Recipient Journeys Episodes

👍Don't forget to like and subscribe! 💚 🎙️In this powerful episode of #TransplantTalks we hear from Kelsey, who was diagnosed with medullary cystic kidney disease at just 17 years old after routine lab work before college revealed she was already in kidney failure. Forced to delay college and begin hemodialysis, Kelsey's journey began with a selfless act from her father, Steve, who became her first kidney donor. When her body rejected his kidney—a devastating blow—Steve channeled his heartbreak i...

🎙️Don't forget to like and subscribe!👍🎙️💚 The day after her 50th birthday - also the day after she was convinced she was going to die - Kerre received the gift of life: a liver transplant. Her diagnosis was elusive, with her doctors suspecting Wilson’s disease, a rare condition that usually presents in childhood. Despite the uncertainty and the gravity of her illness, Kerre’s mindset never wavered. Kerre has been accused of having “toxic positivity,” but her optimism has served her well in life ...

Emma is 31 years old and a native of Florida. She had worked as a bar manager for most of her adult life. She describes, “I always was too enthusiastic of a drinker and drank more than my friends,” but things got worse during COVID. It was difficult to be home for months, and she found herself just doing shot after shot all day. After COVID, she quit drinking on and off but kept falling back into binge drinking. She would drink around the clock, get very sick, and then stop for a bit. She starte...

Matison Deaton is a remarkable woman, with perseverance that most cannot even imagine. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 1 1/2 years old, so her life was filled with lots of doctors’ appointments and all kinds of things that kids just shouldn’t have to experience. She knew from a young age that she may one day need a lung transplant. Her doctors didn’t tell her she had kidney disease – she found out from her “after-visit summary” and later learned she would need both a double lung and a kidney transplant. Mattie also found out from her notes that she was estimated to have 5-7 years left to live. It was 6 years into this span that she finally found a transplant center willing to take a risk, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). This was only after being rejected 13 times from other centers, due to being thought to be “too high risk” because she had a multi-drug-resistant lung infection. Mattie says that it was almost “out of spite” that she kept tryin…

Mariela started dancing when she was 12 years old in Ecuador. She trained in the conservatory and then moved to New York City to attend the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. For her, dancing is like breathing, is part of her culture, and is a way of meditation. In 2014, she ended up in the hospital with liver problems, but no one really knew what was going on. Mariela and her family thought it might be related to her emotions and sadness, “something from the soul.” After years of myst...

Lydia donated more than half of her liver to her childhood friend, Molly, just a few months ago. They are both incredible people, and their story is one of perseverance, strength, and the strongest kind of friendship. Due to their religious beliefs, they did not want to receive blood products, and they had the utmost confidence in their surgeon, Dr. Abhi Humar, and his team at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

🎙️Audio only Season 1, Episode 4 In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Barbara Gould, who, after a grueling battle with COVID-19, received a life-saving liver transplant from Casey Czerpak, a selfless living donor. We'll talk about their moving journey, the challenges they faced, and how their experience deeply affected their families, highlighting the incredible impact of organ donation. Join us to discover their inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and the powerful connection fo...