| “I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the planet. Every day is an exceptionally good day.” |
| — Bob Garrett, liver recipient, Kansas |
| “When you realize the joy and love of this new life you’ve been given, it just blows your mind.” |
— Amy Tippins, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “It was the beginning of a whole new life for me.” |
— Stephanie Medine, heart recipient, Louisiana |
| “Many people ask me if what I went through was worth it. Absolutely! I hope I live my new life so everyone can see what the gift of life-organ donation-truly means.” |
| —Jane Adams, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “I shall always be respectful and grateful to the Doctors, Nurses, Aides, and other medical personnel of the Emory Clinic and Emory University Hospital. They are passionate with their skill, their care, and their comfort. Emory is truly the 'First Choice for Second Chances'. You can't fly into the wind without their support.” |
| —William Bathurst, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “Having a transplant opens your eyes to life worth living.” |
| —Ginny Carver, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “The grass seems greener now and the sky bluer. I notice things in more detail. The sun doesn’t shine in my life every day, but even the gloomy ones are wonderful!” |
| —Dean Coward, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “I’d like to focus on this elderly stigma involved with transplants. Older people have a lot of wisdom to impart, and there is a quality of life at any age.” |
| —Jean Dalton, liver recipient, Georgia |
| “It gave me a second chance at life and love and everything else.” |
| —Vita Davis, heart recipient, Florida |
| “Organ donation works. I'm living proof.” |
| —Leslee Deveaux, kidney recipient, Georgia |
| “Life is beautiful and I’ve been given the chance to work in and smell the roses. ” |
| —Louis Dykes, pancreas (islet cell) recipient, Georgia |
| “One of the pleasures of Wednesdays was the support sessions, where people who had had liver transplants one, five, even 10 years ago would come and share their experiences and thoughts with those of us who were brand new to the group. I got to know many of these fine people and found them to be very caring and helpful, regardless of background, age or anything else. We were all in this boat together.” |
| —George Fuller, liver recipient, California |
| “In all my worry and despair, I'm still here. God surely has a plan for me.” |
| —George Gamblin, heart recipient, Georgia |
| “Megan has had her heart since she was 14 months old. She is 4 years old now (2006) and has never had any rejections to her heart at all!” |
| —Gene and Tammy Madden, parents of Megan, heart recipient, Georgia |
“One of the best surprises of this unexpected journey were the other patients I met along the way.” |
—Leon Mathis, liver recipient, Georgia |
“Attitude affects everything you do.” |
—Nick May, heart recipient, Georgia |
“Wow! What a feeling! ” |
—Scott McDonald, kidney recipient, Georgia |
“I have never been an especially vain person, but I look at my body and it seems littered with scars from this illness. But today, I would point to each scar and say, “That is where God gave me the strength to choose life.” And that would be my parting words to you … choose life.” |
—Priscilla Petty, kidney recipient, Georgia |
“Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be seen from the top of the mountain. So many things are learned in adversity which the prosperous man dreams not of.” |
—Christopher Phillips, liver recipient, Mississippi |
“I can never put into words my proper thanks to my donor and his family. ” |
—Bob Pitcock, heart recipient, Texas |
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“This is the story of one man’s gift. The gift of receiving five extra years of a wonderful life. My hope is anyone reading this will consider being listed. There is hope and we wish to share this with everyone....” |
—Vernon Rosser, lung recipient, Tennessee |
“Sometimes we must play the cards we're dealtand keep our faith and trust in God.” |
—Allen Russell, liver recipient, Georgia |
“Life is good and I'm blessed to be able to continue to live life to its fullest and make a difference in this world.” |
—Michael Russell, kidney recipient, Georgia |
“I feel so wonderful that thereare actually days when I forget that I was ever sick and near death.” |
—Joanne Savitsky, lung recipient, Georgia |
“This gift of life that God has given to me is more than I ever thoughtof or hoped for. After living with liver disease for 24 years and kidney disease for 10, I never knew life could be this good!!!” |
—Heather Snyder, liver and kidney recipient, Georgia |
“Looking back, knowing you gave it your all... win or lose, you finish a champion.” |
—John Staniszewski, liver recipient, Pennsylvania |
“Nobody can punch me in the stomach, and I can’t punch them.” |
—Andrew Strickland, liver recipient, Georgia |
“Not everyone in need of an organ receives one. Because there are so many who need organs and so few organs donated, it is necessary to go through numerous expensive and time-consuming physical and psychological tests to show fitness for the transplant process” |
—Kathleen Thomason, liver recipient, Georgia |
“Fear shouldn't enter our hearts or minds when we hear the word, 'transplant', because it is merely another option that God has provided.” |
—Grady Vines, heart-lung recipient, Georgia |
“Look ahead and take advantage of the gift you have received.” |
—Harry Wuest, heart recipient, Georgia |
“Never underestimate the kindness of strangers.” |
—Andy Freeman, kidney recipient, Georgia |
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| “Thank you hardly seems enough for the gifts that I have received. I am eternally grateful to my donors!! ” |
—Heather Hazlett, Cornea, Kidney-Pancreas recipient, Waxhaw, North Carolina |
“The opportunity through the selflessness of another human being has given me the chance to see my children grown into wonderful adults.” |
—Yvonne Bali, Lung recipient, Kingsley, Perth, Australia |
“Everyday I look at my son and thank God for this gift of life.” |
—Kerry Keightley, Pancreas Recipient, Bristol, England |
“Since my transplant I have been like a kid in a candy store, grabbing onto all that life has to offer. Breath has abounded me with energy and a desire to live deeply and intently.” |
—Anabel Stenzel, Lung Recipient, Redwood City, California |
“Transplantation is human resurrection, raising me from death to full life. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Everyday I am amazed at what I can do, and all the opportunities that come my way because I can breathe. ” |
—Isabel Stenzel, Lung Recipient, Redwood City, California |
“My life since transplant has been remarkable all because I was given a special gift. I have accepted the challenge of “taking care of that gift” and the responsibility of “keeping the gift going.” |
—Sherrell Gay, heart recipient, Georgia |
“Thank you God for your everlasting 'Resurrection Powers.' With your gift and blessings everything became new. Transplant People ... We Are Special People.... As Well As the Donors.” |
—Phyllis Clark, Transplant recipient, Maryland |
“Each morning, I awake with a renewed sense of appreciation for life and all it has to offer.” |
—Linda Couch, Transplant recipient, Georgia |
"Celebrate while you wait! " |
—Cornishia Matthews, Heart recipient, Georgia |
"Never give up on something you can't go a day without thinking about. " |
—Teri Willis, Liver recipient, Georgia |
"If you needed a transplant and were willing to accept a donor organ, how would you feel if you never made an effort to sign your donor card and inform your family yourself?" |
—Kelly Perkins, Heart recipient, California |
"God Gave me a speial gift. " |
—Michael Pesco, Heart recipient, Georgia |
"I am 12 years and 5 months post-transplant with a double lung transplant. " |
—Kathryn Flynn, Lung recipient, North Carolina |
"Though it may be tough, God will never give you more than you can handle " |
—Christopher Anderson, Kidney recipient, Georgia |
"Daesha has done great. Daesha lives a normal life... " |
—Mother of Daesha Downey, Liver recipient, Georgia |
“God blessed my family and me with his [Dr. Stieber's] expertise in performing my lifesaving surgery.” |
—David Parker, Liver recipient, Georgia |
"Every day is the best day of my life. " |
—Joe Persichetti, Heart recipient, Georgia |
“You must appreciate the simpler things in life, for one day these things may be of greater significance.” |
—Justin Clay, Kidney recipient, Georgia |
"If you are living and breathing, you are having a GREAT day!" |
—Randy Smith, Father of Transplant recipient, Lila Smith, Georgia |
"Everyday that I wake, I remember that an angel got her wings, in order for me to live." |
—Bonita Vason, Kidney recipient, Georgia |
"...I was blessed with the gift of life..." |
—Nicola Langlands, Heart-Lung recipient, Pevensey, East Sussex, UK |
"Cherish every breath " |
—Melody Pierson, Lung recipient, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
"Live life to the fullest, you never know when your time is up... I was lucky enough to get a 2nd chance! Always say I love you to those you love!" |
—Dee Lorberbaum, Heart recipient, New York, New York |
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