Laurel Rader

I am an adult with a congenital heart defect. After two surgeries to reconstruct my aortic valve, I was given a donor pulmonary valve in 2020 for a Ross procedure. As a mom of four active kids, a mechanical valve was not a good option.

This new valve was truly life-giving to my family and myself.

It is allowing me to be involved with my children and their activities as well as letting me live a life with no limits.

When considering donation, I hope people understand that while whole organ donation gets much of the publicity, tissues can save lives as well.