#BeTheGift Connections

Every heartbeat tells a story, and we're honored to share them on #BeTheGift Connections!On this segment, we're joined by Kristina Hudgins, a mother who was in the middle of raising her two children when she learned she would need a heart transplant to survive.

We have a special segment of #BeTheGift Connections in honor of National Nurses Week!Matthew Darling was just three years old when he received a kidney transplant. He joins us to share how that one gift inspired him to pursue a career in nursing years later.

It's time to celebrate Donate Life Month with stories of hope and healing on #BeTheGift Connections!On this segment, we'll hear from Tennessee State Representative Kevin Raper, a liver recipient whose lifesaving transplant allowed him to return to public office with a deeper understanding of the process that touches so many lives.

We're raising awareness for kidney health and the critical need for kidney donors during National Kidney Month on #BeTheGift Connections! On this segment, we're joined by Justin Ballew, a kidney recipient, as he shares what it was like to go from complete independence to a medical crisis in a matter of days while abroad and the journey that led him to finally receive a transplant.

We're celebrating Black History Month on #BeTheGift Connections! ❤️💚💛🖤On this segment, Dr. Beau Kelly, Sierra Donor Services Surgical Director, joins us to discuss his career as a transplant surgeon, disparities in access to medical care and how we can work together to create a more equitable future in donation and transplantation.

We're celebrating Black History Month on #BeTheGift Connections! ❤️💚💛🖤On this segment, former Tennessee Titans player Albert Haynesworth III joins us to share the remarkable journey that led to his lifesaving kidney transplant.

Take a break from the ice and snow with a heartwarming story about one selfless young woman who changed countless lives through donation.Jordyn Wilson was ready to start a new life at 18 years old when she became a donor hero. Her parents, Don and Tracy, join us to share more about her life and the incredible gift she gave others in her final moments.

We're celebrating the Season of Giving with heartwarming stories of hope, resilience and the gift of life on #BeTheGift Connections! ✨On this segment, we'll chat with Everett Drewes, a five and a half year old kidney recipient, and his parents, Matthew and Margaret, about the journey that led to the new life of "Everett 2.0." 💙💚

We're wrapping up our series of programs related to cornea donation in honor of Eye Donation Month on #BeTheGift Connections!On our final segment, we'll go behind the scenes of corneal recovery and transplantation with two special guests from Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank (SDSEB), featuring:💙 Dr. Jennifer Li, SDSEB Medical Director and Corneal Surgeon💚 Alyssa Hernandez, SDSEB Director of Marketing and Development

We're continuing our series of programs related to cornea donation and transplantation in honor of Eye Donation Month on #BeTheGift Connections!On this segment, we'll hear from Christine Lichti, a UC Davis Health Pediatric Critical Care Nurse and cornea recipient, as she shares how her cornea transplant transformed her outlook on life - in more ways than one!

In honor of Eye Donation Month, we're featuring a series of programs related to cornea donation and transplantation on #BeTheGift Connections!On this segment, we'll be joined by Ashley Pensis, a donor mother who made the selfless decision to allow her son, Wyatt, to continue seeing the world as a cornea donor hero.

We're wrapping up National Liver Awareness Month with our final liver transplant story on #BeTheGift Connections!Christian Scherba's daughter, Lucy, was born with a congenital liver disease that resulted in years of doctor visits, surgeries and hospital stays.Christian joins us on this segment to take us through Lucy's transplant journey and how the experience strengthened their family.

It's time for our second liver transplant story in honor of National Liver Awareness Month on #BeTheGift Connections!Jake Ragland dealt with chronic liver disease for most of his life, but one single, selfless act changed everything. He joins us to share his transplant journey and the opportunities he's experienced thanks to the gift of life.

We're celebrating National Liver Awareness Month with the first of three inspirational liver transplant stories on #BeTheGift Connections! Erin Morris was only a teenager when she was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. After spending 9 years waiting for the gift of life, she received her liver transplant from a selfless donor hero in 2014. She joins us to share more about her experience and the hope her transplant gave her.

For many patients, receiving an organ transplant is not only a lifesaving experience but a life-changing one.On this segment of #BeTheGift Connections, we're excited to welcome veteran bluegrass artist Mark Newton. a liver and kidney recipient, as he shares how his two transplants impacted his music and his life.

We all know that a snowstorm in the South can shut communities down, but the dedicated work of organ procurement organizations, hospitals and transplant centers must go on! On this episode of #BeTheGift Connections, Doug Floyd, a two-time kidney recipient, and Rebecca Jarvis, UTMC Transplant Coordinator, join us to share the miraculous chain of events that led to Doug's lifesaving gift amidst the January 2024 snowstorm.

As National Minority Donor Awareness Month comes to a close, we're reminded of the critical need for transplants among our multicultural communities.On this segment of #BeTheGift Connections, we're joined by Mid-South Transplant Foundation's Artavius Veasey, a kidney recipient who uses his own experience as a recipient and a donor family member to speak to the lifesaving impact of donation.

Adam Cowan spent nine years on dialysis before receiving his lifesaving kidney transplant.On this segment of #BeTheGift Connections, Adam joins us to share how he uses his transplant experience to advocate for dialysis patients and encourage others to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors.

In May 2022, 15-year-old Anthony "Peanut" Glenn, Jr., became a victim of gun violence and saved lives as a donor hero.Jay Mazon, Anthony's mother, joins us on this segment of #BeTheGift Connections to share his story and how she came to the decision to keep her son's legacy alive through donation.

Millions of children attend summer camps across the United States each year, but we're excited to share with you a special summer camp for children with kidney disease and transplant recipients: Dialysis Clinic, Inc.'s Camp Okawehna.On this episode of #BeTheGift Connections, we'll be joined by Camp O Director John Hosford III to learn more about the camp experience and what it means to be a Camp O camper.

Each day, we're reminded that ANYONE has the power to give the gift of life.Cameron Parker was one such hero who lived life to the fullest before saving lives in death. His mother, Kendra Hicks, joins us to share more about his remarkable legacy.

Organ donation can transform a tragedy into a source of hope, healing and lasting legacy for the donor's recipients, family and friends.On this episode of #BeTheGift Connections, we'll hear from Annie Deaton, TDS Clinical Manager and donor sister, as she shares how her brother Lane's selfless legacy lives on through the Livin' Fore Lane Memorial Golf Tournament.

There's no better time than May to share stories of donor mothers and their incredible strength on #BeTheGift Connections.On this week's segment, Rowen Smith joins us to share the story of her 25-year-old son, RJ, who saved two lives as a donor hero following a tragic motor scooter accident.

In honor of Mother's Day, we're sharing stories of donor mothers and their incredible strength on #BeTheGift Connections.Julia Henry's son, Mason, was only 21-years-old when he died unexpectedly. Because he was a registered donor, Mason was able to save and improve the lives of many. 💙💚Julia joins us to share what Mason's selfless legacy means to her as a donor mother.

We're celebrating the lifesaving power of organ, eye and tissue donation during Donate Life Month on #BeTheGift Connections!In this episode, we're joined by Kaden Woodard, who is currently waiting for a liver transplant, and his parents, April and Rob Ergenbright, as they share how they remain resilient during their transplant journey.

We're celebrating the lifesaving power of organ, eye and tissue donation during Donate Life Month on #BeTheGift Connections!In this segment, we'll hear from Vonnie and Autumn Stone as they share the special story of how Vonnie gave her two-year-old daughter a lifesaving gift through kidney donation.

In honor of National Kidney Month, we're sharing a special story about living donation on this week's #BeTheGift Connections!Diagnosed with kidney disease in late 2021, John Lowe was on dialysis by early 2022 as he waited for a lifesaving transplant.Fortunately, Amy Martinez, a family friend, made the selfless decision to save John's life as a living donor!

We're celebrating National Kidney Month on #BeTheGift Connections!Memphis native Gay Hannah joins us to share how faith guided her through her lifesaving kidney transplant journey.

We're back with another heartfelt story on #BeTheGift Connections!Bill Forsythe joins us to share how a series of miracles led to him receiving his lifesaving heart transplant in 2016.

We couldn't let February go by without featuring inspiring stories from the heart on #BeTheGift Connections!In this segment, we'll hear from Rescue Doc Films co-founder Josh Gildrie as he shares how his heart transplant journey in 2022 gave him a second chance at life.

We're wrapping up our community organization spotlights with Mid South Liver Alliance on #BeTheGift Connections! Mid South Liver Alliance Executive Director Teresa Davidson joins us to share how her organization provides community-based support with education, transportation and advocacy for those with liver disease.

We're back to highlight another community organization working to save and improve lives on #BeTheGift Connections! The Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Executive Director Heather Melton joins us to share how the organization has provided assistance to those affected by kidney disease in the Chattanooga, TN, area since 1989!

We're excited to kick off another year of #BeTheGift Connections by highlighting community organizations who are also working to save and improve lives! On this episode, we'll hear from Brooke Katz, Media Relations Coordinator for Blood Assurance, as she shares about the lifesaving gift of blood donation and the urgent need for blood donors.

It's time for our final episode of #BeTheGift Connections for 2024! Jessica Finger and Heather Bruggink's father, John Shaver, was diagnosed with ALS six years before he passed away in July 2023, but his disease did not prevent him from saving lives as a donor hero. Join us as Jessica and Heather share more about their father's legacy and how they cope with his absence during the holiday season.

We're celebrating the season of giving all month long on #BeTheGift Connections! As a three-time heart transplant recipient, Travis Marcus is no stranger to the lifesaving impact of donation. Join us as he takes us through his inspirational journey of being a three-time recipient of the gift of life.

We're celebrating the season of giving all month long on #BeTheGift Connections! On this episode, we'll hear from Reese Pagano, a two-time kidney recipient, who received both of her transplants from generous co-workers through living donation!

We're celebrating faith and gratitude during National Donor Sabbath on #BeTheGift Connections! We'll hear from Vicki Geist, a kidney recipient and co-owner of Cedar Springs Christian Stores, as she shares how polycystic kidney disease has impacted her family and how faith played a vital role in her transplant journey.

It's not often that a family experiences donation from a donor family and recipient point of view within a few days. Luther Davis was blessed to receive a lifesaving kidney transplant from his son, Nathan, after he became a donor hero following a fatal car accident. On this installment of #BeTheGift Connections, we'll hear from Luther and his wife, Julia, as they share an extraordinary story of love and generosity between father and son.

Will McKamey was a freshman at the United States Naval Academy and a member of the Naval Academy football team when he saved lives as a donor hero in 2014. On this episode of #BeTheGift Connections, we'll hear from Will's parents, Randy and Kara McKamey, as they share how their son's selfless legacy lives on.

We're celebrating National Liver Awareness Month on #BeTheGift Connections! We'll hear how two families developed an unbreakable bond through the gift of life. Harry Dillon received his lifesaving liver transplant from Tom Best, a donor hero. Harry has since connected with Tom's family, including his wife, Sue Best, his sister, Laura Walker, and his daughter, Shannon Michaels.

We're celebrating Minority Donor Awareness Month on #BeTheGift Connections! We'll hear from Sean and Wendy Mercer as they share their experience navigating Sean's cornea transplant and recovery.

We're celebrating Minority/Multicultural Donor Awareness Month on #BeTheGift Connections! Join the program to hear from Evelyn Henning, a kidney recipient who championed her transplant journey with faith and hope.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our final interview is with Adrian Bowers, a kidney recipient who helped Team Tennessee win the Gold for Team Golf.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our next interview is with Debra and David Kitts, a donor family whose 17-year-old son, Dustin, became a donor hero in 2000.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! We spoke with Katie Lea, a living kidney donor, about her decision to give the gift of life to a stranger through living donation.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our next guest is Angela Culp, a kidney recipient and nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our next guest is Phillip Harris, a liver recipient who is competing on Team Alabama.

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! We had the opportunity to speak with Jon Roberts, a liver recipient competing on Team Philadelphia who was the overall winner for the Transplant Games 5K!

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our next guest is JP Marzano, a two-time kidney recipient who is competing in his seventh Transplant Games!

#BeTheGift Connections is coming to you LIVE from the 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham to share stories from members of Team Tennessee and other competing athletes! Our first guest is Tyrone Cooper, a heart recipient who is competing on Team Louisiana.