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
A Donor’s Gift Answered my Prayers
The day I got a new life, October 21, 2012, is a day I now consider my re-birthday and my miracle. I received a life-saving double-lung transplant that day to treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, an incurable disease. Without a transplant, I wouldn’t be here to celebrate any birthdays, let alone my own.
Donor Tissue Put me Back on the Field
In March 2003, during the Ohio State University men’s lacrosse season opener against Navy, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Thanks to donor tissue, I was able to get through the long road of recovery and rejoin the team.
My Hero, my Best Friend, Saved my Life
We typically think of heroes as people who save people from burning buildings. For me, heroes are found in more unlikely places. My two heroes, my hero of donation and my best friend, saved my life.
My Little Brother’s Greatest Gift
The last time I spoke to my brother was to wish him a Happy 26th Birthday on July 7, 1997. Two days later, after lifting weights at the local Y, he was riding his motorcycle to meet friends for a basketball game when a 16-year-old girl turned left in front of him.
A Gift of Life, a New Chapter
My parents knew from the time I was an infant that I would need a transplant. I was born in 1981 with a rare genetic disorder that affected my liver. This was a time before transplantation was common, and my parents did everything they could to keep me healthy.
Heroes on Foot: My Donor Gave me Butterfly Wings
For the last few years, a caterpillar determined to get through the challenges and struggles ahead to change into a beautiful butterfly has been symbolic of my life story.
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The gifts of donation are powerful – they can change someone’s life and rewrite their story. Will you share yours?