Transplant House of Cleveland provides a home-away-from-home for patients in the evaluation process for transplant, on the waiting list, and post-transplant. Annette Humberson, LISW at Transplant House, shares why it is so much more than a place to sleep. You will also hear from a guest, Katelyn Lambert, staying at Transplant House while waiting for an intestinal transplant.

However, as much fun that would be, to remain successful in our mission, Lifebanc must be focused on year 36 and beyond. re through the legacy of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Lifebanc CEO Gordon Bowen shares some of the challenges and opportunities we face in the coming year, along with an update about the Gift of Life Walk & Run, Over the Edge. and the annual Donor Memorial Service.

Listen as Michael chronicles his journey and the impact of liver disease on his life and career. You’ll want to tune in for next week's episode, when we’ll continue Michael's story and learn how it influenced a colleague, Robert, and his 11-year-old daughter to take action.

With the available vaccines, the covid restriction aren’t as stringent this year, and people are looking forward to gathering together for the holidays.  However, if there has been a loss of a loved one, there is a potential for very dark holiday season. How does one cope with loss during a time of celebration.  Elissa Berman, the Sr. Bereavement Services Counselor for Lifebanc provides practical advice on how to cope with grief through the holidays.

The Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation is celebrating 63 years of service to enable sight through vision research funding, along with professional and community education. Listen as Executive Director Debbie May Johnson discusses their historical accomplishments, exciting future, and mission to fund research projects to accelerate cures for some of the most critical eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma

Earlier this year, Ernie Gerber underwent a cornea transplant after suffering from an eye disease since he was in his teens. The procedure changed his eyesight in one day, and now that he is several months post-transplant, Colleen invited him on the podcast to share the journey with you. 

Although Roy knew at the time that he had kidney disease, he lived his life and tried to maintain good health. That worked for years, until an unexpected trip to the hospital revealed he would need to begin dialysis treatments immediately.

We continue our conversation with Roy while he receives a dialysis treatment at the Centers for Dialysis Care in Shaker Heights. Listen as he shares some of the obstacles he overcame and what his hopes are for the future.

We reconnected with Roy while he was undergoing a dialysis treatment at the Centers for Dialysis Carein Shaker Heights. Listen to part 1 of our candid conversation as Roy talks about being a Lifebanc advocate and his current health challenge.

After talking about general topics like sports, politics, and the weather, Mark was surprised when Hugh got up to leave. Mark kidded him, saying it was still early enough in the day to enjoy another beer, but Hugh explained he needed to get home to begin a dialysis routine. Although Hugh never brought up living kidney donation, Mark thought that it was something he could do. As Mark began researching living donation, he was shocked to learn about the critical need for kidney transplants. He felt more could be done to raise awareness for this need, and he wanted to give an example of life after living donation. Listen as Mark shares his unique experience riding his bike on the Organ Trail.

It is not an exaggeration to recognize the Bureau of Motor Vehicles as a vital partner in the mission of saving and healing lives along with Lifebanc. We do not take that for granted and thank all BMV staff members. 

But for one staff member, Jim Stinson s BMV field representative the mission became personal when he  became a living kidney donor to his brother, Jerry Stinson a kidney transplant recipient. The brothers shared their experience and why donation is something we all should consider.

Although her vision was deteriorating, Colleen didn't let that deter her from her education and became an attorney and is now an intellectual lawyer, advising domestic and international clients on all aspects of trademark law.

Colleen also went on to raise a family and was able to be there when her sister, Karen needed her the most.

In tragic circumstances - your family is in the grips of making many end-of-life decisions and arrangements. The act of preplanning final arrangements and being a registered donor, you’ve given your loved ones the gift of peace of mind because they know your wishes.

Listen in as Deacon Kenneth and Marva Smith share their story about how Lifebanc’s mission became deeply personal for them.

Lifebanc, and all recovery agencies are highly regulated and to ensure that we not only know and follow regulatory procedures, the Lifebanc Quality Service departments provides training, spearheads projects, and overall supports Lifebanc staff so we meet and exceed the expectations of our mission. The Whiteboard project was created to engage and enlighten staff on their role and educate them on what other department teams are doing as well.

Linda D. Kimble, Executive Director of Cleveland MOTTEP discusses this important issue and what is being done to save the lives of those on the waiting list.

For years, she had endured medications, treatments and procedures that allowed her to make it to this point.  She was feeling worse and worse and knew that her options were few.  Doctors said that a liver transplant was the only option left. She was placed on the waiting list, but there were no guarantees that an organ would be found in time for transplant. 

Tania witnessed the triumph of a recipient receiving new life through transplantation and the tragedy when a close friend passed away, despite receiving a transplant because the long time he spent waiting took an enormous toll on his health.

That’s when Tania became a one-woman army and took on organ donation as her mission.

Eddie was preparing to begin dialysis, but his wife Kathy felt sure they would find a living donor before he got to that point. So it was a moment of relief when a long-time family friend, Karen, said she wanted to be tested and proved to be a good match. And then COVID hit.

Fred overcame so much to stay alive while on the waiting list, but things looked bright once he received the heart transplant. However, the challenges have not stopped for Fred, but he continues to face each one with a heart of courage.

Inspired by their daughter’s spirit, Kristy and Scott Christie instantly knew that donating would be the perfect way to honor her life. But, what they didn’t expect was how that decision would open doors for hope and healing.

But what many listeners are not aware of is that David is in kidney failure and waiting faithfully on the national transplant list for a kidney. 

That's when Beth Grabill decided to change her life - in a big way. Inspired by the level of care her father received, the 35-year-old mom of two went to nursing school. Listen as Beth share's her dad's journey and her career caring for others.

When Chase, one of triplet boys was born, his parents Michael and Jodi Del Ferraro, immediatly knew something was wrong because of his deep yellow coloring. Michael recalls Chase's journey and how it felt to receive the call that a liver was available to save his son.

Gene Shimandle, the recipient of Cody's heart, was so moved by his gift of life that he set his sights on finishing the Aurora Turkey Trot just six months after the transplant. But what Gene accomplished next to honor Cody and raise awareness for donation was remarkable.

In honor of Doctor's Day today, we spent time with one of our three esteemed physicians who serve as medical directors at Lifebanc. Doctor Samir Latifi, Associate Medical Director, practices Pediatric Critical Care at Cleveland Clinic and discusses his donation background and role with Lifebanc.

So it was more than ironic that after bloodwork, Amy received a call from her Physician Assistant telling her to go immediately to the ER. Amy was in kidney failure.

The games were postponed in 2020 and rescheduled for July of this year. Although they won't be in person, Randy Oyaski, northeast manager for Team Ohio, reports on the games' structure for this year and how the tradition of celebrating life given and received will continue.

When we reflect, it's mind-boggling how many advances have been made in our field, from what can be transplanted to innovative preservation methods and even how organs travel to the transplant center.  Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc CEO, reflects on some of our significant accomplishments, and one of them is making it through 2020.

Marcella Boyd Cox as Chief of Community Engagement she has spent her career helping families and giving back to the community. Listen as she shares the foundation of the family business and advocacy work in Cleveland.

According to the CDC, over a million Americans every year suffer from burn injuries that require medical attention, and 50,000 of those cases required hospitalization. Many patients require skin grafts to begin the healing process and depend on the generosity of tissue donors.  Lifebanc Tissue Services experts Rusty Morck, Director of Tissue Services and Lisa Bennet, Tissue Training & Education Specialist explain the many uses of tissue and, specifically, donated skin.

Celebrate Heart Awareness Month and Black History Month with us by listening to Roxanne Watson's unique story. Although she wasn’t surprised to have heart disease,  she's amazed every day by the places she’s been, the people she’s met, and the number of lives she's impacted since being transplanted.

With so many groups reaching out to the same populations, overlap would inevitably follow. Tricia Fliehman, Walgreens Regional Account Executive Specialist and Co-founder of the Greater Cleveland Transplant Collaborative, offers a solution for members of the donation and transplant community.

When it was Priscilla’s turn to get a ride in the new car, she recalls Bobby’s smile and being so happy. Then the unthinkable occurred.

When COVID-19 hit, Lifebanc shifted our services to the virtual realm and will continue to do so in 2021. Elissa Berman, the Senior Bereavement Counselor for Lifebanc, provides an update on available resources and how they will look in the future.

Anna Tzinis, from the National Kidney Foundation provides details on free resources to kidney patients and families looking for a living donor through THE BIG ASK: THE BIG GIVE program. It also offers free resources to those who are thinking about donating a kidney for transplant.

Chris Shay-Downer, former transplant nurse and now the President of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of Transplant Recipients International organization – or TRIO as it is more commonly known, shares why this is a widely recognized organization that brings together transplant recipients, those waiting for a transplant, and their families – along with donor families for the purpose of supporting those who have been touched by transplantation.

David Bosch, President, and CEO of Eversight talks about innovation, research, and the mission of making vision a reality.

If someone had told La'Tanya Foster-Johnson what her journey would look like after that initial diagnosis, she wouldn’t have believed it. Surgeries, dialysis, a living kidney donor, and finding the love of her life were all ahead on a bumpy road.

Greg & Sandy Fletcher talks about their son Alex and how his gift of life has helped them to connect to their community in new ways.

Listen as Marla shares about the meaning behind the team name and how COVID connected her girls the Lifebanc mission.

You can save a life, like PJ's by registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor now.

When we lose a loved one, we associate grief as the main emotion and we sometimes underestimate the amount of stress the situation causes.  Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Sr. Bereavement Services Counselor shares helpful information about handling the stress of grief.

For more helpful information, visit the Donor Family Resources page

Listen as Carol Bell, Lifebanc Executive Administrative Assistant discusses the fears and misconceptions that make people skeptical about organ, eye, and tissue donation on Episode 32 of Let's Talk About Life.

If you have questions about organ and tissue donation, click here now for FAQs and how donation works.

Learn from Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc CEO why the misconception of being too old or too sick is not true and medical advancements allow for even more people to give the gift of life on Episode 31 of Let's Talk About Life.

To learn more facts of donation, visit our Donation FAQ page now.

A traumatic accident has occurred and emergency medical staff are called. Once on the scene, they assess the patients and begin life-saving treatment while preparing for transport to the hospital. Do they assess for anything else?

Kelly Cover, Lifebanc Coroner, Medical Examiner, and EMS Liaison discusses her role working with emergency medical services and time spent as a firefighter and EMT, Kelly also helps bust the misconception that lives won't be saved if they see you are a registered organ donor.

Listen as Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Senior Bereavement Services Counselor discusses the relationship between Spirituality and Grief on Episode 29 of Let's Talk About Life.

Click here for donor family resources

Listen as Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc CEO provide insight into the program and what we can expect on Saturday morning - including special guests, family stories, and a walk through the Legacy Garden.  You can watch from the comfort of your home on the Lifebanc Facebook page, Lifebanc YouTube channel, or Lifebanc.og. 

Linda Kimble, Executive Director for MOTTEP Cleveland talks about National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Month and why it is so important to help close the gap on disparities in minority communities and how you can be involved. 

Guest, Deanna Slifka, who lost her middle daughter at birth talks with Elissa Berman, Lifebanc Sr. Bereavement Counselor about how her loss is now helping others.

To register for the Gift of Life Walk & Run or to purchase a Legacy Garden Sign, click here now.

Today, we talk to Stacey Banning, Administrative Director for the Transplant Institute at University Hospital Medical Center the vital mission of organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation and why being a part of the Gift of Life Walk & Run is important to them, as well.

Register now for the Gift of Life Walk & Run

Listen as Colleen Fox, shares her brother's decision to be an organ donor and why the Gift of Life Walk & Run gives them a reason to celebrate that decision and Kevin each year.

Gordon Bowen, Lifebanc CEO discusses the event and some of the innovative ways we are offering participants and teams to engage with us and each other to raise funds for the mission Lifebanc and organ, eye, and tissue donation.

For more information about the Gift of Life Walk & Run click here.

Julie Caldro, the Director of Tissue Services for Lifebanc shares her knowledge and appreciation for all those who chose to heal & save lives through the gift of tissue donation.

To become a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor click here now.

An interesting and enlightening discussion with Eliss Berman, Lifebanc Senior Bereavement Counselor and her colleague, Jennifer Stern, a Licensed Independent Social Worker and an M.A. in Clinical Social Work and explain why Life is Not a Stage.

If you are struggling with grief and are a donor family, visit the resources section for donor families. If you are not a donor family, feel free to reach out to Jenniffer Stern at Transformative Grief.

Michele Martynyszyn, Organ Services Manager at Lifebanc has an inspiring discussion about the unique career opportunity nurses have to help heal others differently at Lifebanc.

For more information about the compliant license, visit the Ohio BMV website and to become to become a registered donor, click the button at the bottom of the page,

Thank you for listening to Let’s Talk About Life – the podcast that is changing lives.  Organ, eye, and tissue donation is truly all about LIFE – life given, life received, and lives saved and healed.  If you have questions about today’s podcast, reach out to us at info@lifebanc.org.

If you are already a registered donor, we thank you.  If you are not, take a few minutes to do something heroic and register to be an organ donor by saying “YES” at the BMV or online at Lifebanc.org.  Literally, someone’s life is depending on it.  Donate Life