Life, loss, hope and healing – these are the stories of those touched by donation.
We invite you to:
- Scroll down and watch the story of 11-year-old donor hero John B. Mullins IV.
- Click here to visit our YouTube page and meet recipients, donor family members and those waiting for their lifesaving gifts.
- Click on the panels at the bottom of this page to read more stories on our website.
John B. Mullins IV
Dash Fitzsimons: The Beagle who’s a Hero on Foot
My life was saved on July 9, 2011 when my mom, Carol Fitzsimons, adopted me from the Knox County Animal Shelter. I was just seven years old and, believe it or not, my mom had just completed her seventh “Dash for Donation 5K” to celebrate her kidney transplant when she stopped in to look for a new puppy.
Heroes on Foot: Running for Jordan Saved me
When I was a freshman in high school, I made the varsity cross-country team. While naturally talented, I hated running. I didn’t know at the time my new neighbors, two cool, older boys and our strong friendship would give me a reason to run.
The Power to be the Donation Miracle is in our Hands
Growing up, David was a pleasant, kind and gentle child who laughed often and adored his siblings. Our David matured into a loving young man who enjoyed listening to music, spending time with his girlfriend and hoped to explore Aviation and the Air Force. We were so excited for what David’s future held.
The Day I Got my Smile Back
September 14, 2011 is the day I refer to as “the day I got my smile back.” On that day, I underwent brain surgery to help alleviate symptoms of a Chiari Malformation, which occurs when the cerebellum (at the back part of the brain) slips from the skull and into the spinal column.
My Son’s Transplant Show-and-Tell of a Lifetime
I never thought my son’s first day of school would entail him proudly showing off his transplant scar and talking about his organ donor.
A Car Ride Paved the Way to a New Heart
My son and I were driving along High Street together in 2005 when I felt the pain. I knew something was wrong in my chest and drove immediately to the emergency room. Medical testing found 95 percent blockage in my heart arteries. Five years, three heart attacks and one Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) diagnosis later, my doctors at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center Ross Heart Hospital declared that my heart was failing. I would need a heart transplant from a donor to survive.
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The gifts of donation are powerful – they can change someone’s life and rewrite their story. Will you share yours?