Through her work at Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network , Marion Shuck helped countless families make the powerful decision to donate their loved ones’ tissue and organs. When her husband of 33 years, Reggie, suddenly passed away, she found herself making that same powerful decision.
Jun 08, 2021•38 min•Ep. 21
Brian Stiner has always been athletic. When he was told he’d need a kidney transplant, he turned to sports by way of the Transplant Games to help him stay active, healthy, and positive.
May 25, 2021•21 min•Ep. 20
Chelsie Tamms knew from a young age that kidney disease would be part of her story. As her career as a graphic designer flourished, it also became part of her passion. To learn more about Chelsie and the Cool Beans project, visit https://www.letteringworks.com/coolbeans For more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease, visit https://pkdcure.org/...
May 11, 2021•27 min•Ep. 19
Aaron and Tonya Rhoden’s love story is straight out of a Hallmark movie. They were engaged on a mountain in Hawaii and married the very next day. When Aaron was told he needed a kidney transplant, the couple embarked on their hardest climb yet.
Apr 27, 2021•26 min•Ep. 18
Kimberly Gosell has been through more than her fair share of health scares: lupus, kidney failure, three transplants and now brain cancer. She shares how she handles the continued fight for her life.
Apr 13, 2021•27 min•Ep. 17
Illinois State Senator Christopher Belt shares the shocking way he discovered his kidney disease and how his diagnosis and kidney transplant affect the way he serves the people of Illinois.
Mar 30, 2021•23 min•Ep. 16
Dr. Tipu Puri , a kidney specialist at UChicago Medicine explains who is at-risk for developing kidney disease, and when, where, and why you should have your kidneys checked.
Mar 16, 2021•25 min•Ep. 15
Jody Wilkey donated a portion of her liver in 2019. When she heard Renee Sample needed a kidney, she didn’t hesitate to volunteer to donate again. But one phone call took them back to square one.
Mar 02, 2021•23 min•Ep. 14
Antonia Jordan and Maranda Proce couldn’t be more different but they now call one another “my closest friend.” Their lives intersected when Antonia’s nephew Chance the Rapper tweeted about his aunt’s need for a kidney donor.
Feb 16, 2021•27 min•Ep. 13
As the first female, black transplant surgeon in the U.S., Dr. Velma Scantlebury is no stranger to overcoming challenges. She shares her journey from little girl in Barbados to author and world-renowned physician, and what's next for her now that she's retired.
Feb 02, 2021•29 min•Ep. 12
Dawn Williamson is the first smiling face folks see when they step into Gift of Hope's offices. With her calming presence and bright smile, visitors might never guess that she too is waiting for a life-saving transplant. She chats with Monica about staying positive while she waits.
Jan 19, 2021•17 min•Ep. 11
Anna Shabelman and her uncle Dave have always been close but their special bond grew even stronger when as an adolescent, Anna was diagnosed with kidney disease.
Jan 05, 2021•22 min•Ep. 10
Diane Hollingsworth is no stranger to organ and tissue donation. Before she worked for National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, she needed a kidney transplant herself. Now she's a VP at Eversight where she helps give people with vision impairments the gift of sight.
Dec 22, 2020•18 min•Ep. 9
Katie Adduci is a nurse, living kidney donor, and mom to kidney kid Max. Nicole duMont is a licensed social worker who has worked with children in all stages of kidney disease and transplantation. Together, they share what a pediatric kidney disease diagnosis looks like for families and ways that loved ones can offer support....
Dec 08, 2020•30 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, host Monica Fox is interviewed by her daughter Olivia Fox . Together, they tell the miraculous and emotional story of Monica’s life-saving Thanksgiving transplant and why they are both committed changing lives as a result.
Nov 24, 2020•26 min•Ep. 7
Daronta Briggs is a Gulf War Veteran, kidney transplant recipient, and the CEO of Veterans Transplantation Association . He shares his kidney transplant journey and his decision to support other veterans facing gaps in the healthcare system.
Nov 10, 2020•25 min•Ep. 6
A diagnosis of kidney failure can be frightening to anyone. To a busy nurse and mom like Christine Hernandez , it can turn your whole world upside down. Christine and her son and caretaker Julian share how their family is venturing into the unknown, together.
Oct 27, 2020•23 min•Ep. 5
1 in 3 American adults is at risk for developing chronic kidney disease. Jacqueline Burgess-Bishop , CEO for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, and Susan Sullivan , kidney recipient and Foundation board member, share ways to take care of your kidney health while making an impact in your community.
Oct 13, 2020•22 min•Ep. 4
Angelique’s world was turned upside down when doctors told her she had only days to live unless she received a liver transplant. She and her twin sister Angenette knew her story was not going to end in that hospital bed 28 years ago.
Sep 29, 2020•26 min•Ep. 3
Dr. Ashutosh Gupta treated patients with kidney disease for more than thirty years. But it was only after retirement that he made the decision to become a living kidney donor. In this episode, he shares his story and walks us through the donation process.
Sep 15, 2020•21 min•Ep. 2
August is Minority Organ Donation Awareness Month. For our inaugural episode, we are highlighting the story of organ donor hero Mario Cousins , as told by his mother Emma O’Neal and his grateful heart recipient Pam Morris Walton.
Aug 11, 2020•25 min•Ep. 1
