Recipient Stories

Organ, eye and tissue donations can have a lasting impact on transplant recipients and their loved ones. Hear real-life stories from individuals who have received lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants, thanks to the generosity of donors and their families.

Deb Blaker & Paula Auten

Deb and Paula knew they shared a love for books, but they soon learned they shared something much deeper when they realized Paula’s brother had been Deb’s organ donor.

Deb and Paula share a love for books, and as former school classmates, they were reunited by joining a local book club together. Little did they know that they shared something much deeper. At one book club meeting, as Deb talked about the liver transplant that saved her life, Paula started to piece together the dates and wonder if maybe her brother Mark Coker, who had passed away that same day, could have been her donor.

Darrin Henry & Jake Jones

Jake knew he had to try to help when he heard how sick his fellow churchgoer Darrin was. Tests showed that Jake was a match, and he gladly made a lifesaving kidney donation to Darrin.

As Darrin’s health continued to get progressively worse, his doctor told him he would need a kidney transplant to survive. Jake heard how sick another member of his church congregation was, and he knew he had to try to help. Jake spoke with his wife and decided that he wanted to be tested to see if he could be a match for Darrin.

Read about donor families and the impact their loved ones made, or tell us about your own personal experience with organ donation.

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