-
Ed Bolt
mourns the loss of his son,
E.J., but finds solace in the fact
that E.J. was able to save five
lives through organ donation. -
The Gift of Life
Thanks to Cynthia Deckers
generous heart,
Milton Bowens, Jr.,
is alive today! -
José Gomez
Kidney Recipient
The doctors said it was a one in a million
perfect match, thanks to a donor hero. -
Karen Hoyt
Liver Recipient
Lives every day with
a grateful spirit. -
Ron Black
A Living Miracle
Ron is alive today,
thanks to a donor hero.
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Saving Lives Together
The gift of organ and tissue donation truly saves and enhances lives, thanks to the heroic donors and courageous families. It offers hope right here in our community and throughout our state.
Recipient
Wes HawkinsThanks to a donor hero, Wes can breathe again, read his transplant journey.
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Donor Hero
Nate SmithNate was an athletic 19-year-old, he loved helping others, and to no one’s surprise,
he was a donor hero. Read his story. |
Oklahomans now have an opportunity to use their love for the outdoors as a way to help thousands who are waiting for the gift of life.
Fishing and Hunting licenses now come with a life-saving opportunity.
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News and Promotions
Woman’s Sight Restored after Corneal Transplant
LifeShare Celebrates National Donate Life Month
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As Jillian Sulley of Broken Arrow, Okla., began the drive back to college to take her final exams, she suddenly noticed the only thing she could see out of her left eye was a white haze. Terrified, she called her mom who instructed her to finish her final exams and that she would schedule an appointment with an eye doctor when she returned. When they went to the appointment, the doctor examined her eyes and then asked the family to meet him in his office.
Jillian and her mother were overwhelmed with fear as they walked into his office. The doctor told Jillian that in his entire practice, he had never seen Fuchs’ Dystrophy and Keratoconus together in someone her age. To treat her diseased corneas, he recommended an emergency corneal transplant in her left eye and immediately placed her on the waiting list. READ FULL STORY |
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Hope Rises Across Oklahoma
LifeShare Celebrates Donate Life Month
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This month, hope is rising across the state for those awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Each April, LifeShare of Oklahoma celebrates Donate Life Month, an observance to focus attention on the need for and importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. The celebration is about the importance of registering your decision to be a donor and honoring deceased and living donors – recognizing that the generosity of donors makes saving lives through transplantation possible.
More than 106,000 people across the country are currently waiting on a lifesaving transplant, and 650 of those are waiting here in Oklahoma. Thousands more wait for lifesaving and healing tissue transplants. Only three in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation to take place, so it is vitally important for everyone to register their lifesaving decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. |
“Last year, LifeShare was able to provide 583 lifesaving organs for transplant through organ donation, which is more lifesaving gifts than ever before from selfless individuals and families in Oklahoma,” said Jeffrey Orlowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeShare. “While Donate Life Month exists as an opportunity to honor our heroic donors and celebrate the lives that were saved, it’s also a time to remember that 650 Oklahomans await a lifesaving transplant. We hope residents of the state will join us in raising awareness about donation.” READ FULL STORY
Sharing Life, Love and a Liver
LifeShare Celebrates National Donate Life Month
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David Wheelis, of Oklahoma City, wakes up grateful everyday he is alive. His life is forever changed thanks to his girlfriend, now his wife – who saved his life five years ago.
In 2010, David learned he had a rare liver disease. At first, he had anxiety and a fear of the unknown – not fully knowing what would happen. After receiving his diagnosis, he knew he would eventually need a transplant, so he began to accept his diagnosis and eventual treatment. He worked on himself to attempt to delay the disease, such as leading a healthy lifestyle by watching what he was eating and exercising. He kept his faith that if he took care of the little things like his day-to-day tasks, the big things would take care of themselves. |
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When David began showing signs of liver failure, he and his girlfriend at the time, Misti, visited his Hepatologist and discussed his options. As soon as the doctor mentioned he could potentially have a living donor, Misti knew she wanted to be tested to save David’s life.
Misti underwent different exams and tests to ensure she was a candidate to donate part of her liver to David. She eventually learned that she could donate to him, and they began to set a transplant date. READ FULL STORY
Misti underwent different exams and tests to ensure she was a candidate to donate part of her liver to David. She eventually learned that she could donate to him, and they began to set a transplant date. READ FULL STORY
A Grateful Heart Oklahoman Man Receives Heart Transplant
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Mark Carnell, of Piedmont, headed out the door for an afternoon walk one day, and by the time he reached his neighbor’s mailbox – he was completely out of breath.
Prior to this, Mark had always lived a healthy and balanced life. He and his wife were active in their church and community. This alarming experience while walking caused him to call his team of doctors, who ran tests, performed x-rays and eventually diagnosed him with congestive heart failure. His doctor shared with him that he would likely need a transplant within five years. He worked diligently with his team of doctors to manage his heart failure, lose weight, and live his life the best he could with new restrictions on his lifestyle. By September 2017, his health had deteriorated to a point that the doctors believed that it was time to take the next step. He was placed on a medication that required a hospital stay and was added to the transplant waiting list. READ FULL STORY |
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