Hallie’s husband, Richard, was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure at just 34 years old. He was a young dad, a former college athlete, and someone who had always faced lupus and chronic kidney disease with grit and determination. “When you see someone you love hurting, all you want to do is help,” said Hallie….

Joshua dedicated his life to serving others as a Lauderhill firefighter and paramedic. When he was killed in an off-duty accident at just 26 years old, his family’s world was shattered. But because of Joshua’s passion for organ donation, having relentlessly urged others at the fire department to become donors, it felt as though he…

“When I first heard I’d need a heart transplant, I thought it was game over,” said Tyrone. His diagnosis of congestive heart failure left him feeling hopeless, convinced he wouldn’t have a future with his wife, Demetris, and their children. At the time, Tyrone knew almost nothing about organ donation. Soon, he learned it would…

Aimee was known for her sharp wit, love of music, and devotion to family and friends. She followed in the footsteps of her father, Ron, a longtime journalist and communicator, with her own accomplished career covering sports, courts, and politics. At just 38 years old, Aimee suffered a major stroke that left her in a…

Kristin was a beautiful baby with big brown eyes but she was born with very poor vision. Behind her thick glasses, Kristin had a keen sensitivity to the needs of others and a desire to extend kindness and generosity to everyone she knew. She sang in choirs, performed in school productions and went on to…

De’Jael was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood is decreased, only a few shorts weeks following her second birthday. She had hardly begun to live before her life was threatened. Thanks to her donor family, De’Jael got a second chance to grow up. “De’Jael would not be…

Jasmine was a fun, free-spirited young woman who loved basketball and from an early age, she played on a team that allowed her to travel around the country and bring home numerous medals from the team’s winnings. She was also generous by nature and close with her family. It was the influence of Jasmine’s mother,…

Born with stage four chronic kidney disease as a result of hypoplasia – the failure of an organ to develop fully – it was inevitable that a kidney transplant would be in Evan’s future. Shortly after Christmas 2012, Evan’s health battle took a turn for the worse, and he began hemodialysis. Three times a week,…

Severely injuring his wrist after a fall, Joshua had limited movement. He was in constant pain, and normal daily tasks became a struggle for him to complete. A failed surgery to prepare his ligament using his own stem cells led to a second surgery where doctors planned to fuse the bones in his wrist together….

For nearly 14 years, Janice endured dialysis treatments for kidney failure caused by uncontrolled hypertension. The daily struggle to continue her role at her family’s business, Starling School and Day Care Center, Inc., while feeling sick all the time put a tremendous strain on her physically and emotionally. She was on the waiting list for…

Thanks to the generosity of a complete stranger – a former teacher has a new outlook on life following successful corneal transplant surgery. Suffering with glaucoma and facing issues with debilitating cataracts, Karen was struggling with an uncertain future before transplant surgeon, Dr. Miguel Lugo stepped in to help her regain her sight and a…

Raivyn Summerfield was early an advocate for organ and tissue donation, thanks to her mother’s explanation of the importance of the gift of life after the death of a family member who had become a donor. “She was relentless on the subject,” remembers her mom, Tracie Perbtani. “Raivyn would educate anyone about donation by looking…

Davion Smith was both kind and adventurous, and at 13 years old, already a gifted athlete involved in football, basketball, track and wrestling. He was just two days from starting eighth grade when he passed away. Davion’s mother, Charita Johnson, made the decision to allow Davion to become an organ donor. Charita said, “I felt…

“Danny was adamant about serving others,” said his mother, Peggy Pino. “Since his childhood, his dream was to serve his country. While he didn’t get to do that, he served humanity by wanting to donate his organs. We are proud of his legacy.” Danny left a college baseball scholarship with the United States Merchant Marine…

With no warning or past medical history, Adam was dying of acute liver failure at 20 months old. As a result of a generous donor and a rock star transplant team, Adam received a chance to be a kid. “Without the generosity of an organ donor, Adam never would have seen his second birthday. He…

At age ten, Makisha was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that leads to severe corneal scarring and, ultimately, blindness. An aspiring teacher and mother of three young daughters, Makisha prepared for what she had been warned about for so many years – total loss of vision. But everything changed when she met Florida ophthalmologist,…

Organ and tissue donation is something that Robert had previously discussed with his family, so when he suffered a fatal stroke at the age of 54, knowing those wishes made a very difficult situation a little easier. “My family’s experience with donation has been so wonderful that I felt the strong desire to give back…

Terri was active in her HOSA program in school and helped organize a Donate Life campaign in her school. She understood the amazing gift the donation could provide and became passionate about educating others. “Little did I know, eight months later our family would be honoring her wishes,” said Julie Newhouse, Terri’s mom. In 2000,…

“If you met Anthony, you liked him,” said Demetrius Branca, Anthony’s father. “If you knew Anthony, you loved him.” Anthony Branca, 19, was a Leon High School graduate and Tallahassee Community College student who loved playing soccer and the saxophone. On November 7, 2014, Anthony was riding his motorcycle in Tallahassee when he was struck…

“The transplant gift from your loved one enables me to now walk and care for my wife who is confined to a wheelchair with MS (multiple sclerosis),” Cliff Gionet, donor father, recited from memory. Cliff’s son, Jason, was born and raised in Gainesville. Following his graduation from Gainesville High School, he attended the University of…

Keron Johnson was a sophomore football player at Ocala’s Trinity Catholic High School when he received an abnormal physical leading into the season. Despite showing no symptoms, his blood pressure and creatinine levels were very high, and he would need a kidney transplant. A few months later, on February 28, 2017, 15-year-old Keron received a…

Kimberly Morales was the youngest of four siblings. She was sassy, determined and as her mother described, “spoiled by all.” On January 20, 2019, Kimberly was involved in an ATV accident while visiting her best friend’s house in Williston, Florida. Three days later, she was declared brain dead. Kimberly was 9 years old. Though the…

Peyton Evans was known for her infectious smile — a smile that would fill her high school classroom instantly. Evans, a 15-year-old freshman cheerleader at Ocala’s Forest High School, was the squad’s flyer. After an early morning workout with her father, Brian Evans, at the Frank DeLuca Family YMCA in May 2014, an undetected arteriovenous…

Jesus and Krystina Neira have four daughters, MiaKrystina, Izabella, Jesubelle and Alynna, and they love being outdoors, canoeing and visiting small towns. The Niera twins, Izabella and Jesubelle, were born three months premature, and Izabella’s condition did not improve. It was determined that she needed an organ transplant to survive. At 14-months old, Izabella became…

When Donna Askew’s son, Justyn Meyer, got his driver license, he registered as an organ donor. “He looked at me when he was asked if he wanted to be an organ donor, and I told him it was his decision,” Donna said. “He registered on his own.” When Justyn was just 21 years old, he…

“Wyatt does what most children his age do,” Ann Thomas, Wyatt’s mother, said. “We’ve limited him to very little. He lives day-to-day as if he’s your standard, everyday child. He makes choices any kid his age makes. We want him to feel normal – like everyone else.” Wyatt is not your standard child, though. He…

“For my family, the organ donation process was a blessing,” Ricardo’s mom said. “My son had expressed his desire to be an organ donor when he got his license and fortunately we remembered this quickly enough to make it happen. “In such a difficult time, the organ donation process allowed us to understand the true…

“I’ve always been driven to help others, and that’s what guided me to nursing,” Letitia Williams said. In April 2015, Letitia’s professional and personal life unfortunately came together, as her sister, Desiree Miller, 31, was involved in a tragic car accident. Desiree passed away on April 30 at UF Health Shands. Desiree was registered as…

“Diego will forever be in our hearts because of his passion, spontaneity and bravery,” Diego’s parents said. “He loved basketball & soccer, was a loyal friend, a wise cracking sibling and lived life to the fullest. He touched so many lives in our community that we will honor his legacy by bringing awareness to organ…

A star athlete at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Florida, Jaylen Clausell was living the dream. He routinely dazzled fans with his athletic ability and had earned 11 college scholarship offers. Jaylen was a sophomore in high school when he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed while practicing basketball with his teammates. He was hospitalized…

In July 2013, the Swails family had been enjoying a summer day in their pool when 2-year-old Carla wiggled out of her life-preserver, went under water and swallowed incorrectly. She dry drowned, and after eight days at UF Health Shands Hospital, Carla was declared brain dead. “Organ donation was never not an option four our…

Corlene is a young and talented jewelry-maker, crafter and entrepreneur who has suffered with the effects of Kerataconus for several years. Kerataconus is a progressive eye disease where the normally round cornea stretches and thins, causing blurry, double-vision, distortion and extreme sensitivity to light. Corlene’s case was severe and progressed rapidly affecting her ability to…

After eight years of marriage, Valerie and her husband were ready to grow their family. Aniston, now six months old, is a true miracle of life, as she would not be here if it hadn’t been for her mom’s liver transplant. Diagnosed with biliary atresia – a disease of the bile ducts – at only…