank you enough. I would love to hear from my donor family. Thank you will never be enough.

Love, Carroll

Dear Kidney Donor Family,

My name is Eugenio ‘Mr.O’ Wilson, the recipient of the kidney that was provided by Tulane Kidney Transplant facility during August 10, 2023. I actually had surgery on August 11th and am currently recovering and doing well. I have much to say and I feel ‘thank you’ just isn’t enough or the words cannot fully express how I truly feel. Yet, I will try my best for your family. I never expected to receive a kidney or get that unexpected call from the Tulane Medical Facility that Thursday night.

Before 2019, I was a vibrant and energetic art teacher serving a couple of elementary schools in the metro New Orleans area, a Microsoft store, Educator, Inc, and Boys and Girls Clubs. I enjoy teaching visual arts to the youth so much that I was encouraged by a parent to start my own art business teaching students on certain days of the week. I never envisioned becoming a teacher and truly cannot see myself doing anything less.

On March 25, 2019, I suffered a major stroke which led to stage 5 kidney failure/disease. Doctors couldn’t tell if I would walk again, see good again, or regain my motor skills. Many of them said it was up to me. So for three years, I did physical therapy. I worked out at home, and met all of my appointments. Soon, I was able to walk again, see better, and improved my motor skills. Dialysis would be required on a weekly basis to provide the necessary kidney functions that I lost from the disease and for 4.5 years I endured with no complaints.

“It is my daily routine,” I would say going to Dialysis during the week. With the addition of the stroke symptoms, I struggled greatly from each treatment and would require hours of rest afterwards. On occasions, the treatments would cause dangerous low blood pressure which required several trips to the emergency room and some in-hospital stays.

On occasion, I would suffer from UTI, urinary tract infection, which was so severe that it developed into sepsis which required a week stay in the hospital. Still, despite all of this, I wanted to teach, or continue some routine that I had previously, but quickly learned that my inconsistent health wasn’t good for the students. I wanted to be there in my mind, and the body just couldn’t keep up.

Yet, I wasn’t disappointed, angry, or frustrated. I simply took each day at a time. I would visit my doctors, therapists, and hear that I could receive a kidney. I found that possibility a long shot after reading how difficult it was to get one. Over the years, I observed dialysis patients who have been on the transplant list for 8, 10, 15, or more years without a kidney. After a while, I felt that would be me, so I decided to not sit around and wait for a kidney and try to get back into teaching the youth.

In 2022, I decided to push pass my disability and created a nonprofit organization teaching youth K-12 in metro New Orleans area visual arts and technology. I refused to allow this diagnosis to stop me from serving the community. My organization is small, and I decided to take a year away from the operations to focus on my health because I do not want to impose anymore inconsistencies on the parents or students.

Then the impossible happened on August 10, 2023, at 9:44pm. I received a call from a physician about a kidney that was available for me. I was half asleep and almost didn’t answer because it was late and a 1-800 number. The physician introduced herself and stated that a kidney is available, and I must accept the conditions of the kidney. I said ‘Yes’ to every question despite the fact I was in complete shock over this call.

I was surprised and immediately contacted my surrogate mother and told her the news and later my dad. During the excitement, my attention went to the donor because of the sacrifice that was given. I didn’t know him, but my thoughts were with him and his family. Because of him, I can write this letter to his family. Rest assured that his kidney now exists within me, making him a part of me for the remainder of my life. His efforts will extend my life and allow me to have another promising opportunity to continue teaching the youth in the community.

I think of him often because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. Each day is a new experience for me because I simply didn’t expect this gift to come to me. Now that I have this wonderful gift of life from your family member, its my duty to continue my path as a teacher, founder, and advocate for stroke/kidney awareness. This is all possible by the kidney donor and I am supremely grateful.

My life has been full of various journeys and this kidney/stroke experience is one of them. I learned a lot about my true character during each journey and it adds to my life. In 2000, I lost my mother to cancer, and my grieving process lasted for 12 years. I was a shell of myself and wanted something to change. It did when I decided to leave a stressful job to give my services and time to the youth through the arts.

Sure, it has taken a while to get to this point of teaching. Now, with this new kidney, that is functioning well within me, can allow me to return to my path. I am experiencing new/old things with this kidney as I can feel my strength and energy levels returning and that is because of the donor’s effort.

Please accept my humble thanks and appreciation for placing this kidney up for a recipient. I am so grateful and simply want to let you all know that I shall add life to it. My students thank you. My family thanks you. Most of all, I thank you from the depths of my heart and soul.

Thank you from Mr.O

I grew up watching my mom’s family suffer from liver disease. First her grandmother, then her cousins, and finally herself. All suffered immensely and eventually all of them died from cirrhosis.

I was diagnosed with kryptogenic cirrhosis of the liver in 2007 after I was awaken from a routine gall bladder removal surgery. I remember being so overwhelmed I couldn’t even talk. All I did was cry. I think it was even more taxing on me emotionally when I had to tell my mom that I too had received this family trait.

In 2007 I was listed at San Antonino Methodist hospital. The first few years were hard because I lost quite a bit of weight either from anxiety attacks or from the actual cirrhosis. My anxiety was bad for a while because as I got more sick I would come to a spot in my mind that I remembered my mom, so I knew my liver was slowly getting worse not better. I was listed until January 2022 with San Antonio Methodist. At that time I was in ICU retaining so many fluids I had swollen to 355lbs, extremely fatigued, and unable to breathe due to all of the fluid I had retained in my body and now lungs. They suggested at this time that I get close to God and get my finances in order because their was nothing they could do.

My wife and I spoke and came to terms with my diagnosis, and I chose to move to Houston Methodist. The only reason I chose Houston was because my son Tim is a firefighter in Katy and my wife and father had family support being there.

I arrived in Houston by ambulance three hours later and began testing. I had a dream as I slept about my mom coming for me and me growing wings and I told her I was sorry but I couldn’t go. I had promised her when she was dying that I would take care of my Dad. A priest arrived that Friday and I told him about my story and my dream. He gave a strong prayer and an anointing of the sick, and said I feel God has placed you in a spot of spiritual warfare. I was in such despair that on Saturday night I prayed and cried and asked all of Gods Angels for help.

Sunday morning at 3am the nurse woke me and said to get up and shower because you’re getting your offer. My coordinator called and he told me that he felt they had a great match for me. I cried and prayed while showering and I came out and asked the nurse if she could please call my wife and father. It was at that moment that I was starting to feel God’s work in motion. My family arrived and they looked happy but their eyes still told me that they were extremely worried. I was getting wheeled from one building to another. I was so scared and worried until we passed into a glass tunnel and the sun was just coming up. At first the tunnel was cold because there was snow on the ground. I asked, “it snowed in Houston?” My wife said yes. Then as I was looking out the sun captured my attention and I became overcome with emotion. It was as if time stood still. The true inner feelings I have for this beautiful moment in my life I still have no words for. All I know is that I went from feeling like dying to feeling so good and that I didn’t want to leave that moment. It was the one time I was aware and fully cognitive of feeling the Holy Spirit.

I turned and told my dad, “I’m going to be ok dad.” I grabbed his arm and told him, “Dad listen to what I’m saying, I’m going to be okay whether I stay or go, I’m going to be okay.“

The next part of my story is I think the most beautiful because it isn’t about me but my donor and God. My dad and my wife said that after 10 hours my surgeon came out and told them that the new liver was transplanted and it was fully functioning. She said my entire system started functioning immediately, bile ducts and stomach. I think this is the most beautiful part of my story because it started this change in me that hasn’t stopped since.

I was transplanted on January 23, 2022. The hospital and therapist still shake their heads when I see them. I never needed pain meds after surgery. My vision has changed for the better in the last year. Sometimes I don’t even use glasses. I no longer use a CPAP machine. I started running five months after transplant and haven’t stopped since. All of this beauty I owe to my donor and to the good Lord up above.

At this time, I’ve spoken with my donor family over the phone and by text, and we are planning on meeting one day in person. They’re such beautiful people and I always think of how proud I want to make them with my health. I want to show them how much I cherish and love their brother for the gift of life he has given me. I want to personally thank LOPA for my liver and my life. From the coordinators to the people that transported my organ. Thank you for my life!

I was truly BLESSED by a BEAUTIFUL DONOR and received ligaments & tendons to redo my ankle/foot.

My foot was so crippled for 13 yrs. I stayed in physical therapy all that time. Well, in January of 2023 l was blessed to have found this wonderful surgeon who saw on the MRI how bad my ankle was. It was crippling and I went directly to surgery. I was surely blessed with the right Beautiful Donor.

I just want to say we are walking everyday together with love, and I’m so grateful for you. l hold you in my heart forever. Thank you so very much, l love you to the moon and back.

I’m also grateful to be a Donor. We do physical therapy everyday, and walking everyday because I am grateful for my new ankle/foot from you. God bless your heart and soul forever and always, my walking friend.

I was told in January of 2022 that I needed a liver transplant and that I had 3 to 9 months to live. I was in denial
because every other blood test would get better results and I thought... not me!

About a year ago, I was really sick and probably near death. Most of my muscle and fat was gone. I was 265 lbs,
full of fluid, weak and tired and starting to understand how someone feels when they may not be able to go on.

On 4/2/22 my husband helped me get into our vehicle and took me to the Emergency Room. Thank God! That was the
day my life began to change. I got worse before I got better. The night I arrived at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans I
began having symptoms of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE). I remember being woken up and being asked a lot of
questions. I was so tired and cold. All I wanted to do was sleep. This went on for 4 to 5 days and I gradually began to be
aware of my surroundings.

I went through many tests and was told on the 13th of April I was approved for a transplant. On Holy Thursday,
4/14/22, I received a call and was told I was at the top of the list. I was told to keep my phone plugged in and answer it if
it rings. Early, Good Friday morning my phone rang. My husband answered and was told we had a liver. With tears he
began calling our children with the news.

That day seemed to be an eternity long. I don’t think I slept until 1a.m. the following morning, just before they took me
back for surgery. I kept thinking to myself that this couldn’t be true and was sure I would not make it through surgery.
So much so, that when I woke up I kept seeing this guy who kept smiling like he was happy to see me. Only people in
Heaven are that happy, right? I asked him if he was God. He said “no, I just work here”. To this day I am not sure who
he was, whether he was a doctor or a nurse. I would love to talk with him and discuss our conversations. I am certain it
wasn’t typical of a transplant recipient just waking up from surgery.

So much has changed in the last year. Everything is different. My attitude, my perspective and I am happy. I am
beginning to feel like a normal human being. Better than I have in years. I am certain I had been sick for years but
circumstances blocked many aspects of my illness. I sprained my knee and couldn’t play tennis. A few months later
COVID shut many things down and we stayed home a lot. I figured being less active and sedate was the culprit for my
weight gain and not feeling well.

Now, I am so grateful to so many. God, my Family, the Doctors and Nurses who took care of me. I am eternally grateful
that my donor said “YES” and has given me the opportunity to live and hang out with my loved ones. It took me a while
to wrap my head around the fact that someone died so that I could live. But they didn’t die for me. They said yes to
gift others with life when they couldn’t go on. What a generous thing to do!!

I am grateful to Libbie, who works for LOPA. Her son was a donor. She has met the recipients and encouraged me to
write a letter to my donor and family. It still means a lot to her and she would like to speak to other recipients who
may need to understand that, “the donor’s choice to say yes, is a GIFT”. Not a death sentence but an opportunity for
others, like me, who have the chance to go on.

Eternally Grateful, Blessed and Happy to be Alive!
Are you a registered donor? I am.

I had a back fusion done. They had to put cages in because my discs were so herniated and had fractured my vertebrae. Donor bone was used to fuse to my vertebrae together.

Since my surgery I have been pain free. At my 6th month check up, the donor bone is fusing to my vertebrae perfectly. I can't say thank you enough.

I received my first heart transplant when I was 14.

In September 2022 I had another heart transplant. My family is forever grateful and blessed for both of gifts.

Organ donation saved my life.

I was born with a hereditary chronic kidney disease called Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. I did not know growing up if I had it but, shortly after I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I got my answer. A routine medical exam for a job revealed some irregularities, and while it needed to be officially confirmed, I immediately knew what was going on.

My treatment, and generally the impact on my life, started easily and minimally enough as just some monitoring of labs and scans. Over time, though, symptoms got worse, and it started to look like I may eventually need a kidney transplant. Several years ago, a sudden and severe onset of symptoms prompted several trips to the hospital, and I had an emergency radical nephrectomy performed with what was likely just hours to spare. I also had an appendectomy and other small procedures completed to repair the damage the kidney had done before it was removed.

With just the one (diseased) kidney left, my already reduced kidney function dropped even lower, and I was told I would probably need to start dialysis within one month. I was fortunate that did not happen, at least not then, and I started going to much more frequent medical appointments, keeping a very close eye on all my numbers. As the conversations with my nephrologist began to turn more to dialysis and transplant, another round of hospitalizations revealed that things suddenly were much more urgent. I enrolled with the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute and began the long and arduous process of transplant recipient evaluation.

I was eventually approved for listing as a recipient candidate and began to read about the relatively small percentage of people who register for organ donation, and the shockingly large number of people waiting on a life saving transplant.

Being actively listed for an organ meant even more medical appointments and lab work, just to maintain my listing. All the while, my kidney function continued to decline, which added more appointments and treatments to manage all the secondary problems a failing renal system causes. Trying to keep what little kidney function I had, and maintaining my status on “the list”, became what felt like another job in addition to my actual full time job; just about every single day I had off from work was dedicated to something kidney related.

Everything going on was significantly affecting my ability to work, in any capacity, but certainly in my line of work. It became clear to me I would need to try to find a living donor. Despite the obvious need, this was a difficult decision for me to make; it meant giving my health problems some publicity. I am an inherently private person, and the thought of not only putting my personal medical information out there, but also having to ask someone to do something so personal and so significant, was deeply upsetting. Even typing this up is outside of the norm for me, but it is a story worth telling, especially if it encourages people to register to be donors.

My campaign to find a kidney started in earnest and some friends helped design a flyer to post on social media. The flyer started making the rounds there but also through a professional organization at work with members across the state. I was contacted by several people who very kindly decided to at least inquire about the testing process. Over a period of a couple of years, I had three people who had the blood test done and were found to be compatible. Unfortunately, each of them was disqualified/removed during the secondary phase which, among other things, requires a lot of additional medical screening.

I was and am still thankful for each of them being so thoughtful and willing to give the process a try, but each disqualification/removal was very tough. Throughout all of this, my kidney function crashed to critical levels. Aside from all the physical pain and other symptoms, which I’m not trying to dwell on, my health was a significant contributing factor in a major career advancement not only being halted, but actively undone. I was able to finish my master’s degree, which I had started about a year before I lost my first kidney, but my work itself took a big hit right alongside my health. It was all very disheartening, to say the least.

My nephrologist and I started to make plans to start me on dialysis. I was still looking for a donor, but the ability to “just wait a little longer” was coming to its end. Dialysis was a deeply upsetting thought for me. It can help keep you alive, but it is certainly no guarantee, and the quality of the life it helps you maintain can be minimal. Aside from dialysis itself not being a pleasant thing to go through, the physical implications and the scheduling of the procedures were both all but guaranteed to have an impact on my job that could not be worked around. Starting dialysis seemed like it would be the last strike to my career that would completely remove me from my line of work.

A couple weeks before my appointment to get set up for surgery to install a dialysis access port, and as I was leaving an Ochsner facility after one of my many lab appointments, I got a phone call. It was one of my coordinators at the Transplant Institute, and she had some news: my friend, Colton Emerson, had been approved to donate one of his kidneys to me. I was confused at first. Colton was one of the people who reached out when my flyer went live on social media, and I had sent him the information to do the blood test, but never heard anything else. I thought the coordinator meant he had just done the initial blood test and he had been found compatible, but that wasn’t the case. It was that and so much more.

Unbeknownst to me, in between the second and third of the three people who got tested for me and could not proceed through the second phase of testing, Colton had done the blood test and was found to be compatible. He continued through all the secondary stuff for months (it’s a lot!) without ever telling me anything. Ochsner of course was not going to tell me someone else’s medical information, so I had no idea whatsoever. It was only after he completed all the rounds of testing, was approved, and gave Ochsner his final agreement and commitment to donate, that they called and told me.

So, after my third potential donor could no longer continue in the process, and as I was preparing myself for dialysis and all the cascading effects it would have on my life, I got the call with news that changed my life. I don’t think I have ever sent so many text messages and made so many phone calls so quickly.

Things actually went downhill two days later. The transplant was still good to go, but my remaining kidney completely bottomed out. I had technically been in Stage V, or End Stage Renal Failure, for a very long time, but I had been holding on to just barely enough kidney function to keep me off of dialysis. Barely. The few weeks of planning my nephrologist and I thought we had left were suddenly no longer an option. I ended up hospitalized and on dialysis. But, the whole time, I knew how lucky I was and that the transplant was coming up.

After what felt like the longest month ever, I went to Ochsner’s main campus and had surgeries in quick succession to remove my remaining kidney and implant my new one. Now all my labs are great, and things have never looked better for me. My life has improved immeasurably in every way. I feel better than I have ever felt in my entire life. All that time so many years ago, when it seemed like the “kidney thing” was something to monitor and nothing else, was worse than I thought. It was the only normal I knew, at the time, and only now do I know how bad things really were.

I feel like the luckiest person. I’m doing great and my career is back on track! I am so thankful for so, so many people. I am thankful for my friends, coworkers, and family, who have helped me so much throughout all of this. I am thankful for the skilled hands and sharp minds of the doctors, nurses, and others at Ochsner who have dedicated their lives and careers to making stories like mine have such great resolutions. The people in the transplant clinic, the surgical staff, the nurses, and all the people who took such exceptional care of me and Colton in the Transplant Stepdown Unit have my deepest gratitude.

BRIAN GIVING THE THUMBS UP, WITH COLTON STANDING BESIDE HIM.

But most of all, I am thankful for Colton. His selflessness, his decision to do something so extraordinary for me, is something for which I will never be able to express enough gratitude. Ever. I don’t know if I could truly explain to him the impact his decision has made on my life. Every personal and professional opportunity I have in my life, every achievement, every accomplishment, and even every challenge or setback I have, I will be around to experience them all because of him.

He saved my life that day, and he has been saving it every day since.

I know my story is not the most common type seen on the recipient section on LOPA’s site, since I received a living donation. But both Colton are I are happy to share it, if it helps spread the word about donor registration. We are also including a couple photos: one from the day after surgery, and a carefully planned, extremely quick, COVID-friendly picture we took after a recent transplant anniversary milestone. I included a lot of details here not to garner pity or to complain, but to help demonstrate just how much of an improvement Colton’s incredible gift has made in my life. I hope after reading my story, people will give donor registration some serious thought.

The impact a donor’s decision can have on the lives of others is remarkable and truly beyond words.

I am a recipient of a double lung transplant. I now have a new life due to my hero, the donor. I can’t thank the donor or their family enough.

My new life began on February 17, 2019.

Because of my donor I live.

My name is Nancy and I am 66 years old. I was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. One in a million people have this cancer.

My doctors told me a transplant was the only treatment for this type of cancer as it was all over my liver.

This was shocking news as I had been healthy all my life! In California it would have been a two year wait for my blood type. I was referred to Ochsner in New Orleans. I had to fight tooth and nail for five months to get my insurance to double list me.

Who wants to wait for two years with cancer growing in your body?! I finally prevailed.

This fight prepared me for the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 12 days after I arrived in New Orleans, I received a new liver!! I’m feeling very well and am so grateful to the family whose compassion and generosity gave me a second chance at life. I take good care of myself. I am a very compliant patient. I am 13 months post transplant. I was even able to go on a trip to Alaska! My family and friends are so grateful. Since my transplant, I became a grandma. My joy is unsurpassed!!

My thanks to you dear donor and your compassionate family!

Hello, my name is Frankie Avila. As you may know, I have Cystic Fibrosis and had a double lung transplant and two living related kidney transplants.

I was diagnosed at 3 years old and was told that my life expectancy would be 15· years. I am now 45 years old and 23 years post double lung transplant and just made 10 years post kidney transplant.

Growing up I was never open about my CF, as I was trying to be as "normal" as possible. I had great friends who understood treatment time, my medications and tune-ups twice a year. My dream was to get a degree in science so I could help others for all those who had helped me growing up with CF, plus I liked science. That dream started, but CF had other plans.

My lungs continued to deteriorate to the point of being told I would need a double lung transplant. I remember that day vividly. I was at Tulane Hospital for a tune-up and my parents and sisters were there. Surprisingly everyone remained calm and just took the news as something new we were going to have to battle. I grew up with a strong support system so giving up was never really an option or thinking that my life was going to end, not that those thoughts crossed my mind at times. I continued as usual and was able to complete 2 years at UNO until it was time to solely focus on my lung transplant.

I moved to NC once I was number 2 on the waiting list so I could be closer to my transplant center at UNC-Chapel Hill. I had plenty of family and friends staying during the 2 year waiting period with only one no-go for possible lungs. 2 months later and once again in the hospital, while at PT, I was told there was a possible donor. The usual emotions ran through my mind but there was a difference this time, I felt peace.

Later that evening on September,18, 1995, I was transplanted. I was given the gift of life by a selfless donor. I don't know who my donor is but I am grateful for my beautiful set of lungs.

I returned to New Orleans 3 months later to witness my nieces birth and to return to school to finish my science degree. There were multitudes of pills, doctor visits, labs, unexpected rejections, crazy body transformations from medications such as the well known moon face, all while continuing school and living life to the fullest. I stayed on course, but my kidneys continued to get worse due to the toxic immunosuppression. 4 years later which included 3 months of dialysis, I would need a kidney transplant.

My dad volunteered to be my donor of a kidney in Jan 1999, and it gave me 10 years until another kidney was needed. This time my sister volunteered and it was a complete blessing. My sisters kidney was a perfect match. That transplant took place in July 2009. My sister left the hospital the next day, and I was able to enjoy 4th of July at home.

I eventually graduated with a B.S. in biological sciences and later received a B.S. in clinical lab sciences. I’ve been working FT as a med tech and it’s been very rewarding. Life has been full for me and I thank God and my donor for each and every breath.

I rediscovered cycling and have been able to participate in many local events like the Cycle for Life in North Carolina last year. I enjoy spending time with my pup, Mia, family and friends. I want to continue giving back by bringing more CF awareness and the need for organ donation because of someone's gift of life to me.

During the summer of 1997 I noticed that no matter what I did I would sometimes be swollen.

I thought it was because I was getting older and I had gained weight. As the summer went on my health started to fail. I just did not feel good. I started to cough a lot even though I never smoked. I had several surgeries by the end of the year, but still I felt awful. I was admitted into the local hospital for nausea and vomiting in January 1998. During this admission several tests were performed it was then determined that I had end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. I needed a heart transplant.

The question I asked myself, "Why me? I am only 35 years old? After all, I lost my mother in 1994 who also needed a heart transplant. This cannot be happening again, I have two children that need me."

Before being discharged, my cardiologist referred me see to a different cardiologist at Willis Knighton Heart Transplant Center. I met with the transplant team, and after testing I was placed on the Transplant list. I was told because of my health status I would have to wait in the hospital until a donor was found. From February to May I waited for a donor to be found.

Sunday, May 10, 1998 was Mother's Day. My family came down to visit me in the hospital, and after they left the telephone rang in my hospital room. I answered. My transplant coordinator says, "Does Mother's Day sound like a good day to get a heart!" Oh my God! Yes! A donor heart had been located in Tampa Florida.

I was successfully transplanted. This year I will celebrate my 20th year transplant anniversary. My two children are both adults and I have my first grandchild. I think about my donor and his family often because now they are a part of me. But as Mother's Day rolls around each year, I especially think of his mother. I know that her heart broke so that my heart could be fixed. God bless that young man and his family. I truly thank them. I thank God for that Mother's Heart.

Hi my name is Jourdan Sibley. I’m 19 years old and I’m from Livingston Parish!

When I was five days old I was diagnosed with a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. When I was young I wasn’t affected as much as I was when I grew older. Other than doing breathing treatments 2 times a day a lived a fairly normal life up until my high school years!

For 2 1/2 years I was basically confined to a chair in my house due to the lack of oxygen my body had. I had to be home bound from school so I missed the last few weeks of my freshman year along with my 10th and 11th grade school year. I was hooked to an oxygen tank 24/7. I could barely take it off to even wash my face without getting light headed and almost passing out. My lung function had dropped to 20% and I basically lost all hope. I had no faith that I would ever get that lifesaving call. I wanted to give up. I didn't care to even live life if I was going to be in so much pain all the time.

What was the point? Was it really worth fighting? Did I even have a purpose on this earth? 

I had such a bright future for myself before I got sick. And by this point in my life I had basically given up on my dreams because I didn't think I would make it to see 18. I felt as if God was waiting for me to completely give up and then it would be my time. It had been 2 years and I was only getting sicker, every day I would think to myself am I really going to wake up tomorrow? What about next week? Will I still be alive? Will God still be with me helping me fight this?  I went to sleep that night praying that he would wake me up that morning. I was in so much pain, my lungs hurt. It hurt to move. To breath I could barely roll over in my bed without being in pain. Then one day I woke up and it seemed like a regular day. Got up, got in my chair and started the process of breathing treatments.

Before I knew it everyone showed up home from work screaming, crying, and yelling. I had gotten my call for lungs. What do I do? Well, we packed our stuff and headed to New Orleans! I'm going to skip around the part about us waiting and waiting. Just know we were there from 10-7pm that night! Right around 5pm they came in and said they would be taking me back for surgery at 7:45! So we wait.... 7:30 rolls around and I've heard nothing. Finally someone comes to my room and asks for my mom to step outside. I knew it couldn't be anything good. The lungs had lost too much oxygen for me to have the surgery. I was going home once again without new lungs...

What now? I was heartbroken. Devastated. Confused. So many emotions at one time and I didn't even know what to do or say. I completely broke down and lost it. I wanted to go home. Not in 10 minutes not in 5 minutes, right that second. I didn't want to see one more nurse or doctor that night. I couldn't understand why God would put me through something like this after everything I had gone through.

Why me? I kept asking myself why. What did I do? Why can't something good happen to me? 

Everyone kept telling me it would get better. I would get that call eventually. Yeah I'm sure it would come. But would it be too late? Would I still be around when that time came? I had finally found hope and then when they told me I could not get those lungs. It was like I just shut down. My body was done. I was tired of fighting. Tired of the struggle. I wanted to feel good and I knew it was never going to happen without that transplant. My body was worn out. My faith was gone. I started questioning everything in life. Why am I still living? I didn't want to take my medicine; I didn't want to do my breathing treatments. I didn't want to take care of myself because why? Why should I? I've been fighting for so long and nothing good is coming my way. Why should I keep fighting? I couldn't make myself understand why everything was so hard. I had this attitude for about 2 weeks... I was depressed. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to do anything. All I wanted to do was sleep. I had no energy.

Finally I started looking up, praying that God would send me a sign something to give me strength to keep going. I knew he wasn't done with me or he wouldn't keep putting me through these things. 3 weeks later I received another call for a potential donor, and I was a nervous wreck. I was so nauseous. I had no words to say. I didn't know what to do other than grab my bag and get into the car. So many thoughts were running through my mind at that point.

Was this the one? Trying not to get my hopes up this time but over something like this, it's very hard. This could be my second chance.

My chance to finally breathe like everyone else and live a normal life! Everyone was there. All my family, my friends, we all waited anxiously. We waited, and we waited. Before I knew it someone came in and said "okay time to go" talk about a nervous breakdown! Would I ever see my family again? Was this goodbye forever or a new beginning? No one knew. We all just prayed. I don't have too much to say about anything that happened after this point because, I was in surgery! I do remember being wheeled into the operating room and wondering where the lungs were. Asking to see them, and all of the tools they would be using on me! Yes, I’m crazy I know, but I thought it was awesome. Before I knew it someone said, "Ok Jourdan its time to go to sleep the lungs are almost here."

The next thing I remember is waking up feeling tense, in a ton of pain not knowing if I had received the lungs or what had happened to me. Then I heard something I was waiting to hear from the time I went back for surgery...not knowing if I would ever see her again. "Hey baby it's mom. I'm here with you. You’re okay. You made it! I could feel my body relax. I knew I was going to be okay then. I felt safe. A few minutes later someone came in and told me they were going to take me off the ventilator because they felt as if I was ready.

That was my worst fear!! But I did it! I came off the vent and took my first breathe on my own with my new lungs.

It wasn't the best due to all the pain plus I was still on a very large setting of oxygen so I don't really count it as my "first real breath". Later that day I was sitting up in the chair for the first time. The next day they had me up walking around. Talk about in pain, but I pushed through it. I refused to give up! I wanted to go home. I wanted to get every tube out of me and be on my own and I knew it was going to take time.

I had some complications throughout the process of trying to go home before we were in the clear but I got through them! I won't ever say it was easy because it definitely wasn’t. But was it worth it? Yes indeed. Would I go through it again if the time comes? Yes I will. After we had been discharged from Ochsner, we were to stay in an apartment for 3 months in New Orleans right next to the hospital due to all the doctor visits I would have back to back to check my levels, and just in case something were to happen, we would be right next door!

The past 3 years of my life have been extraordinary!

I attended my senior cheer camp, graduated high school, went to college and now working full time at woman’s hospital as a phlebotomist. I do plan on furthering my education; I'm just trying to figure out what exactly I would like to do.

I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for the gift of life I have received. My life has changed drastically for the better! No more breathing treatments, no more coughing, no more exhaustion every day. Just a few pills in the morning and before bed. I'm full of life & full of energy! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me. Just always remember,

If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it!

I struggled with being an insulin dependent diabetic for 26 years. One day, my Nephrologist told my family and I that I would need a kidney in about an estimated time of a year and a half.

The time had come, my kidney levels reached 5. It was time for me to be placed on the list. In discussing the transplant process, my doctor mentioned needing a pancreas along with a kidney. I was not at the point of needing dialysis but very close.

One month after completing my evaluation, I received the phone call I was waiting for. To be devastated to find out the organs weren't good enough for the procedure. My family and I continued on with life.

On January 20, 2016, I received the phone call I have been waiting for!

On January 22, 2016, I received a pancreas and kidney transplant at Willis-Knighton Transplant Center in Shreveport, La. I still get emotional talking about my journey. I feel as if I'm living a dream! It feels great to wake in the morning and not have to take insulin and check my blood glucose level. I call this, MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE!

I started dialysis right when I was the age of 15 1/2 years old. I have done it for as long as 9 1/2 years until one morning I kept receiving multiple phone calls. I just had just finished a dialysis run and was very tired.

After hearing the voicemails of urgency, I realized my miracle was awaiting. As my mom rushed home to get me, I received another phone call from the nurse in Lafayette, La stating the good news. I was freaking out tremendously.

When my mom picked me up, we both were so nervous and I could remember us almost getting into 3 accidents. Once I got there, the nurse took my hand and ran with me to lab to do all the necessary blood work. They immediately admitted to my room and began to prep me for surgery. The only thing they were waiting on is to see if I was still a match.

It turns out I was a perfect 6 to receive the organ. When the nurse came to get me at 5 a.m. in the morning, they were all telling me congrats on my miracle. When I woke up from surgery, I was a brand new person, my complexion came back and I was ready to eat whatever was available to me.

The kidney was such a good match, I only stayed in ICU for about an 1 1/2 until I was fully awake. They wheeled me out on a wheel chair and all I could remember is seeing all of my loved ones in the hallway cheering me on.

I cannot say thank you enough to Bobby Champagne's parents. The fact that he was not even a donor and the parents made the ultimate decision to give life to the next persons. I am absolutely honored to have his kidney and I take full pride and joy in taking good care of this miracle. It has now been 11 years and I am still doing well.

It is because of Bobby, I have the chance of living to see my husband, family, and all my friends. I have the chance to make a difference in someone's life.

On October 13th, 2016, early in the morning, I awoke with a sharp pain in my chest. Unable to fall back asleep, I headed to the nearest store to pick up some medicine that would make me feel better. With a recent diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, I assumed my pain was associated with a bad case of heartburn. As the day progressed my symptoms got worse but, I did my best to continue with my day. This was an important day, I had a job interview and couldn’t be delayed with going to see the doctor. By the end of the day I was still in pain, and that’s when my girlfriend urged me to go to the ER.

As I sat in the waiting area, the pain became unbearable. I called the nurse and was immediately taken for an EKG. The cardiologist rushed in to read the results, he confirmed I was having a heart attack. How could this be? I was 20 years old, athletic and healthy. The news shocked me. After further testing I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and my prognosis was good, only a three-month recovery period.

Unfortunately, my recovery did not go as planned and around Christmas time I was admitted to Ochsner Hospital for a heart assistance device and transplant evaluation. During my hospital stay my condition worsened and on January 9th, I had emergency surgery for heart balloon. The following day, I underwent LVAD surgery. My parents and the doctors hoped this would afford me more time as I was placed on the transplant list and waited for a match. On January 12th the surgeons approached my family with incredible news, there was a heart available and it was in transport.

My life was saved in a matter of days and as I awoke on January 15th, I will never forget the overwhelming emotion that overcame me when my father told me I had received a heart. I was so grateful to be alive. Still drowsy from the surgery, all I could comprehend was that someone, somewhere had saved my life, it was a miracle. During my first semester at the University of Louisiana, I would have never guessed that by age 20, I would need a heart and that an angel would come along to save me. As I look back at these past 6 months, I’m honored to know who my donor is, and to have a very good relationship with her father that I cherish forever and will hold on to… I LOVE YOU ABIGAIL “Abbey” CONNER!

My new life began January 30th, 2016 when staff at Tulane Medical Center were able to transplant my liver.

What an amazing day it was, but I will never forget the day when I had found out that my liver was in need of being replaced. In September of 2006, I was diagnosed at the MAYO clinic in Rochester, MN. The MAYO clinic is unbelievable with their efficiency and amazing staff. There I saw that I was not really that bad off, considering there was a child not much older than 3 or 4 who was in a wheelchair going through the lobby right by the piano in the clinic.

Once home, I began my journey at Tulane hospital. My life was being tested. Through many tests, conversations with my doctor as well as other staff members, I was placed on the liver transplant list in 2012. No more playing the sport I loved, Soccer.

Through fluid retention and weight gain, liver biopsies, many tests, an unbelievable amount of blood draws, a partial splenectomy, I managed to continue to work, although at a dramatically reduced pace.

Around 2013, I had a very bad car accident which I had blacked out momentarily. I had been taken to the emergency room mainly as a precaution but very concerned that my liver and/or spleen might have ruptured. Once the tests were all finished, fortunately, I had no issues with either of them. I found out my left hip was in needed replacement. I had been complaining of intense pain in my hip for awhile and one of these x-rays showed that there was no cartilage left to cushion the movement of my hip as it rotates normally.

2015 showed me that life can truly be tested, health wise. By far the worst year of my life. I worked just enough through the day to make it home and go to bed. This endured for most of the year. I took a leave of absence from coaching soccer for two teams in Gonzales. This was my love, having to give up coaching 40 girls. I adored training them twice a week and sharing my weekends at their games. Both of my daughters played on my teams so this affected my time with them as well. I ended up taking short term disability from work towards the end of 2015. I was hospitalized 4 times in a span of 2 months for difficulty breathing as well as low potassium and fluid retention.

The first part of 2016 I received my first phone call about a possible liver. I was placed on the B list and I would be selected if the primary recipient was not a match. I received a call that night telling me that they in fact were a match. Hopes were high but I was also realistic. Then came the second call on January 28th, asking me would I like to be the primary for this liver. My answer was HECK YEAH! Be at Tulane at 8am . Got there in the morning of the 29th, got my room, and was introduced to a lot of the staff. They ran a bunch of tests to ensure that I was the right recipient and I was.

After surgery was a blur but I do remember it all. What an amazing journey is has been. And it will be a journey I will be on for the rest of my life.

To the gentleman who gave his life so that I could live mine--I will always be eternally grateful. He thought enough to donate his organs so that many would be able to sustain a healthy and loving life with their families.

To all the doctors who assisted in the diagnosis of my illness to the transplant itself- words like giving, love, caring, unselfish, happy, knowledgeable are ways I describe the doctors and nurses who took part in my life's journey.

Blessed to write this,
Michael Sage

I am a 27-year-old female who has lived with Cystic Fibrosis her whole life. If you don’t know, Cystic Fibrosis causes thick mucus build-ups in lungs, which become nearly impossible for medicine to cure, thus resulting in a lung transplant. For the last six years, my doctor has causally mentioned lung transplant at various appointments. I nodded and really paid him no attention, because honestly, I wasn’t ready. I was holding out that some day, hopefully soon, someone would come out with a drug that would heal me. Crazy, I know. All that crazy thinking would lead me to having the flu, being intubated, and put to the top of the transplant list. My family sat and watched the machine breath for me for nine days when the call came for my lungs. When I woke, I had no recollection of what was going on. I remember nothing from before transplant. That’s probably a good thing, being as my family has told me I was not doing well at all. I can’t imagine what it was like for them to have to watch me decline so quickly, I mean, I was teaching kindergarten two weeks before transplant.

I have lived my life regardless of my condition. I went to college, pledged a sorority, dated, met my husband, graduated from college, got a teaching job, married my husband, bought a house and was living my life no matter how low my lung function was, and boy was it low. I did that until I couldn’t anymore, until the day when my lungs said “ENOUGH!”. When I told my doctor I was going to be teaching kindergarten for a living, he was cautiously supportive and reminded me that many people with CF don’t work. He told me “there are other options”, but I didn’t’ want to do anything else. From the moment I stepped in front of a class for the first time, I was hooked. It was like a drug. I knew I was meant to do it and I knew I would never give up. Even through all of the transplant talks, I knew I would never do it without a fight. The first year of teaching, I was surprisingly healthy, but as the years went on, I declined. My last year of teaching was the worse. I remember a student telling me “Mrs,., you cough a lot”. It was during this year when I was hospitalized too many times, put on IV medication every three months, and was using oxygen every chance I could. This was a drastic change from the previous year when hospital stays were about twice a year and oxygen was only at night. I thought my life was good then… Boy was I wrong.

I’ve always had big plans for my life: college, job, husband, dog, babies, traveling,; the list could go on, but I knew that these plans had an expiration date. I knew I wouldn’t get to all of these plans if I continued progressing the way I was. I was seeing my doctor more than my own family sometimes. One thing he said to me during a ‘sick visit’ was that one day I was going to have to decide that I was tired of being sick more than being healthy. That was like a punch in the stomach because I knew I was at that point, but I wasn’t ready to bite the bullet so say. I waved him off and went back to teaching. Teaching is not ideal for a person living with a lowered immune system. I caught EVERYTHING. Which is why in May 2016 when I caught the flu, my fight against lung transplant turned into a desperate need for one. I was admitted to the hospital, intubated for nine days, listed on a Friday and received my lungs on Monday.

To say that is anything less than a miracle is wrong. That doesn’t happen. People wait months, years for their lungs and I got mine in three days? I’m not sure how religious you are, but I am absolutely, with a doubt, 10000% sure that this whole process was God’s plan. There’s no reason why God chose me to receive those lungs, but I can’t tell you how thankful I am. I am thankful that my donor family so selflessly gave me life. That’s what they did. They gave my husband his wife back, they gave my parents their daughter back, and they gave me myself back. It’s hard to be the person you want to be when you can’t catch your breath or finish your sentence without struggling. I am finally back to that person. I am back to being energetic, full of life, and happy again. I didn’t realize how unhappy I had become until after transplant. Breathing with these new lungs has taught me to cherish the time I am given, love the ones close to me, and relish in the small daily activities that people take for granted. Because of them, my husband and I can live the life we have always dreamed and talked about. Sure, it comes with some restrictions, but those are nothing compared to the alternative.

They saved me. They saved my family from having to say goodbye. They saved me in my fight against CF. They helped me win. For that, I am so thankful. I pray for them every single day. I hope they find comfort in knowing my story and knowing how I appreciate this gift. It’s a gift I plan on cherishing and a story I plan on sharing with as many people as I can. Their loved one is living in me. I plan on taking full advantage of this second chance on life. I really believe that I would not have survived the summer. I had no options, but God delivered. He delivered these lungs to me because he knew I would not take them for granted. He knew I had more days ahead of me. I truly believe that my precious donor is dancing with the Lord in heaven, smiling down at all of us, knowing this was his plan all along.

I was diagnosed last year with End Stage Renal Disease and was hospitalized numerous times. I was informed that I had to start dialysis treatment and my only hope was a kidney transplant.

My wife volunteered to be tested and we learned that she is a perfect match. For the past year I have been trying to get on the transplant list and finally was accepted. We are in the final stages with testing and soon to have the transplant.

I am a major supporter of transplant and of LOPA and have worked over 30 years as a Forensic Investigator for a Coroner's Office. I see the value from both sides and encourage others to register!

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I look forward to promoting awareness in the very near future!

Thank you Melody my hero and love of my life.

Update from 2019

Yet another year has gone by and now as I celebrate 26 years of living with transplanted hearts. How does one begin to understand, share and reflect upon the many blessings that have been extended to me during those years?

A good starting place would be to give thanks to God who makes all things possible through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ for His grace in sustaining me and my family through all these years. One can never forget the donor families, whose courage and kindness, during a terrible time of loss made a decision to donate their loves one’s organ so that I and many others might have a second chance at life.

To those families my simple words cannot fully express my appreciation and gratefulness for their loving decisions. To my family, my wife Lois children and their spouses Maureen and Tim, Jim and Sugar as well as my grandsons and their spouses Ryan and Bea and Payton and Sophie, how they have stood by me during very troubling times is a testimony of their love and care for me. Our church family here at FBC White Castle who prayed so hard, diligently and faithfully for us and still do today. The many friends we have made during the course of this journey, the Houston friends, Deidra and Renita who we met at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital many years ago, to our church family who were so dear to us while living in Houston, the members of West University Baptist Church their Pastor, Pastor of Sr. adults and many members who are too numerous to name individually, of the congregation. The kindness shown us is indescribable and will live forever in our hearts. To our extended family and friends your prayers, thoughts and kind acts have encouraged us and we are eternally grateful for all of you.

For our newer friends and as a refresher for others; after spending 3 ½ months in hospital in Houston, the last 70 days attached to an experimental heart life support machine the LVAD Unit (Left Ventricular Assist Device), while awaiting a heart transplant. I receive a donor heart on July 20, 1993 and after three months of recovery while living in Houston we were able to return to our home and continue life. While undergoing annual post heart transplant test in Houston in July 2009 a blood clot the size of a golf ball was discovered in the upper left chamber of my heart which required surgery to remove and led to the demise of that heart. I was put back on the transplant list for a second heart transplant and after 15 months of waiting while living in Houston, by the grace of God and a generous donor family; I received a second heart transplant on Wednesday, November 25 2010. After another three month recovery period we returned to our home in March 2011.

With all of this said I seem to always come back to; how does one say thanks for such miracles in one’s life?

I have reached the conclusion that a simple thanks and a word of appreciation is not enough, so I have dedicated myself to be of service to my fellow man by being active in my church, community and various organizations as a way of saying thanks and to be an encouragement to others. On July 20 I celebrated 26 years of quality life, thankful living and always being mindful to give thanks in everything I am able do and thanking God every day for His great mercy and grace. I hope this note finds all of you in good health and enjoying life as the Lord gives it to us.

“Fry” Hymel

It is hard to believe that another year has gone by, but time waits on no man, and yes I am a year older, and survived another year with a transplanted heart for an overall total of 23 years.

As we approach July 20th it is almost impossible to believe that on this date in 1993, I underwent a transforming experience in life.  It was 23 years ago that I received a heart transplant and given the opportunity to enjoy those 23 additional years of quality life.

When one reflects back the first thing that goes through your mind is how all of this happened. How did my family, as well as I, survive such an event?

First, reflecting back realizing how thankful I am to my wife, Lois, children Maureen and Jim, their spouses Tim and Sugar and my grandchildren, Ryan and his wife Bea and Payton. Plus all of our dear friends who we consider as family for seeing me through this major medical time in my life. Along with my wife and family there were untold numbers of friends, extended family and new friends we have made along the way that has given us so much encouragement and support, and still do today.  I wish I could mention everyone by name; space does not permit that, but two groups in Houston are so very dear to us.  First, the members and leadership of West University Baptist Church where Lois and I have attended whenever in Houston, they are indeed a true blessing in our lives.  Second, dear hospital associated friends, Deidra, Renita and a kind and sweet lady, Bettye, all of these plus untold additional numbers of people have made our life bearable during this time through their friendship and love for us.

Second, God has blessed me through my years of employment with the opportunity to work for a major corporation that had wonderful health insurance that allowed for an event like this to come through.

Third, equally important as the above, was the kindness and generosity of a family to agree to donate a loved one’s organs at the time of his passing. You might imagine the trauma of losing a love one, then faced with a decision to donate his organs at a time when great sadness came into their lives. While I never had the chance to meet the first donor family, my thoughts and prayers are constantly with them, and I trust God has blessed them multiple times over for their kind act of the “Gift of Life”.

For those friends and family that may have forgotten or never heard the story of how I arrived at this point, I will bring you up to date with a brief background.

On February 22, 1992 I was struck with a major heart attack that destroyed my heart.  No surgical procedure or treatments would fix this problem. The only chance I had at life was a heart transplant.  After surviving from February until April of 1993, my heart simply could no longer work as it should, and I arrived at the Texas Heart Institute, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas where I waited 4 months in the hospital. 70 of those days hooked up to an experimental heart machine the “LEFT VINTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE” or LVAD Unit as it is known.

On July 20, 1993 I did receive the “Gift of Life” a new heart and as stated above it was indeed a true gift of life.  There are no words to adequately describe how God has blessed me, not only through this event of life, but prior to it and ever since.  On that transplanted heart, I had 17 ½ years of quality life and indeed I was living on the grace and mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Second phase of God’s blessings

While undergoing routine annual post heart transplant test in Houston in August of 2009, a blood clot the size of a golf ball was found in the upper left chamber of my heart.  Surgery was performed to remove the clot and the next day I was put on the transplant list for a second heart.

Lois and I moved to Houston, lived in an apartment for 15 months and a donor heart came in on November 25, 2010, and I underwent a 2nd heart transplant. Again the kindness, generosity and grace of a then unknown family made a supreme sacrifice and agreed to donate their loved one’s organs, and I was the recipient of that heart. I have communicated with that family, and our intentions are to get together and meet each other.

As rare as heart transplants are you may well imagine how blessed I have been to receive two transplanted hearts and still have a fine quality of life.

After an additional 3 months of recuperating in Houston, we returned to our home and have enjoyed another 5 ½ years of quality life.

As with all of us we don’t know what the future holds, but I am assured of the one who holds the future. I rejoice every day knowing God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ has sustained me through the good and bad times.

When reflecting back on all of these events I often ask myself, have I done all that I can do with this extra time that God has given me. Quite a challenging question that I find comfort in by serving the God I love first, through my local church, First Baptist Church, White Castle, then by giving back by serving my fellow man. I do this part by being active in my community with such activities as The Iberville Museum where I serve as Chairman of the Board, our local American Legion where I serve as its Chaplin and the Westside Honor Guard where I serve at military funerals for fellow veterans. I still take every opportunity to share the value of organ donation whenever I have the opportunity.

With great love and respect,     

“Fry”