Learn the Facts about Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
It costs nothing, it means everything.
She discovered she wasn't too old to donate. And she saved my life.
Mary – Organ Donor Brian – Liver Recipient
In 2002, Brian was diagnosed with NASH, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis or "silent" liver disease. In 2007, his conditioned worsened, and Brian realized he would need a liver transplant to survive. He was put on a transplant list in 2008, and after only three weeks, received a liver transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. He received a healthy liver from Mary, a 72-year-old female donor, proving you're never too old to give the gift of life.
Brian is a registered donor himself, and speaks to others about the benefits of donation. "I thank God every day for donors," Brian says. "You can't take your organs with you. Why not give of yourself to help save a life?"
Learn more about who can donate:
Doctors did everything they could to save her. And she did something incredibly selfless to save me.
Roxanne – Organ Donor Willie – Kidney Recipient
In 2003, an exam revealed that both of Willie’s kidneys were failing due to side effects from an anti-inflammatory drug regimen. Willie immediately began home kidney dialysis and continued this for more than a year. He then received dialysis in the hospital for the next three years and was eventually placed on a transplant list.
Willie waited 13 months, and on November 13, 2006, he received the news that there was a potential match for him in Toledo. Doctors fought valiantly to save Roxanne, a young woman who had suffered a brain aneurysm, but when those efforts failed, her family chose to donate her organs. She and Willie were a match. A staunch advocate for donation, Willie says, "You're giving someone a second chance. It's a generous gift and it's the best thing in the world."
Learn more about the donation process:
His family discovered organ donation was not against their religion. And he answered someone's prayers.
Calvin – Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Sean & Zeda (Calvin's minister and sister)
After 36-year-old Calvin suffered a brain aneurysm, doctors did everything they could to save his life. When he died, his family was faced with an important decision. Calvin had never talked about organ donation. But knowing Calvin's loving and generous nature, his family was sure he would want to help someone else if he could.
Sean, the minister at the family's church, assured them that organ donation is not against their Christian beliefs, and is in line with almost all other faiths. This helped the family make the decision to donate Calvin's eyes, tissues and kidneys. "Donation is a blessing. You're losing someone dear to you, but through the gift of donation, a part of that person is still here," says Calvin’s mother, Jean. "We encourage other families to make the same decision."
Read Carlos's story “As a parent, I am very happy to see Carlos doing so well and being able to live a normal life. I am honored to be able to pass life on to my son,” says Jutta, his mother and living donor.
Read Bruce's story "Words cannot express how thankful I am for the generosity of my donor and his family"
She discovered she wasn't too old to donate. And she saved my life.
His family discovered organ donation was not against their religion. And he answered someone's prayers. 
