The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

The Gifted Life: Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Podcast

Improve your knowledge about organ, tissue and eye donation as your hosts Lori Steele, Nila Schwab, and Joey Boudreaux have entertaining and informative conversations about donation. We address donation in the news, myths about donation, what's new in the community, new technologies, special guest interviews and much more.

Episodes

A Soldier’s Second Chance

April 4, 2025 • 35 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: For our milestone 250th episode, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Louis Smith, an Army veteran and heart transplant recipient, alongside Dr. Benjamin Bryner, a cardiac surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who saved more than just his life. After serving in the military...
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Miracle Man

March 7, 2025 • 34 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this powerful episode, we sit down with Todd and Carrie Hensel. Todd underwent a two day surgery which included a seven-organ transplant, during which he died five times. Fate had other plans and organ donation gave Todd a second chance at life. Now, Todd and Carrie live on a peace...
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444 Miles and 4 Women Raise Awareness for Living Donation

February 7, 2025 • 27 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In September of 2024, 4 women kidney donors, over 4 days, biked 444 miles to promote living organ donation. We’re excited to have Diane Mills, one of the four women behind the event, join us to share the story of how it all began and the incredible success it achieved. She’ll talk abo...
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Deputy Saves Lives Through Organ Donation

January 3, 2025 • 37 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: On this episode, we welcome Deputy Kim Bergeron of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, an extraordinary individual who serves, protects and saves lives. Deputy Bergeron shares her inspiring story as a living kidney donor to her high school friend, and her recent experience as a s...
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Honoring a Donor Through Endurance

December 6, 2024 • 31 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We welcome Angie Mikkelson, a heart transplant recipient who’s galloping into her second chance at life. Angie shares her incredible journey from living with a lifelong heart defect to receiving the lifesaving gift of a heart at 25 years old. She shares how the generosity of her donor...
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A Kidney Life

November 1, 2024 • 44 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we explore the journey of living with kidney disease. We talk to Pesh Patel, who has transformed a life altering diagnosis into his mission. Pesh shares his personal story and how he founded A Kidney Life, which includes a podcast, Talk Kidney to Me. This podcast is d...
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Medical Breakthrough - Awake Kidney Transplant

October 4, 2024 • 32 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Dr. Satish Nadig with Northwestern Medicine and kidney transplant recipient, John Nicholas, join us to share details about a medical breakthrough in kidney transplantation. The AWAKE Kidney Program (Accelerated Surgery Without General Anesthesia in Kidney Transplantation) is a new app...
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Donation Advocate and Miss Florida 2024, Casana Fink

September 6, 2024 • 33 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We welcome Casana Fink, an advocate for organ and tissue donation, nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, author, Miss Tampa and at the release of this episode, the current Miss Florida, who will be competing in the Miss America competition next year. As the daughter of a liver recipient, C...
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Safe Schools

August 9, 2024 • 35 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this community partnership episode, we dive into the topic of school safety and gain important insights from Louisiana Center for Safe Schools Director, Trevis Thompson. Trevis explores the strategies, practices and programs that support school communities and their safety partners...
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It Was a Christmas Miracle: A Pediatric Nurse Donated Her Kidney to a Teen

July 5, 2024 • 33 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Join us for an inspiring episode as we chat with nurse Lori Vaughn and teen Lauren Swanson. Lauren’s battle with a rare disease led to her needing a kidney transplant. One day, Lori stumbled upon a social media plea for a living donor for Lauren. Even though she had no direct connecti...
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Transplant Games of America Film Festival

June 7, 2024 • 28 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We are getting you ready for the 2024 Transplant Games of America and TGA's inaugural Film Festival in Birmingham by welcoming previous guests Bill Ryan and Robert Horsey. Bill is President and CEO of the Transplant Games of America, and Robert is the Writer and Executive Producer of ...
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Four Time Kidney Recipient, Mark Fenrich

May 17, 2024 • 29 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We sit down with Mark Fenrich, who's faced a lifelong battle with kidney disease, undergoing a remarkable journey with a total of four kidney transplants from four different members of his family. Mark's inspiring story has captivated national media, and showcases the incredible impac...
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The Houston Gamer - A Thankful Recipient

May 3, 2024 • 44 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this episode, we’re joined by The Houston Gamer, Willie Jefferson, who's an avid gamer, popular YouTube vlogger, journalist, minister, and a grateful kidney recipient. Willie shares his journey with our hosts by detailing his illness, insights into his dialysis treatments and his l...
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Inspiring Change Through Loss

April 19, 2024 • 34 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: In this pivotal episode, Kelli McQuesten, a Community Outreach Coordinator at Lifeline of Ohio, channels her personal tragedy into a powerful call for change. She tragically lost her husband, Matthew, due to not receiving a heart transplant in time. Motivated by her family's heart-wre...
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Fais Do-Donate

April 5, 2024 • 43 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We are discussing the Fais Do-Donate, an upcoming fundraiser to benefit the LOPA Foundation aimed at celebrating the gift of life on a Louisiana Saturday night. Wendy Lipsey, a LOPA Foundation Board Member and grateful transplant recipient, joins our podcast to share her transplantati...
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Gifted: The Docuseries

March 22, 2024 • 29 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Presenting "Gifted: The Docuseries," a compelling and uplifting exploration of organ donation and transplantation. Delve into the genesis of this inspirational series with author and filmmaker, Robert Horsey, as we journey alongside donor mom Jody Miller. Through Jody's poignant exper...
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From Loss to Law: The Legacy of Aliye Ringe

March 5, 2024 • 35 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Leah Veck, grandmother to the donor hero Aliye Ringe, transformed her grief into action by delivering impassioned testimony before a Louisiana Legislative Committee. Thanks to Leah's tireless advocacy, Aliye's Law HB 289 was enacted in July 2023, guaranteeing that all Louisiana high s...
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Fire Safety with Ashley Rodrigue

February 23, 2024 • 30 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: We partner with Ashley Rodrigue, the Public Affairs Director for the State Fire Marshal's Office, to share life-saving fire safety tips. Learn about Louisiana's new carbon monoxide law, the Operation Save-A-Life program, and crucial measures to ensure your home and family are safe. In...
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Unwrapping Grief

February 9, 2024 • 29 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Dive into the exploration of grief with Patricia Cameron, an author and donor wife, who shares her journey after her husband's sudden passing at 45. In her book, Grief Unwrapped, Patricia confronts the burning question many face in the wake of loss: "Can I find joy again?" Discover he...
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A Grateful Recipient

January 26, 2024 • 39 mins
The Gifted Life Podcast
Show Notes: Join us as we warmly welcome Tony Lucero, an avid listener and grateful liver recipient, to share his remarkable transplantation journey. Tony's powerful story sheds light on the many faceted connections made in the organ donation process. Our mental health moment takes a reflective t...
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