Network for Hope

Mark was driving home in Cincinnati when he passed a yard sign: “A Kidney for Elaine.” Elaine had already found a donor by the time he called, so in 2020, Mark donated a kidney to a stranger instead. Five years later, he did it again, this time donating part of his liver to Mike Hopkins at UC Health. Weeks before surgery, Mike spotted a man in a Red Cross T-shirt in the waiting room and had a feeling he was his donor. When they met after surgery, Mike knew him right away. “This man is my hero,” Mike said. “I’m proud to call him my friend.” 💙💚 Mark’s advice? Learn more about living donation: networkforhope.org/why-becom… Story and photo credit: @uchealth

“It feels really good to know that she (Aunt T’Neil) helped a lot of people. It's a great feeling. Everybody talks about her a lot.” — Bella, Donor Niece of T’Neil an Organ and Tissue Donor

When Johnnie “DJ” Jones arrived at Mizzou this summer, a routine freshman checkup found something no one expected: a problem with his heart. More testing at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, showed the 18-year-old needed a heart transplant. On Oct. 7, he received one. His coach, Eli Drinkwitz, shared that DJ’s surgery went well and thanked “the donor and donor family whose extraordinary gift made this possible.” We’re keeping DJ, his family and his donor family in our hearts as his recovery continues. 💙💚 Full Story: espn.com/college-football/st… Story via: @espn @MizzouFootball

After years of navigating kidney failure, dialysis, and the uncertainty of waiting for a transplant, Carmelita learned that a donor kidney was available. Now, one year after her lifesaving kidney transplant, Carmelita joins Andi Johnson on This Thing Called Life to share the journey that brought her here, the people who helped her through it, and what life looks like today. Full episode is LIVE! 🎧Listen here: podbean.com/pw/pbblog-ed779-… 📺 Watch here: youtu.be/EOXqrpQbUJI

Reverend Damon Lynch, Jr. reminds everyone, including his own congregants at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, to tell the truth about donation. "God has given us life and if at all possible that you could be a donor do it." November is Faith and Hope Month, and we're thankful to leaders, like Rev. Lynch, who share the positive impact of organ, tissue, and eye donation with their community.

A new story featured in @people goes to show that you're never too old to be a life-saving organ donor. “It’s so sad to lose your parents, but the fact that she can help someone else is just amazing, and it’s really what she would want,” her son, Tim Gruidl, said. people.com/83-year-old-donat…

From Taylor Sang-Bush, recipient family and Mrs. Kentucky America: “Organ donation gave my son, Little Charlie, the opportunity to know and love his grandpa, Big Charlie. If you haven’t already, please consider becoming an organ donor or donating to Network for Hope or Donate Life Kentucky Trust. These organizations help donor families through the toughest times and care for people who are waiting for a life-saving transplant.”

When Bryan Rosado was just four months old, his mother learned he needed a liver transplant—and Puerto Rico couldn’t perform it on children. “We gave it our all to save our son’s life.” - Carmen Ana Rosado-Reyes, Mom of Bryan, Liver Recipient

More than 96,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. Debbie Coleman was once one of them. After being diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure in 2023, Debbie needed a transplant. Her husband, Tom, wanted to donate his kidney, but the two weren't a compatible match. Through a paired exchange program, Tom donated his kidney to a stranger, allowing Debbie to receive a compatible kidney from another living donor. “My husband was my hero,” Debbie shared. Today, Debbie is celebrating the lifesaving transplant that gave her more time and sharing her story to encourage others to consider living donation. Story credit: LEX 18.

What does it mean to make a difference? For our own Jordan Mize, it meant turning loss into hope for someone else. 💙💚 After watching her stepdad, Mikey, live with liver disease, Jordan knew she wanted to become a living donor. When Mikey passed away less than a week after his transplant consultation, she remained determined to give. This May, Jordan became a living liver donor through @uc_health. She hasn’t met her recipient, but she knows someone out there received the alternate ending she had hoped for Mikey. “I hope they are leaving their own legacies and enjoying life to the fullest, all in honor of Mikey.” This National Make a Difference Day, we’re proud to share Jordan and Mikey’s story and the incredible difference one person can make.

8,895 people in the United States are waiting for a lifesaving liver transplant. For some, that lifesaving gift can come from a living donor. Because the liver can regenerate, a healthy person can donate a portion of their liver while they are still living. Deceased organ donation and living liver donation both create opportunities for people waiting to receive the transplant they need. Learn more about the impact of donation at networkforhope.org.

When Jon McSorley got the call that a donor liver was available, he had just hours to get from Minneapolis to Cincinnati for surgery. With the last flight overbooked, a Delta Air Lines employee stepped in, and 15–20 passengers volunteered their seats to help him make it home in time. Seven years later, Jon joins us on 'This Thing Called Life' to share his story and thank the strangers who helped him make it to his lifesaving transplant! Help us get this story to Delta and thank the incredible people who made it possible! 🎙️Hear Jon's full story tune into the latest episode. 🎧 Listen: bit.ly/4Bj2Kyn 📺 Watch: bit.ly/3TSeqYa

From overwhelming moments at the @mayoclinic to an unexpected race to get home for a lifesaving liver transplant, Jon McSorley has quite the story to tell. You won’t want to miss this heartfelt conversation on ‘This Thing Called Life’ with host Andi Johnson. 🎧 Full episode drops Tuesday!

A handwritten letter, five years of waiting, 13 years of memories and a whole lot of gratitude. After receiving a lifesaving liver transplant in 2013, Nancy has celebrated countless moments with the people she loves. In her own heartfelt words, Nancy shares what the gift of life has meant to her and her family. To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation or register as a donor, visit NetworkForHope.org

Tomorrow night, Betsy Layne and Belfry take the field under the Friday night lights. 🏈 Through our partnership with KHSAA, Network for Hope is proud to sponsor this matchup and share the lifesaving mission of organ, tissue and eye donation with communities across Kentucky. 💚 Every “yes” to donation has the potential to save and heal lives. 📍 Betsy Layne at Belfry 📅 Friday, Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m.

“¡Gracias a todos!” - Bryan, Liver Recipient

A great graphic from our friends at @AOPOHQ showing the three teams that make up the life-saving mission to save and heal lives through organ, tissue, and eye donation. While collaboration is crucial to fulfilling that mission, each team plays a distinct role in the process. To learn more about the process, visit aopo.org.

For the first 492 days of his life, Tamarion Paul never went home. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and complex congenital heart defect, Tamarion underwent heart surgery just days after he was born. When doctors determined he needed a heart transplant, a ventricular assist device helped keep his heart pumping while he waited for more than a year. On April 13, 2026, Tamarion received a new heart. His recovery wasn’t easy, but after 492 days at Norton Children’s Hospital, 16-month-old Tamarion finally got to leave the hospital and go home with his family. “I’m ready for him to meet family members he’s never even had a chance to meet,” his mom, Keiara, shared. Now, his family is looking forward to the things they have waited nearly a year and a half to experience together: family photos, time at home, and watching Tamarion grow up alongside his siblings. “My hopes for him are to just live his life to the fullest. Whatever he wants to do, I hope he gets to be a kid and enjoy life.” Story and photo credit: @NortonChildrens