Amanda (Hux) Wright and her family after her first liver transplant.

MTN Ambassador Spotlight: Amanda (Hux) Wright, liver transplant recipient

Amanda and her family after her first liver transplant.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Amanda (Hux) Wright does — and her story of faith, resilience, and two life-saving liver transplants is nothing short of powerful.

Do you believe in coincidence or things happening for a reason? Amanda (Hux) Wright and her family understand the power of coincidence and how the timing of events can change a life. They have a strong faith and believe God has a big part in how our lives happen.

Amanda grew up in a close-knit family who dealt with the struggle of her father’s Type 1 diabetes at home and in hospitals. The family was always caring and supportive with health scares and Amanda was especially close to her dad.

A life-changing diagnosis

It was during an exam for bruises on her legs that Amanda’s life would change in February 2016. She was admitted to the hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, where she lived. A biopsy would reveal she had two autoimmune diseases. She was 26.

At the time of her diagnosis, doctors in St. Joe thought her autoimmune diseases could be controlled with medication. As fate would have it, she began transplant evaluations in December 2016 and her first liver transplant surgery was at KU Health System on June 17, 2017. A Father’s Day to remember.

“When I came out of surgery my dad was so happy,” Amanda said. “He said, ‘This is the best Father’s Day present I could have.’” He wondered how Amanda would top this gift the next year. Her mom said, “We’re not even going to try.”

Amanda’s recovery process went well for a year. “Everything was amazing, and the doctors were happy with how my numbers looked. My recovery was phenomenal with that liver.”

She was out of the hospital in a week and back to work in four months at her job with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Driver Testing Program. Her doctors were surprised at how fast she healed from the surgery. Her life returned to normal; but then things changed.

Signs of rejection

It was nearly a year to the date that Amanda started experiencing rejection with her transplanted liver. She spent the next few months in and out of the hospital with biopsies and treatment while the signs of rejection continued.

Amanda and her family didn’t sit back and wait for what was next. They took the initiative and researched the best places in the U.S. for a liver transplant. They narrowed it down to hospitals in Arizona and Nebraska.

On July 12, 2021, Amanda received the call that she could have a liver transplant in Omaha, Nebraska. By coincidence her dad was also in an Omaha hospital with his own health challenges.

“The second liver transplant was really hard,” Amanda said. “I had false expectations going into this. My first one was so easy, and I thought it was not a big deal, I can do this again.”

She quickly learned this time was quite different. She was older, COVID-19 was a global pandemic, she was in an unfamiliar place and couldn’t have anyone she knew with her.

The special video call

One day Amanda decided to have a video call with her parents. Her dad wasn’t talking much from his hospital bed, but when she called, he grabbed the phone and said, “How are you?”

This was the last time she ever spoke to her dad. Four days after Amanda was released from the hospital, he passed away.

Amanda and her mom believe he was holding on to know his daughter was going to be all right. Once he knew, it was all the comfort and peace he needed.

Giving back

“I am 100% better now,” Amanda said. “It took a long time to get here, but I’m doing really good.”

After her transplant experience, she wanted to do something that would make a difference. “I decided to go back to school at Missouri Western State University for nursing. I want to do something where I could have an impact on people that would potentially be in a situation like mine. I want to have an impact on transplant nursing.”

She has volunteered as an MTN Ambassador since August 2024 and receives the highest level of college credit for her time because the work is related to her major.

“Being an MTN Ambassador has been informational and educational. My favorite thing is interacting with the other Ambassadors and hearing their stories, especially with people who have been in my shoes. I also like talking to the donor families and hearing their perspectives. Understanding different points of view is fascinating to me. I really appreciate that.”

Sydney Prine

Sydney Prine: A Heart for Giving

Sydney Prine

Sydney Prine was a natural teacher and cheerleader for everyone around her, she believed in kindness and the power of giving.

Sydney Prine: A Heart for Giving

Sydney Prine had a spirit as bright as her smile. She was a cheerleader for others, a natural teacher, and someone who found joy in giving. Her parents, Ginger and Tim, say she learned early on that kindness was a gift worth sharing.

Sydney Prine

“She figured out that it’s much better to help others and a lot easier to be nice,” her mother, Ginger, said. Sydney carried that lesson with her throughout her life, always looking for ways to lift others up. She especially loved giving presents, eagerly waiting to see the joy on someone’s face when they opened a gift from her.

The Prine family

That’s why, for her family, it was both heartbreaking and beautiful that Sydney’s greatest act of giving came on Christmas Day.

A Life-Saving Gift

At just 23 years old, Sydney had recently accepted her first teaching job—one step closer to her lifelong dream of helping others learn and grow. But in the days leading up to Christmas, she was involved in a tragic car accident.

Her parents were initially told that her heart was too damaged to be donated. But Sydney continued to fight, and over the next few days, she healed enough for her heart to be transplanted on Christmas night.

Tim, Sydney & Ginger Prine

“She worked and healed her heart, and it was strong enough to be transplanted,” her parents said.

Sydney’s heart gave a grandmother a second chance at life. Her kidneys went to two different men, and she also donated her corneas, skin, ligaments, bone, and blood vessels—helping and healing countless others.

Continuing Sydney’s Legacy

Sydney’s generosity didn’t end with her passing. Her story has inspired many to register as organ donors, including her own family.

“All of us—her parents and her four siblings—are registered donors,” her mother said. “It’s something we will always advocate for. We wouldn’t be able to start to get through this without her giving the gifts she gave.”

Her family believes Sydney’s legacy lives on, not only through the lives she saved but also through the lessons she continues to teach.

Tim & Ginger Prine

“She always wanted to be a teacher,” her mother said. “She’s still teaching. And we’ll help her do that.”

Sydney’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation. Through her selfless gifts, her kindness continues to shine, bringing hope and healing to so many.

Learn more about organ donation at ShareLifeMidwest.com.

 

Steve Richberg

Steve Richberg: A Journey of Hope, Resilience and the Gift of Life

Steve Richberg

Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at 18, Steve’s journey has been a roller coaster of challenges.

Steve Richberg has lived with three hearts—the one he was born with and two gifted through the generosity of organ donors. His story is one of resilience, family, and the lifesaving power of organ donation.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

At just 18 years old, Steve was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle and can lead to heart failure. He managed his health for years, but complications eventually led to a stroke, and he was placed on the transplant waiting list.

“We’re high school sweethearts. We’ve been together for 22 years. So, shortly after we started dating is when he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy,” shared his wife, Heather.

Steve Richberg and his wife

The First Transplant

At age 31, Steve received his first heart transplant on August 10, 2016. At the time, their children, Steven Jr. and Jaden, were in sixth and third grade. The surgery gave Steve a second chance at life, allowing him to continue being present for his family.

Steve Richberg's two songs

Another Challenge, Another Gift

In 2022, Steve faced another setback—his transplanted heart was failing. He once again needed the lifesaving gift of organ donation. On April 18, 2022, he received his second heart transplant. By then, his sons were older and had a deeper understanding of what was happening, making the experience even more emotional for their family.

“One of the things we determined was best for our family was to stick together and stay strong. We were very honest with our kids through the entire situation,” Heather explained.

Steve Richberg and family

Gratitude and Hope

Through every high and low, Steve has remained deeply grateful for the second and third chances he has been given.

“This journey has its highs and lows and angst, like a roller coaster,” said Steve. “You want to believe everything will go smoothly; you just have no idea of what can come with it.

“I’m extremely grateful as a recipient. My life’s been extended.