108 Stories of Hope

Emily Schulze

"I am so blessed to have this second chance, and I intend to live everyday to the fullest! #donatelife"

Luis Angel Hererra Lopez

"Working to provide for his home, and being a good man was very important to him."

Deiondre Rice

"I still feel strong and I'm still confident in my knee. "

Marilyn Nelson

"It was a blessing to hear that she was able to give the gift of life to others."

Victor Rogers, Jr.

"Victor was very thoughtful, loyal and caring."

Alexa Blaine

"Because of my transplant, I decided to work in medicine to give back from what I really benefited from."

Ron Fees

"Meeting my donor's mom and her family was a highlight of my life. They are part of our family know. "

Kyle Wolinski

"He swore like a sailor, hated having his picture taken and was a die hard Mopar fan. "

Daisy Friedman

"My transplant gave me more empathy and realize the meaning of living a full life. I always work hard to achieve that full life."

Michaela Kirkebak

"Michaela had a very kind heart.  She would do anything for anybody."

Vicki Sentelle

"She was absolutely a kid at heart and loved to fly drones, play video games, and collect Minions."

Zachary Tharnish

"From a young age, he talked about organ donation and giving was in his nature."

Brandon Huber

"Brandon was always willing to help anyone and always saw the good in people."

Daniel Scott

"He loved to laugh, when he laughed you couldn’t help but laugh with him."

Stella Chow

"When I woke up, the first person I wanted to thank was the donor and their family."

Sara Wachter

"I gave Mark a card that said 'You have a match. I’m your donor. I’ll see you at UNMC on June 1.’"

Kevin “Trapper” Davidson

"Kevin will forever be remembered for his carefree spirit, contagious smile, and generous soul."

Bailey Williams

"We thought about the opportunity for her spirit to live on and did not hesitate to say Yes."

Jim Wigton

"Because of donation I was able to get off dialysis, resume my activities, and feel well again."

Yazbek Gomez-Sosa

"He always liked adventure, making others smile and having fun wherever he went."

Verle Finke

"He cared about his family, his church, his work. He gave 100% to those things he cared about."

Boden Reischl

"Boden was always the kid in every photo that was smiling from ear to ear."

Emily Niebrugge

"I made the empowered decision to undergo preventative surgery to reduce my risk of developing cancer."

Chuck Bensley

"We remember him with one hand holding a beer and the other outstretched, ready to help. "

Ely Dehart

"Ely was always trying to make everyone smile and laugh and feel good about themselves. "

Andreea Baker

"If I had another spare part that I could give, I would. "

Sara Steiner

"She was a person that once you met her you'd never forget her!"

Holly Heath

"She came home and showed off the red heart on her license."

Joseph Adams

"Once I got that heart, my life went in a different direction for the better."

Gail Kerwin

"I fought so hard to live. I waited on the transplant list for five years."

Wendi Showell

"I am forever grateful for the person that said Yes to being an organ donor and saved my life. "

Bruce Prenosil

"I'm almost 14 years post-transplant now and so grateful for what I've received."

Kristin Stock

"Sometimes it’s hard for me to grasp the monumental gift someone gave to me."

Keith Chambers

"Keith’s smile and sense of humor will be his most cherished memory."

Jim Wagner

"I was extremely fortunate to receive a heart at age 74 and return to a fairly normal lifestyle within weeks."

James Neal

"The impact the heart transplant has had on my life and my family is very humbling."

Joy Wolfe

"The surgery to repair my spine was a success and I was back to work in a few short weeks."

Richard Anderson

"Richard was able to see his grandchildren grow up and spend special occasions with his family."

Bruce J. Jorgensen

"The transplant has changed me into a more grateful and kind person."

Keith Kelly

"I've returned to work and coaching youth sports, which is my passion."

Rodney Bennett

"Donation allowed me to have a 2nd chance at life and to make a difference for others as well."

Tyler Gassaway

"My transplant has allowed me to not only become a father, but to hear my son call me 'Dada'."

Matthew Brandon Rolfe

"Because of my brother, there are 108 more miracles to happen."

Deborah Houghton

"She was a truly wonderful woman, always concerned for others (and her pets)."

Mark Hopp

"Live On Nebraska allowed me to honor Mark as he wished."

Patricia Tanner

"She inspired anyone she knew to never give up even in the face of adversity."

Landon Merritt O’Neal Palmer

"In his short time on our earth, Landon made his way into many hearts and lives."

Shirley Kramer

"Through the generosity of a stranger, I have had more than 31 years of living, loving, caring and sharing."

Robert Swanson

"Everyone who knew him would say he was an extraordinary man!"

Steve Williams

"Steve was a devoted husband, father and grandfather (Papa)."

Amber Kudrna

"I have a career that I love, an amazing husband, and two beautiful children."

Warren Johnson

"Being able to donate is the greatest legacy he could leave behind."

Terry Baxter

"He was boisterous and could tell stories in the best way."

David Coleman

"David was able to get married, have a beautiful son and create many memories with friends and family."

Maggie Pierce

"She cared about what she did and felt so good about helping others heal."

Kenneth Hain

"Our dad still makes us so proud. We are so happy that he's still helping others."

Marcie Luhman

"I had zero reservations about being a donor. If I could help, I was going to."

Nate Peterson and Lance Pfeifer

"It brings peach and comfort knowing that Nate and Lance LIVE ON."

Cheryl Campe

"Before my transplant, daily tasks were difficult for me to do. Now I have nothing hold me back!"

Trevor Canaday

"Trevor's smile was so energetic and magical it could make anyone's day better!"

Susan Johnson

"Susan was always very hardworking and put everyone and their needs before herself."

Jackson Gosch

"Jackson says he’s got someone else’s bone inside his and it’s made him so much stronger."

Amy Hoyt-Whiteley

"She loved fiercely and found great joy in sharing her love of music with others."

Connor James Brown

"It didn't matter what time of day it was, if a friend needed help, Connor was there."

Sue Venteicher

"I was the first donor in a kidney chain. Nine people donated kidneys and nine people received kidneys!"

Matthew Merklein

"One of the recipients of Matt's tissue was a baseball player, just like him."

Lorissa Roepke

"I've had the opportunity to accomplish things I thought were not possible for me."

Karla Stallbaum

"I have six close family members that have had transplants."

Lisa Carmichael

"This gift has given me the chance to do what I enjoy, helping people."

Jeremy Shelden

"Jeremy was a very giving person, always there to help anyone in need."

John Gelecki

"John had always planned to be an organ donor."

Mark Tilton

"Mark loved and lived life to the fullest. He saw the good in all things."

Kali Fankhauser

"The word “donor” never crossed my mind until it hit home with our family."

Michael Elgin

"At least two people with vision issues were helped because of Michael."

Laurel Rader

"I was given a donor pulmonary valve. It's allowed me to live a life with no limits."

Eulish Moore

"Since I received my heart transplant, my life has been truly blessed."

Sam Wallman

"Sam is our real-life hero and a hero to many other families."

Nicole Canine

"Nicole would be incredibly proud to know that she saved two lives."

Toby Arneson

"Toby read about animals all the time and could bring up any obscure detail that he had seen on Animal Planet."

Timothy Petersen

"He opened his own food truck. It always brought him joy to see people enjoying his cooking!"

Kara Elliott

"A beautiful soul out there donated their skin. And that donation made a huge difference in my life."

Makayla Linder

"Makayla was a jokester. If the recipients end up getting ornery, it’s probably because of Kayla."

Anne Juarez

"She was a genuine joy to be around, she loved hard and when she loved you, you knew."

Karen Mattox

"It's a strange feeling carrying around a part of someone who you know nothing about, yet love and admire like crazy!"

Cindy Schabow

"I have been blessed with nearly 35 years of memories made with my family and friends."

Edgar Reyes

"He loved to carve wood and paint, only to then give his works to others."

Dave Kotinek

"Dave was gifted in music and had the tools to fix anything."

Kennedy J. Bowles

"She was bubbly, had the most beautiful smile and the deepest ocean blue eyes."

Ryker Dean Tatro

"Ryker was always our little clown. He made everyday better for us."

Jeff Befort

"Jeff would give the shirt off his back for anyone, so giving the gift of life to someone would have made him beam with pride."

Laura Harrington-Criger

"Now my liver functions are so boringly normal and it’s wonderful!"

Joshua Gasper

"Joshua was friends with everyone, would give the shirt off his back, and do anything to help another person."

Kathi Hassel-Strom

"She was so full of love and she gave it freely without any expectations."

Joan Munn Hopkins

"I am now 7.5 years out from my transplant, enjoying life."

Ryan Post

"Ryan didn’t just light up a room. She lit up the world just by being alive."

Malcolm Robbins

"I am so humbled and so grateful for God's blessing and a second chance at life."