In this deeply moving episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we sit down with Stephanie King, the strong and loving mother of 8-year-old Emily, a young girl whose courage has already inspired so many.

Emily’s life has been marked by medical challenges most of us can hardly imagine. At just two years old, she underwent her first double lung transplant. After facing heartbreaking rejection, she would go on to receive a second double lung transplant at only seven years old.

Stephanie shares the highs and lows of their journey — from terrifying hospital stays to small victories and big prayers. This episode is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the gift of organ donation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Emily, Stephanie, and their entire family as they continue to face each day with strength and grace.

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring the heroes behind organ donation, and celebrating second chances at life. Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

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In this moving episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we meet Patches Rich, a loving mother whose heart journey began around the birth of one of her children. Doctors urged her to undergo a cesarean due to heart concerns, but life moved forward — regular cardiologist visits showed no major red flags.

That all changed years later.

Patches learned her heart was enlarged and her ejection fraction had dropped dangerously low. Her life suddenly took a turn — and if you’ve listened to this podcast before, you know where this road leads.

After months of testing and declining health, Patches was told she needed a life-saving heart transplant. For six long months, she lived in the hospital ICU — away from her young son, who was too young to visit. But the story doesn’t end there…

With determination, strength, and the gift of life, Patches received a new heart. Her return home was met with tears, hugs, and one of the most powerful moments of her life: being embraced by her son and her other children.

This is more than a story of survival — it’s a story of motherhood, sacrifice, and hope. Patches reminds us all of the power of family, love, and second chances.

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Let’s Stay Connected:

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

In this powerful and emotional episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we meet Mindy Wilson, devoted mother to 6-year-old Wilson Perry. What began as a simple lung infection turned into a life-altering journey spanning over a year, involving three different hospitals. Now, young Wilson is at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, bravely awaiting a life-saving lung transplant.

This is not just a story about illness—it’s about hope, resilience, and a mother’s unbreakable love. Mindy shares the ups and downs of their medical odyssey, the emotional toll, and the strength they’ve found through faith, community, and each other.

If you’re a parent, this episode will touch your heart deeply. You’ll likely find yourself hugging your children just a little tighter after hearing Wilson’s story.

Let’s all send love, prayers, and good energy that the call for lungs will come soon for this brave little boy.

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• Podcast Link: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

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If this episode touched your heart, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread awareness and share more stories like Wilson’s that inspire and bring hope.

Thank you for listening—and for being part of the Gift of Life family.

In this week’s powerful and inspiring episode of Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we welcome Darci Gibson, Founder and President of Off The List — an organization born from her own personal journey through the kidney transplant process.

Darci knows firsthand the emotional and physical toll of waiting for a life-saving kidney. Now, she’s on a mission to change the story for others still waiting. Through Off The List, Darci empowers individuals and families with the tools, education, and encouragement they need to find living kidney donors — offering hope, guidance, and a path forward.

Whether you’re a transplant recipient, a donor, a caregiver, or someone learning about organ donation for the first time, this episode will uplift and inspire you. Darci’s story is a reminder that we’re never alone — and that with the right support, miracles can happen.

Learn more about Darci’s life-changing work at: getoffthelist.org

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If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the word:

Subscribe to the podcast

Leave a 5-star review

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Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

As of today, more than 103,000 individuals are on the national transplant waiting list. Of those, approximately 86%—nearly 90,000 people—are waiting for a kidney transplant.

This week, we revisit Dan Daggett, a familiar voice and a determined fighter who is still waiting for his life-changing kidney transplant. Dan remains on dialysis, but his spirit and story continue to inspire.

Follow Dan’s journey and show your support on his Facebook page:

Kidney 4 Dan

We also dive into something that sounds like it’s straight out of science fiction: a potential breakthrough that could transform lives—an implantable artificial kidney. Imagine a future with no dialysis, no waiting lists, and a fully functioning device inside the body doing the work of a real kidney. Researchers are getting closer every day.

This is hope in action—and we’re here to share it with you.

Let’s Stay Connected

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

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Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

Listen & Share: https://lnk.to/GiftofLife

If this episode touched your heart, help us spread the word:

Subscribe to the podcast

Leave a 5-star review

Share this episode with someone you love

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

Caregivers are the unsung heroes in every transplant journey — offering love, strength, and unwavering support when it’s needed most. In this week’s touching episode, we continue our conversation with George Cecere, the devoted caregiver to his partner Terri, whom we met in our previous episode.

George shares how his personal caregiving experience inspired him to start TCH Caregivers Heart, a support group originally created for heart transplant caregivers. But as the need for support grew, so did the group — now welcoming caregivers of all transplant types. What began as a small community has blossomed into a powerful network, with monthly online meetings that offer connection, compassion, and guidance.

We dive deep into the emotional journey caregivers walk every day — the challenges they face, the support they need, and the vital role they play in the healing process of transplant recipients. Whether you’re a caregiver yourself, a recipient, or someone who loves them, this episode is a beautiful reminder of how important it is to care for those who care for us.

To learn more about TCH Caregivers Heart and how you can get involved, visit:

www.tchcaregiversheart.com

Let’s stay connected:

• Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

• Facebook: Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast

• Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

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If this episode touched your heart, help us keep spreading hope:

• Subscribe to the podcast

• Leave a 5-star review

• Share this episode with someone you love

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

At just 16 years old, Terri Cecere faced a life-altering diagnosis: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After enduring 10 rounds of chemotherapy, doctors warned her of possible long-term effects on her heart and kidneys. Life moved forward… until age 42, when Terri was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy—and her journey toward a heart transplant began.

In this inspiring episode, Terri shares the powerful story of becoming the very first heart transplant recipient at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her courage, resilience, and gratitude shine through as she reflects on her journey from young cancer warrior to transplant survivor.

This is a story of faith, determination, and the incredible gift of life.

Let’s Stay Connected!

Have a transplant journey close to your heart? Or know someone whose story deserves to be told? We’d love to connect:

Email: giftoflifepodcast@gmail.com

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Website: www.giftoflifepodcast.com

If today’s episode touched your heart, help us continue our mission:

• Subscribe to the podcast

• Leave a 5-star review

• Share this episode with someone you love

Together, we’re raising awareness, honoring donors, and celebrating new beginnings.

Thank you for being part of our life-giving community.

How many times have you walked into a furniture store and walked out with a couch, a chair… and a kidney? Sounds unbelievable, right? But this week on Gift of Life – The Organ Transplant Podcast, we’re sharing a story that’s as heartwarming as it is miraculous.

In Episode 54, you’ll meet Dayna Cohen and Jake Rowland—two people brought together by chance, whose connection blossomed into an incredible friendship and a life-saving act. Dayna, in need of a kidney transplant, never imagined that someone she met in such an unexpected way would one day become her living donor.

Though they come from different generations and backgrounds, their bond grew stronger through compassion, trust, and a shared belief in doing good. Jake’s selfless decision to donate his kidney gave Dayna not only a second chance at life—but also a lifelong friend.

In this episode, we explore:

• The unlikely meeting that led to a life-changing friendship

• The emotional and medical journey leading up to the transplant

• The importance of living donors and community support

• And the deep impact one person’s “yes” can have on another’s future

Tune in for an uplifting, inspiring story about generosity, gratitude, and the power of friendship to change lives.

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