Transplant Spotlight – Midwest Transplant Network

Living Donation: How the MTN Laboratory Facilitates Transplant Success

April 20, 2026/in

An MTN Laboratory staff member prepares samples for testing.

Living donation allows individuals to donate organs while they are still alive, significantly improving the chances of survival for recipients. The most commonly donated organs are kidneys and segments of the liver. In certain circumstances, other tissues can be donated as well.

According to Donate Life America, in 2024, more than 7,000 people made the decision to give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to someone waiting for another chance at life. Others gave the healing gift of birth tissue such as placenta and amniotic membrane. Grafts derived from birth tissue promote natural healing for burns and painful wounds.

A living donor has the unique opportunity to decide who to donate their organ to, helping a recipient receive an organ transplant faster. Most living donations occur between family members or close friends. However, some people choose to donate to someone they don’t know. There are powerful stories of real people who have donated and received organs.

While recovery from surgery takes time, living donation is typically safe for the donor and does not affect life expectancy. Most living donors go on to experience active, healthy lives, finding fulfillment in the lasting, positive impact of their decision.

Benefits of Living Donation

As a living donor, you can choose who receives your organ.
You can reduce someone’s waiting time for an organ transplant.
Living kidney donation can shorten or prevent the need for kidney dialysis.
Research has shown that recipients of organs from living donors have better outcomes than those who receive organs from deceased donors.

MTN’s Impact on Living Donation

Midwest Transplant Network’s Laboratory Services team supports living donation by providing testing that transplant programs need to match donors and recipients. The laboratory’s work helps ensure living donor transplants are safe, effective and possible for more patients.

An MTN Laboratory team member holds a vial with a blood sample.

A blood vial in the MTN Laboratory.

Living donation changes lives. MTN is proud to support the generosity of living donors through laboratory testing, making living donor transplants possible for patients and transplant programs in our community.

“I encourage anyone considering living donation – or those who want to support someone on their transplant journey – to learn more about living donor options, including paired kidney exchange, and to talk with their local transplant program about how they can help make a lifesaving difference,” said MTN Chief of Laboratory Services, Christina Bishop, MT, PhD.

Living Donor Day

Living Donor Day is a celebration that takes place in April during National Donate Life Month. It honors living organ and tissue donors for their generous decision to save and heal lives. Living Donor Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday in April.

Learn more about living donation.

A Life Changed in Hours: Josue’s Kidney Transplant Story

March 26, 2026/in

/by Mitch Weber

Josue was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, along with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can affect growth and development. In those early hours, survival was uncertain.

When Josue Mendoza was born, his parents faced the unthinkable.

“After delivery, they flew him to Colorado, and that’s where we found out it was his kidneys,” said his mom, Judith. “They said that he was going to be lucky if he only lived like 24 hours.”

Josue was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, along with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can affect growth and development. In those early hours, survival was uncertain. But Josue kept fighting.

He made it past 24 hours. Then another day. And another.

Still, the challenges remained. His kidneys continued to fail, and much of his early life was spent in and out of the hospital. His family traveled hours at a time for care, navigating long days and weekends centered around dialysis and treatment.

“Two years ago, he wasn’t walking or talking,” Judith said. “We were in the hospital five hours away from home every weekend dealing with dialysis machines.”

Everything changed on March 7, 2023.

That’s the day Josue received a life-saving kidney transplant.

“Life has changed since transplant. A lot,” Judith said. “Within hours, he started drinking water, he started eating.”

The transformation was almost immediate. What once felt uncertain began to fill with hope.

“A few months later, he started walking,” she said. “It’s amazing what a transplant can do.”

Today, Josue is a thriving 4-year-old with a bright personality and endless energy. He brings joy to everyone around him and is looking forward to milestones his family once feared might never come, like starting school and simply being a kid.

“He’s thriving now that he got his kidney,” Judith said.

Behind Josue’s second chance is the generosity of a donor hero and their family, whose decision made this new life possible.

Josue’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact of organ donation. Because of that one selfless choice, a little boy who once faced impossible odds is now living a full and active life.

Learn more about organ donation at ShareLifeMidwest.com.

A Second Chance at 16: Titus’ Story of Hope

February 24, 2026/in

/by Mitch Weber

At 16, Titus Woods faced liver cancer not once, but twice.

At just 16 years old, Titus Woods has already shown what true courage looks like.

In March 2022, the high school junior and soccer player was diagnosed with liver cancer. What began as a typical season of school and sports quickly turned into doctor appointments, surgery and chemotherapy. Titus underwent surgery to remove part of his liver, followed by months of treatment.

Through it all, he kept his focus on getting back to the life he loved. Eventually, he returned to school, friends and the soccer field. For a while, it felt like things were moving forward.

Then, a year later, the cancer came back.

This time, Titus would need a liver transplant.

Leaning on Faith and Family

Titus’ parents, Tracey and Carmi, serve as hospital chaplains. Their work has long connected them to patients, families and the realities of organ donation. Even with that understanding, facing the transplant journey as parents brought a different perspective.

As Titus endured more treatments and the uncertainty of waiting for a transplant, the Woods family leaned deeply on their faith and the support of their community. Friends, extended family and their church surrounded them with encouragement and prayer.

Titus’ brother, Terrell, witnessed the physical and emotional toll up close. Watching someone you love suffer is never easy, but he also saw something else in Titus: resilience.

Despite the setbacks, Titus continued to push forward.

Another Unexpected Loss

In the midst of Titus’ medical battle, the family faced another devastating hardship. A house fire destroyed nearly everything they owned. It was yet another moment that could have broken their spirits.

Instead, they held tightly to gratitude for what remained and hope for what was ahead.

The Gift of Life

Two weeks after being listed for a transplant, Titus received the call. A donor family had made the selfless decision to give the gift of life.

The transplant was successful.

Today, Titus is growing stronger each day. He carries himself with new confidence and perspective. What he has endured has shaped him, but it has not defined him.

“It touches my heart, and I am so thankful to the donor family,” his mom, Tracey, shared. “His whole life has changed.”

A Voice for Hope

For Titus, courage means pushing through hardship with faith and hope. His journey has inspired not only his family but everyone who has followed his story.

Now, he uses his voice to advocate for organ donation, knowing firsthand the life-changing impact of one decision.

Because of a generous donor and their family, Titus has a future filled with possibility.

And because of stories like his, more families can see the power of saying yes to organ donation.

Watch Titus’ Story of Hope and learn more about organ donation at ShareLifeMidwest.com.

Brandy & Sloane Burgess honoring donor hero Monroe Burgess

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Monroe Burgess

November 21, 2025/in

/by Mitch Weber

As Brandy and Sloane move forward, they are exploring the idea of creating a nonprofit in Monroe’s name.

Midwest Transplant Network is proud to share November’s Story of Hope, honoring the life, spirit and generosity of Monroe Burgess. Those who knew Monroe describe him as smart, caring and charismatic, with a deep love of science and a strong work ethic. His passion for organ, eye and tissue donation shaped both his career and the way he approached the world.

Monroe met his wife, Brandy, while he worked at Midwest Transplant Network. Early in their relationship, one quality stood out. “He would say, ‘They’re having a worse day than I am, and I need to meet that family where they are. If it means that I have to pause what I’m doing, then that’s what I have to do.’” Brandy said. That mindset guided him throughout his career and became a defining part of the way he lived his life.

At home, Monroe was devoted to his family. He encouraged his daughter Sloane’s love of dancing and singing, and took time to teach her practical skills, like how to fish and how to back a car into the driveway. He wanted her to be well rounded and to chase her dreams with confidence. For her friends, he was the dad everyone admired and gravitated toward.

Professionally, Monroe worked in nearly every part of the donation process, bringing his passion and skills to direct service, laboratory work and logistics. His dedication grew into a shared mission when he and Brandy helped establish a birth tissue and cord blood program. The program expanded opportunities for donation and reflected Monroe’s belief that giving back can take many forms.

“He loved being a guy from Kansas City that nobody knows about,” Brandy said. “And he changed the course of somebody’s life.” That sense of humility and purpose defined his work. It also appeared in small but meaningful acts of kindness. Brandy shared how he would occasionally give a$100 bill to a family in a store during the holidays. He never wanted recognition. He simply loved the chance to brighten someone’s day.

Monroe’s legacy of generosity continued through his final act of service. He donated his corneas for transplant, offering sight and renewed hope to others. He also donated his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a contribution that may help advance understanding and improve care in the years ahead.

As Brandy and Sloane move forward, they are exploring the idea of creating a nonprofit in Monroe’s name. They hope to continue the work he cared about and ensure his impact carries on through new opportunities to help others.

Everyday Heroes: How One Cornea Gift Changed Matt’s World

November 4, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

For Matt, a cornea transplant meant the difference between fading vision and a world brought back into focus.

November is Eye Donation Month, a time to recognize the everyday heroes who make restored sight possible —donors and their families, eye bankers, corneal surgeons, champions of eye donation and all who work to bring the gift of sight to life. This year’s theme from the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) is “Everyday Heroes.” It celebrates how nearly anyone can be a cornea donor and therefore a superhero by giving the gift of sight.

At Saving Sight, we see every day how donors, medical teams, and advocates come together to change lives. Matt’s story is just one example of the profound difference these everyday heroes make.

For Matt, a cornea transplant meant the difference between fading vision and a world brought back into focus.

“I didn’t know how much a single tissue could impact someone’s life until I was faced with losing my sight,” Matt said. “It’s incredible that two people have now given me this chance to live fully.”

Matt’s journey began unexpectedly after a seemingly minor ear infection ruptured as he slept. Discharge from his ruptured eardrum, combined with dirt beneath his contact lens, led to a rare fungal infection, causing severe vision impairment.

After numerous treatments that didn’t work, Matt was referred to an ophthalmologist at the University of Kansas Health System.

“I learned about Saving Sight and a little about what could happen, and we talked about possibly looking for a donor,” Matt recalled.

Tests revealed the infection was advancing rapidly, and Matt was informed that he would need a cornea transplant to preserve any hope of sight.

“They were concerned I could lose 100% of my eyesight, and I needed a transplant ASAP,” he said.

Matt’s experience with transplants started years earlier when he received a life-saving kidney from a living donor. That experience helped him understand the power of donation, but it wasn’t until facing potential blindness that he fully appreciated how even a single tissue gift can change a life.

“I am forever grateful,” Matt

said. “Someone selflessly gave me the gift of sight, and it’s overwhelming. What did I do to deserve such love and compassion?”

The impact of his donor’s gift goes beyond restored vision, it’s a testament to human kindness and the power of eye, organ, and tissue donation. Matt hopes to honor his donor’s legacy by sharing his story and inspiring others to become registered donors.

“You might be able to save someone’s life or change their world just by checking that box on your license,” he said. “It’s a chance to help someone in a way that goes far beyond what we can understand.”

Since 1961, Saving Sight and our fellow eye banks have facilitated more than two million sight-restoring corneal transplants, each one made possible by the selfless choice of a donor and their family. Eye Donation Month is our opportunity to honor these gifts, highlight their impact, and encourage others to consider joining this life-changing movement.

This November, you can be an everyday hero too:

· Register as an eye, organ, and tissue donor.

· Share your decision with loved ones so your wishes are known.

· Support the mission by helping raise awareness about donation.

Matt’s story reminds us that a single act of generosity can transform a life forever. Through the gift of sight, donors give recipients more than vision, they give hope, independence, and the ability to fully experience the world around them.

This blog was written by Saving Sight. Thank you for your contribution.

A Little Superhero with a Big Legacy – Owen Linder

October 29, 2025/in

/by Mitch Weber

At just 2 years old, Owen became a true superhero himself — an organ and eye donor who brought hope and healing to others.

The youngest in his family, Owen Linder was known for his big personality. He was funny, loud, and loved to dance. Rainy days meant adventures with his dad, and superheroes were among his favorite things.

Owen became an organ and eye donor at the age of two.

“It was probably the best outcome considering the accident,” said his dad, Joe. “I’m just glad that he was able to help other people with his organs.”

His mom, Morgan, says the decision came from the heart. “People told us we were so brave to donate Owen’s organs. But I’m like, why wouldn’t you want to do that?”

The Linders have connected with two of Owen’s recipient families, including daily conversations with the recipient of his heart. “I put myself in the other mother’s place and can kind of feel what they’re feeling,” Morgan said. “We got to save their kids and a husband. And that’s really cool for us.”

Morgan says the experience has reshaped how she lives every day. “For me, it gives meaning to the accident,” she said. “We always ask why, and there’s no reason why, but we got to save a bunch of lives, and that’s what has helped me keep going. My theme for life now is to never take a second for granted.”

The Linders have found strength in their community, who has supported them from day one. Whether it’s reuniting with Owen’s nurses at MTN’s Donate Life Legacy Walk or keeping in touch with other donor families, Morgan says those connections remind her that Owen’s spirit continues to shine.

To honor Owen’s legacy, the Linders created The Owen Project, which gives back to their community in meaningful ways. “We donate most-needed items to the Ronald McDonald House inside Children’s Mercy, offer senior scholarships at two schools in Cass County, sponsor youth sports, and my daughter runs Rae’s Sports Closet,” Morgan said. “We make sure every kid has the opportunity to play sports.”

“To us, hope means being able to move forward while knowing Owen is still with us in some ways,” she said. “It’s happiness for our family — and the promise that we’ll see him again one day.”

Stephanie “Fanny” Meléndez – A Donor Hero’s Lasting Legacy

August 21, 2025/in

/by Mitch Weber

When complications from a brain tumor took her life, Stephanie Meléndez gave the ultimate gift. She donated her heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bone and skin.

Speaking softly, Yahaira Meléndez describes her wife, Stephanie, as the brightest person she has ever known. She was beautiful inside and out with a love for singing and dancing. The couple first met while working at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico where Stephanie was a concierge and Yahaira was a bartender.

Choosing to Become a Donor

When Stephanie later moved to the United States, she noticed Yahaira’s driver’s license identified her as an organ donor. Inspired, Stephanie made the same decision. “I think I’m going to do that,” she told Yahaira, who encouraged her: “Go ahead and do it. It’s something good that you can do.”

Tragically, complications during surgery to remove a brain tumor ended Stephanie’s life far too soon. In keeping with her decision, Stephanie, affectionately called Fanny, became a donor hero. She gave the gifts of her heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bone and skin, saving and healing the lives of many.

A Legacy of Love and Life

“Our family is sad because we don’t have Fanny with us,” Yahaira shared. “But we’re happy because with her help, there are a lot of people who will live, including the girl who has her heart. She was 14 when she got it and is 16 by now. Thanks to my wife, she’s going to be the woman she wants to be.”

Even in loss, Yahaira finds comfort in knowing her wife’s legacy lives on through others. “I’m just so proud of her. Even though she’s not here, I know she’s with us. I’m proud that her decision made so many people happy, because their families are going to be with them a little longer. Her spirit is going to be with us forever.”

A Journey of Living Donation – Joey & Audrey Sughroue

July 31, 2025/in

/by Mitch Weber

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.

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

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

April 23, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

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: A Heart for Giving

March 26, 2025/in

/by Midwest Transplant Network

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

“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.