ALONG WITH MARCH’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVITIES, special celebrations continue among those who feel lucky that organ donation gifted them with a second chance at life.
John Fleischmann
John was born with hydronephrosis, a kidney disease that caused him to put his hopes and dreams on hold. He was exhausted and had zero energy to do anything outside school or work. Doubt, anxiety, and depression creeped in. He played music but was scared to fully pursue it because of his kidney disease. All of that changed on July 31, 2014, when John received a life-saving kidney transplant. After his transplant, John toured the country multiple times and even toured across the globe. He also discovered a new passion in photography and videography. “I’ve done quite a bit in these 10 years, and none of it would have been possible if I didn’t have my transplant,” John said. “I’ve had this amazing blessing of this gift of life. I’ll be forever grateful for the guy that made that choice to be an organ donor. If it wasn’t for him, nothing in my life right now would be possible.”
Rose Hajjar
Rose was born with a heart defect. Her heart’s right atrium and ventricle were underdeveloped, which caused inadequate blood flow to her lungs. She had three open-heart surgeries before she was three years old. When she was in kindergarten, Rose was diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy. She endured countless hospital stays and years of medical tests, and she grew up relying on a pump that provided a continuous infusion of medication. She developed masses in her liver, she experienced daily joint and muscle pain, and her growth was stunted. On February 6, 2018, Rose was added to the national transplant waiting list in need of a new heart—the only cure for her disease. Thankfully, Rose received her gift of life on December 14, 2018. “It was a miracle that a family in their time of grief made this decision and said yes to organ donation. Rose is able to live life outside of the hospital, outside of suffering, because of this gift,” Rose’s mom, Joy, said. Rose’s transplant has allowed her to enjoy normal activities—playing with her sisters, singing and dancing, playing piano, and eating her favorite food, grape leaves. Rose has her whole life ahead of her thanks to her gift of life. “I am so grateful for what my organ donor has done for me and my family,” Rose said.
Brandon Hays
Rewind to 2010, and Brandon was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, which caused exhaustion, excessive swelling, extreme back pain, weight gain, and high blood pressure. His kidney function rapidly declined to 15%, he needed two naps just to get through the day, and he was scared. Fortunately, Brandon’s father stepped in and donated one of his kidneys to Brandon on August 2, 2011, giving him “the best eight years of my life.” During that time, Brandon got married, had his first child, advanced in his career, and enjoyed energy and health. When IgA nephropathy returned in his transplanted kidney, Brandon experienced similar symptoms as the first time around. He was lucky enough to receive his second life-saving kidney transplant—this time from a deceased donor hero—on September 27, 2019. Without that gift, Brandon’s second son would never have been born. All that Brandon knows about his donor hero is that he was a 16-year-old man, and he “owes it to him to live a good life.”
Jeff Jacobsen
In 2013, Jeff was diagnosed with a rare case of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which caused end-stage liver disease. Jeff was scared. His three older children had already lost their mother to brain cancer, and a liver transplant was the only hope for their father to live. That hope turned into reality on November 12, 2014, when Jeff received a life-saving liver transplant. Jeff ’s surgeon estimated that Jeff had less than a month to live if he hadn’t received his transplant. Without organ donation, Jeff’s nownine- year-old son would have never known his dad because he was only a toddler. Back when Jeff was sick, his now-12-year-old son “would ask God in his nightly prayers to give Daddy a new liver and he’d also pray for the family who would make that hard decision.” Jeff lives each day in honor of his donor hero.
Registering as an organ donor costs nothing but means everything to incredibly lucky transplant recipients like John, Rose, Brandon, and Jeff.
Life Connection of Ohio is a non-profit organization that serves families and saves lives through organ donation. To learn more about organ donation or to say “yes” to saving lives, visit lifeconnection.org.
Kara Steele is Director of Community Services for Life Connection of Ohio.
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