Lifeline of Ohio’s Neonatal Donation Program: The Tiniest of Donors
Lifeline of Ohio’s Neonatal Donation Program offers support to families facing unforeseen, traumatic events prior to, or immediately after, the birth of their newborn.
The program, which began in 2017, provides parents, who receive a non-survivable diagnosis for their baby, the chance to create a lasting legacy for their child through donation of organs and tissues for research.
A child’s beautiful, but all-too-brief, life can create a powerful ripple effect, providing hope to future generations.
The Neonatal Donation Program was an idea conceived by the family of Noah Calhoon (pictured left). Noah’s parents, Kelly and Adam, approached Lifeline of Ohio after he was diagnosed with anencephaly at his 12-week ultrasound appointment. After learning donation may be a possibility, they knew what their child was meant to do – leave a rich legacy through research.
We thank Noah and his family for bringing this idea to Lifeline of Ohio. And, we thank each family since then who has donated through this program.
If you have questions, please email neonataldonation@lifelineofohio.org
If you are interested in this program, please click on the button below.
More information about our program
When should someone contact Lifeline of Ohio?
A family member or a member of a family’s care team can reach out to Lifeline of Ohio when:
- a baby has been diagnosed with a confirmed life-limiting condition, and
- parents choose to proceed with the pregnancy and are interested in the possibility of neonatal donation.
Our team will work closely with the family and the medical team throughout the pregnancy and donation process. We also provide follow-up to the medical team and aftercare services to families following the donation.
There are two ways to contact Lifeline of Ohio:
- Complete our online Neonatal Donation Form
or
- Send an email to neonataldonation@lifelineofohio.org
A Lifeline of Ohio representative will follow up promptly to discuss the donation process and answer any questions.
Where does the donation take place?
Neonatal donation takes place at the delivery hospital. Lifeline of Ohio staff work alongside the hospital team to ensure families are well cared for and donation can take place seamlessly.
Why is this program important?
This program offers support and options for families who are facing unforeseen events prior to, or immediately after, the birth of their newborn.
While this is often a traumatic and chaotic time, donation for research is a decision parents can make, which may provide solace and hope.
Each child’s precious gift to medical research will impact countless lives for decades to come.
25 Hours Podcast
One of Lifeline of Ohio’s first neonatal donors was little Noah Calhoon. He lived for 25 hours and created a lasting impact on hundreds of lives through organ and tissue donation research. Hear his parents talk of their decision to donate on the ‘To Be Continued’ podcast.
If you have questions, please email neonataldonation@lifelineofohio.org. Our team will be in touch promptly to answer your questions.