July 2025 – Midwest Transplant Network

A Journey of Living Donation – Joey & Audrey Sughroue

July 31, 2025/in

Audrey wasn’t a match for Joey, who needed a kidney due to Alport syndrome, but she still helped save his life.

A Perfect Match Through Paired Exchange

Audrey and Joey’s relationship blossomed even as Joey battled Alport syndrome, a genetic kidney disease. When his condition worsened, Audrey hoped to donate her kidney but wasn’t a direct match.

Through a paired exchange, Audrey gave to another recipient while Joey received a kidney from someone else. Their surgeries took place on the same day, May 2, 2023, marking a life-changing moment for them both.

Embracing Life After Transplant

Throughout this journey, the couple remained committed to living fully. They got engaged, married, bought a home and, most recently, celebrated the arrival of their greatest joy yet, their daughter Mila.

In the months that followed their surgeries, Audrey and Joey embraced the life they had hoped for. They took a long-dreamed-of trip to France, and around the one year anniversary of their transplants, they traveled to Thailand, grateful for the strength and freedom restored through living donation.

Now, Audrey and Joey look forward to a future filled with possibility, good health and new adventures as a family.

Learn more about organ donation at ShareLifeMidwest.com.

Doug Ohlde retires from MTN as corporate pilot.

MTN Staff Spotlight: Doug Ohlde flies into retirement

July 16, 2025/in

Blog

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Doug Ohlde was honored at a retirement reception.

Midwest Transplant Network pilot retires knowing he made a difference

Doug Ohlde thrived in a dream career as a pilot. Before joining Midwest Transplant Network in 2011, he spent 30 years in the United States Air Force. He served seven years on active duty and 23 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves retiring as a colonel. His background includes working as a pilot for various organizations.

“I love to fly, and it’s never work when you love what you do,” said Doug. On June 30, he retired after 14 years with MTN as a Corporate Pilot PRN. “I feel that I’ve made a difference in this job, and I’ve enjoyed working with everyone.”

Doug said he especially enjoyed the beauty of flying. “There’s nothing like the wide blue sky and the clouds when you are gliding across the sky.”

Growing up in rural Kansas, Doug was a farm kid with a passion for agriculture. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in grain science and industry and is a lifelong Wildcat fan – EMAW! In addition, he earned his MBA in international marketing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Not only is he a pilot, but he also has 35 years of experience working as an independent insurance brokerage.

Doug provided leadership at Farmland Industries, which was the largest agricultural cooperative in North America with domestic and worldwide markets. He was also associated with Cargill Inc., a multinational food and agriculture corporation.

“After a career marked by grit, heart and an unwavering commitment to the mission, we say farewell to a pilot who never hesitated to do whatever it took to safely get the job done,” said MTN Aviation Manager, Lemoine Davis. “Doug’s dedication and work ethic was inspirational, to say the least, and his impact to the department will fly on long after his final landing here at MTN. Thank you for everything — enjoy your well-earned retirement and clear skies ahead.”

During this new chapter of his life, Doug plans to spend time working on projects at the family farm, traveling and doing more things with his three children and their families.

Please join us as we thank Doug for his service to MTN and our country. We wish him all the best in retirement.

A group of men and women posed in front of a tall sculpture that represents the gift of life through organ donation.

MTN Spotlight: MU fraternity donates nearly $9k toward organ donation

July 9, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

A group of men and women posed in front of a vertical sculpture.

Shea Walsh and his mom, Sarah Walsh, presented a donation to Midwest Transplant Network on behalf of Alpha Tau Omega, University of Missouri. The Walshes are pictured with leaders from Midwest Transplant Network.

Representing his college fraternity and donor hero father, Shea Walsh and his mother, Sarah, presented a generous donation of $8,924.90 to Midwest Transplant Network.

Shea is a sophomore at University of Missouri, a member of Alpha Tau Omega – Gamma Rho chapter, and serves as philanthropy chair. The fraternity’s signature fundraising event – a golf tournament and silent auction – had “amazing support” and the “turnout exceeded expectations.” Shea collaborated with Wyatt Oliver, signature event coordinator, on the fundraiser.

Support for a nonprofit
After the tournament, the next step was to choose a nonprofit in Kansas City aligned with organ donation.

“It was a clear decision for me. My late father’s organs were donated through Midwest Transplant Network, so I already had a personal connection to the organization,” he explained. “I brought the idea to our President Jimmy Welsh, Vice President Ben Herweck, and my co-chair Daniel Ross, and they immediately supported the choice without hesitation.”

“This is a full circle moment for us,” said Sarah. “Shea’s dad, Bernard Walsh, died suddenly May 4, 2014. We authorized use of anything viable to Midwest Transplant Network on that date. To know that Shea’s fraternity decided to have an event and only asked that the funds be donated to donor organizations warmed our hearts.

“We are grateful to offer this donation and hopeful that it will help in some way,” she continued.

Shea has similar feelings about being a donor hero family.

“Organ donation, to me, is truly lifesaving. I understand how rare and difficult it can be to receive a match, and that makes every donor even more meaningful. During our event, ATO alumnus Mark McIntosh shared his own emotional story of receiving a kidney transplant. His words reinforced just how critical and powerful organ donation really is.”

Support for public awareness
All contributions to Midwest Transplant Network support public education for organ, eye and tissue donation, as well as donor family services. Donated funds help ensure that people have access to information to make a decision about organ, eye and tissue donation.

A college-age man and a woman sitting at a conference table.

Shea Walsh and his mom, Sarah Walsh, smile during a conversation at Midwest Transplant Network. The Walshes presented a donation to MTN on behalf of Shea’s fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, University of Missouri.

An infographic that explains Midwest Transplant Network is No. 4 in the country for organ donation and no. 7 for transplantation rates. Rankings are based on 2023 data provided to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

MTN Ranks Among Top 10 in the Nation

July 7, 2025/in

Blog,
News

/by Midwest Transplant Network

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2025 OPO Annual Public Aggregated Performance Report, which outlines individual organ procurement organization (OPO) performance in 2023, the most current year that data is available.

The report notes that of 55 federally certified U.S. OPOs:

30 — including Midwest Transplant Network — are Tier 1 (54%)
16 are Tier 2 (29%)
10 are Tier 3 (18%)

This report ranks all OPOs into one of three tiers based on donation and transplantation rates. Tier 1 OPOs have the upper 95% confidence limit at or above the top 25th percentile cutoff for both the donation and transplantation rates. Each OPO’s tier ranking also has a letter associated: A is the highest possible performance in a tier, and E is the lowest.

Midwest Transplant Network is No. 4 in the nation for organ donation and No. 7 for transplantation rates; it has been among the top OPOs for both rates all four years the report has been released.

“Being a high-performing organ procurement organization means we are doing all the right things when it comes to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Midwest Transplant Network is truly dedicated to being innovative in our care of donor heroes and in our support of donor families. We are committed to working with hospitals and transplant centers to make a positive impact toward donation and transplantation, and we are focused on awareness and being inclusive of all the communities we serve across Kansas and western Missouri,” said Jan Finn, RN, MSN, President & Chief Executive Officer.

Midwest Transplant Network’s assessment rating in Tier 1A reflects the quality, professionalism and excellence in partnerships throughout Kansas and western Missouri, as well as the incredible generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and their families. It also reflects the commitment MTN staff have toward the mission of saving lives by honoring the gifts of organ, eye and tissue donation.

To learn more about Midwest Transplant Network and the importance of becoming a registered organ donor, please visit mwtn.org

Midwest Transplant Network is among the nation’s top 10, ranking no. 4 in organ donation and no. 7 in transplantation rates.

Lisa Cummins Shares Her Reflections on Purpose and Legacy at Midwest Transplant Network

July 2, 2025/in

Blog

/by Midwest Transplant Network

Midwest Transplant Network Quality Assurance Coordinator II, Lisa Cummins, ASQ-CQIA, tells her story of a 42-year career at MTN and what it means to her.

In 1982, Lisa Cummins answered a newspaper ad for a receptionist role at Midwest Transplant Network. Despite initially failing the typing test, her perfect resume earned her a chance — a decision that would lead to a lifelong commitment to the organization and its mission.

In early July, Lisa will wrap up a 42-year career, one that she knew made a difference every day. Over four decades, Lisa held nearly 10 different roles, steadily rising through the ranks, driven by a sense of purpose and a passion for helping others.

Why did Lisa stay at MTN for all those years? “I’ve been blessed to make a difference in somebody’s life every single day,” said Lisa. “There’s nothing more rewarding than that. I’ve stayed because of the culture and the people I’ve worked with at MTN.”

From the early days of donor cards to today’s first-person authorization, Lisa witnessed the evolution of organ, eye and tissue donation firsthand. Her own experience as a two-time recipient for breast reconstruction after cancer brought the mission full circle. It deepened her empathy and commitment to the organization.

Lisa said she’s not a public speaker, but she has been asked to share her story during National Donate Life Month in April. “Sometimes tissue donor families don’t get to meet the recipients,” said Lisa. “I feel like I’m the face of a recipient to those tissue donor families they can see. These families might not understand what a difference a tissue donation makes. Their loved one wasn’t just a tissue donor. Tissue is just as vital as organ transplants.”

What will retirement look like for Lisa? She plans to fill her days with travel, golf and cooking lessons. Her desire to give back remains strong.

Lisa plans to stay involved by volunteering at events like MTN’s Donate Life Legacy Walk, and continue to advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation.

We wish Lisa all the best in retirement.