United States (English)
German (Deutsch)The generous gift of tissue donation can dramatically improve quality of life for recipients. Read stories of how tissue donation and transplantation have touched the lives of others.
Shelly Lyons
“I was limited to walking for movement,” said Shelly Lyons, an allograft tissue recipient. Being an extremely active teacher, mother and lover of the outdoors, Shelly had a difficult time being restricted to no sports or any ...
Mattie Owens
For almost nine years Mattie Owens suffered from pain in her back, shoulders and neck, due to degenerative disc disease. The Jacksonville, Fla., woman had tingling and numbness in her right arm and was losing the use of it. E...
Brandon Sack
While wakeboarding, Brandon Sack suddenly felt his knee twist and pop. Brandon said it was horrible timing because the weather had just warmed up enough for him to stop using his wetsuit while on the water. He instantly thoug...
Debra Pappas
Debra (Debbie) Pappas, of Raytown, Mo., is an avid reader who has written grants and published a children’s book Mom, Dad Come Back Soon. Debbie has been published by the American Psychiatric Association – children’s division...
Justin Fisher
Justin Fisher, 33, of Gainesville, Fla. is highly active in sports including flag football, softball and especially basketball, where he ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during a pickup game with friends. “I nee...
Colin Lepley
Colin Lepley considers himself very physical, and he enjoys practically all sports. He has played sports since he was four years old, his favorite being football. During his junior year of high school, he ran for over 1,200 y...
Jaclyn Crawford
One late night Jaclyn Crawford fell on her tile kitchen floor, landing on her knee. Jaclyn tried to stand, but the pain was too much. The next morning, a visit to the Emergency Room suggested that she had a tear in her ACL. ...
Peggy Maloney
Peggy Maloney had a very active and healthy lifestyle. “I engaged in yoga and ballet classes and loved to go backpacking, especially in the Smoky Mountains.” Peggy said. “I had always been blessed with good health and didn’t ...
Harry Rambo
Harry Rambo was skydiving from 9,000 feet when strong wind conditions forced him to misjudge his landing. He hit the ground at more than 25 miles per hour and shattered his right femur. The point of impact was Harry’s right ...
Christie Blakely
Christie Blakely of Gainesville, Fla. tore her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while skiing in Colorado. “After I tore my ACL, I was concerned about instability in my knee,” Christie said. “As a result, I refrained fro...
Megan Silcox
Fourteen-year-old Megan Silcox of Newberry, Fla. was playing in her very first high school soccer game when she suddenly tore her ACL. Today, Megan is preparing for next year’s soccer season thanks to the generous gift of a ...
Ida Williams
RTI is pleased to honor a fellow employee and living donor, Tracy Riggins, who selflessly gave the gift of life to her mother, Ida: Ida Williams remembers feeling extremely sick in 2000, with her condition worsening daily. H...
Laurie Wills
Laurie Wills of West Palm Beach, Fla. was having extreme pain in her neck, preventing her from carrying out daily tasks like holding a telephone and working on a computer. “The pain involved my neck, shoulder and right arm a...
Marty Mosley
Can you imagine how different your life would be if you couldn’t see the information on a bottle of medicine or a menu at a restaurant or even pass a simple eye test at the DMV despite wearing prescription eye glasses at the ...
Carrie Hartill
Carrie Hartill remembers bending over to pick up an object from the ground the day before feeling excruciating pain in her right shoulder, but she still isn’t exactly sure what caused her injury. The pain kept her awake for f...
Wayne Godsmark
Wayne Godsmark is a father of two little girls, ages 8 and 3. He and his wife, Dawn, like spending their time outdoors with the kids, working on renovating their home and helping with the upkeep of his father’s church propert...
Dr. Robert Cooper
Robert Cooper of Orlando, Fla. had dealt with the sudden pain in his neck for two months when he decided he could not keep living in pain. He began feeling horrible pains in his right arm, shoulder and neck. He says he doesn...
Diane Hickey
After spending Valentine’s Day in a hospital emergency room, Diane Hickey is now happily recovered thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Diane received a soft tissue allograft from a tissue donor to repair her left knee after...
Rita Zeidner
Rita Zeidner, a journalist from Arlington, Va., was limping along and recovering slowly from reconstructive knee surgery. She had torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after falling on an icy ski trail in Colorado. Durin...
Suzi Resnick
Suzi Resnick of Alachua, Fla., was involved in an auto accident in 1979 and received two fractured vertebrae. The only option at that time was to wear a hard cervical collar and take pain pills. Over the years she saw numerou...
Betty Long
When she was 52, Betty Long of Palatka, Fla., found out that she had scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. Her doctor discovered the scoliosis during a check-up for tennis elbow, but he did not recommend surgery at t...
Pamela Snyder
Tearing ligaments in both knees didn’t slow down Pamela Snyder. An energetic athlete, Pam first tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee playing soccer in high school. Then in college, she tore the ACL in h...
Dawn Giese
The pain in Dawn Giese’s lower back began due to a spinal stress fracture. It was devastating for the then 42-year-old registered nurse when she tried to walk up and downstairs, roll over in bed, or drive a long distance. Wor...
Anne Rose
Soccer is life for Anne Rose, but a torn ACL twice threatened to end her time on the field. At a soccer camp, Anne tore her meniscus, PCL and ACL. “Years ago this would have been a career ending accident, but thanks to the al...
Walter Joseph, Jr.
Walter Joseph, Jr., commonly known as “Rock,” became suddenly ill one night after participating in one thing he loved -- bowling. Andrea Joseph, Rock’s wife of six years and mate of 18 years, said he was bowling on a Monday n...
Rebecca Perry
Rebecca Leeann Perry, a 22-year-old senior nursing student at the University of North Florida, was struck by a car when crossing the eastbound lane on her way to work early one morning. “She was a special, caring person,” sa...
Kathleen Southard
Kathleen Southard was a very caring educator, always wanting to help others in need with a deep love for education. She passed away from a sudden heart attack at the age of 60. “Kathleen worked in education all her life,” sai...
Alfred Molina
Two days after Alfred Ray Molina Sr. celebrated his 60th birthday, he experienced a heart attack as he rested his head on the shoulders of his wife, Vicky, after a long day from work. Vicky and Alfred shared a fairy tale lov...
Abbey Conner
Abigail “Abbey” Mae Conner, a 20-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, passed away tragically from a pool accident. Bill Conner, Abbey’s father, described his daughter as a handful, a pistol and a smili...
Morgan Daly
For donor mother Shannon Daly, her son Morgan’s story is an everlasting one. Although Morgan passed away tragically at the age of 20, he wanted to help others through donation and signed up to become a registered donor when h...
Bradley Michael Chavez
According to Maggie Holzhauer her son Bradley was full of life. “He was full of smiles and had a lot of fight in him. He was never a quitter, always stuck up for the underdog and would give the shirt off his back to help out ...
James Cantwell
Husband. Soulmate. Best friend. These are titles Terrie Cantwell gave to her husband, James Cantwell, who passed away at the age of 61 due to an enlarged heart that was three times its normal size. Terrie found James in their...
Robert Toledo
Godzilla. Dr. Who. Comic Books. These were a few of Robert (Rob) Toledo II’s favorite things. Toledo, raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., passed away at the age of 33 from an interventricular bleed. Just like every Tuesday evening, Ro...
Amy Firth
“We were always a close-knit family, and nothing could have prepared us for Amy’s sudden and untimely death,” said John Henderson, Amy’s father. Amy Kathleen Henderson Firth, a mother of two who married her high school sweet...
Phillip Mattes
Philip “Fibber” Mattes was a cowboy at heart. Cowboy boots, cowboy hats, blue jeans and ratty old barn jackets were some of his favorite things. Mattes passed away at the age of 73 due to a seizure, which caused heart failur...
Gary Davison
As an avid gardener and handyman, Gary Davison knew how to fix, build and plant just about anything you put in front of him. His love for children and helping people was not overlooked. At the age of 63, this loving man passe...
Robert Rickerd
Robert Rickerd was a loving husband and father of five children, ages two, three, eight, 12 and 21, but after suffering from a mental illness, Robert ended his live through a self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 13, 2014, a...
Bruce Olson
“I had the pleasure of calling this man my father. Thirty years, nine months, 30 days, four hours and 45 minutes here on earth, we got to make memories,” said Josh Olson, son of Bruce Olson. “Time is the most precious commodi...
Jose Guadalupe Tijerina Vargas
Jouita Orzabal lost her son, Jose Guadalupe Tijerina Vargas, to a stroke on Oct. 12, 2013. Jouita said her son was outgoing, always tried to get people to laugh and had the nickname, "Lupe." Jose was the oldest of five broth...
Mack Caldwell
Carla Jones lost her husband, Mack H. Caldwell, to a massive heart attack at the age of 60. “He was always happy and just a joy to be around,” Carla said. “He rarely became upset and was easygoing, and enjoyed playing jokes o...
Maria Fowlkes
Frank Fowlkes lost his wife, Maria, to cancer at the age of 66. “Maria was a saint,” Frank said. “She loved her children and husband dearly and only wanted the best for all of them.” Maria was a loyal and considerate person ...
Martin Colunga Jr.
Martin Colunga, Jr. took his own life at the young age of 28. “He was my husband and my best friend,” said wife Maria Amador. “He was a very loving husband and father and was loved by a lot of people,” she said. “He had the p...
Derek Waterman
Patricia Waterman lost her son, Derek Allen Waterman, at the age of 26. His life was taken by an under-age drunk driver on February 16, 2014. Derek was on his way to pick up his four-year-old daughter when his life was taken...
Mike Erickson
Growing up, Mike Erickson played football and enjoyed the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, trail biking, canoeing, swimming, ice fishing – he loved them all. He was very quick-witted, with an exceptional sense of humor. His mother...
Anthony L. Ciammitti
You never said I'm leaving. You never said goodbye. You were gone before we knew it & only God knows why. It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn't go alone, for part of all of us went with you, the day that God took...
Meagan Rickman
At the age of 17, Meagan Rickman went into cardiac arrest during a surgery for placement of a pacemaker. Meagan was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare heart defect present at birth where the heart is critically...
Ryan Jolley
Ryan Michael Jolley passed away at just five days old. He was born with severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a condition in which the brain does not receive enough oxygen. Ryan was Ashlee Hammac’s second son. Her pr...
David Resendez
Kelli Resendez lost her husband, David Resendez, to a heart attack due to congestive heart failure at the age of 42. David was a father of four and grandfather of three. David was smart, funny and a fun person to be around. ...
Winston Morris, Jr.
Winston Morris, Jr. passed away at age 55 of complications from head trauma following a fall. Debbie Morris, the wife of Winston, said he was very outgoing and always the life of the party. Winston had a beautiful baritone v...
William Love
Betty Love lost her son and only child, 44-year-old William Love, in a motorcycle accident. “Will was my life!” Betty said. “From a small child, he was usually very happy and fun-loving.” He was on the gymnastics team in hig...
Kenneth Lewis
Katrina Lewis lost her beloved husband, Kenneth Wayne Lewis, at the age of 49 due to a blood clot in his heart. “Kenneth was a very loving and kind-hearted person,” Katrina said. “He would do anything for anyone and not thin...
Ron Earley
Kathy Earley lost her husband of 40 years, Ron Earley, to a massive stroke at the age of 62. “Ron was my very best friend!” Kathy said. The amount of love he had for her, their two sons, his daughters-in-law, and three grand...
Evan Hauk
Evan John Hauk was taken from the world too soon when he was preparing for a family fishing trip on July 6, 2011. He was using worm prods to search for bait in the backyard when he fell on top of a prod and suffered an electr...
Corey Martinez
Kim Paine lost her youngest of three children, Corey Wayne Martinez, at the age of 21. Corey was involved in a single-car wreck and was texting while he was driving. “Corey loved life and made the best of every situation,” K...
Daniel Mataska
Daniel Ray Mataska died in his sleep in October 2012 at the age of 17. Daniel was mentally challenged and had epilepsy but didn’t have a seizure the night he died. According to his doctors, Daniel died of natural causes. “I ...
Jessica Mathews
Julie Mathews Adams lost her oldest daughter, Jessica, at the age of 21. “She came home from college to watch her younger sister march in the band, and the next morning she did not wake up,” Julie said. Jessica’s mom and sist...
Michiel Crabtree
Terri Crabtree lost her husband of 12 years, Michiel Earnest Crabtree, to a massive heart attack in January 2013. Mike had just turned 47 years old. “Mike was a very unique man; he thought of others before he thought of hims...
Gannon Grimmett
Coye Grimmett lost his son Gannon to heart failure at the age of 41. “Gannon was loving, caring, tender, generous and humorous,” Coye said. “He loved to do wood carvings and to learn new things. He was very spiritual.” Coye ...
Christina Pasewald
“We were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Christina, on March 25, 1984. On July 2, 2007, Christina was tragically taken from us when she took her own life. Christina was a beautiful girl, inside and out. Everyone loved her...
Mike Dunnam
Mike Dunnam was 22 years old when he was involved in a fatal car accident. “Mike, or ‘Mikey’ to me, was born ready to embrace life,” said his mother Valerie Fourtunia. “He was such an adventurer, full of love, always ready f...
Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson passed away very suddenly of a blood clot in the heart at the age of 51. “Patrick was my husband of 34 years,” said wife Kay. “We have two boys.” Patrick owned his own bridge construction business for most o...
Anthony "Nini" Varela
“My son Anthony “Nini” Varela was 18 years old when he passed away on August 8, 2010. He was my only son and the younger of my two children. At about 1:18 a.m. he was riding in an SUV with three of his friends on their way t...
David Bunk
“I lost my husband and my son lost his father very unexpectedly. Dave had just turned 60 on March 9 and passed away on March 22. It has been such a very difficult road to travel. Dave was such a giving and wonderful man and ...
Kenneth Klapperich
“My story is probably pretty common – about a girl that loves her dad. I was always his princess. Everyone knew I had him wrapped around my finger – and he around mine. We did so much together. We would travel and explore and...
Christopher White
After Christopher White had graduated from Wisconsin Heights High School in 2001, he worked two part-time jobs so he could pattern his waking hours around hunting, fishing and golfing. His father, Jerry White, says he was mif...
Peter Jordan Pintens
“Dark brown eyes, shiny dark brown hair and a quick smile were Pete’s trademarks. Everyone who met Pete knew soon his friendliness, sense of humor and laugh. Some characteristics came from his mom, some from his dad, but Pete...
Ralph Popp
Ninety-two year old Ralph Popp passed away in April 2008 after suffering from a massive heart attack at his granddaughter’s middle school volleyball game, the day before his 67th wedding anniversary. “He was in excellent hea...
Robert Frost
When I was told that I could share my personal story about tissue donation I was excited, but I was also apprehensive because I wanted to make certain that everyone came away with the same positive feelings that I have about ...
Deanna Casey
Deanna was born with a smile as infectious as her laugh. As a child, she loved playing sports, being outside, socializing with the neighborhood kids and spending time with her family. Deanna orchestrated the family Fourth of ...
Norma Jean Pierce
“My mother passed away very suddenly in 1992. She died of congestive heart failure, and was also a breast cancer survivor, ruling out her donation of organs. At that time I didn’t know anything about tissue donation, but we a...
Nick Oelrich
Steve Oelrich, Florida State Senator and former Sheriff of Alachua County, Fla., clearly remembers Father’s Day 1995. That was the day his 18-year-old son Nick was left brain-dead by a head injury suffered during a fall at a ...
Bryant Dean
“On Thursday, May 20, 2010, my husband and I were two blocks from our home, and he was sitting on his parked motorcycle talking to me about our evening plans,” said wife Angelia Dean. “There was a pause in the conversation an...
Victor Lozada
Victor Lozada married the love of his life, Theresa, after having known her since he was nine years old. He then attended the University of Houston and joined the National Guard, but dreamed of having a career in law enforcem...
Eric Barlament
Kari and Eric Barlament of Brillion, WI, were celebrating one of life’s greatest joys – preparing for the birth of their first child – when tragedy struck their family. While on the way to the store to shop for baby items, th...
Elias Kluth
Elias Kluth passed away at the age of 15 months due to the result of an accident. Even at a young age, his mother Marisa said he had developed some breathtaking characteristics. “He had very big brown eyes, eyes that you didn...
Glanville family
Marge Glanville, of Arizona, has lost two heroic loved ones but says she is comforted by knowing that they live on in her heart and through their gifts of life to others. Marge’s son passed away in 1999 due to a brain tumor a...
Jimmariyah Sherrill
Jimmariyah Sherrill was a smart young boy with an energetic and loving personality. Tragically, his life was taken at only 10 years old when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle in 2003. His grandmother and guardian, ...
Connelly Sanders, Jr.
Connelly Sanders, Jr., born in 1929 in Oklahoma, lived a full and happy life before passing away at the age of 74 while living in Marietta, Ga., with his wife, Rosemarie. After he graduated from the University of Missouri an...
Nancy Quick
Nancy Quick served in the United States Navy and later joined the reserves after her tour of duty was complete. In her early 40s, while helping care for her elderly parents, Nancy was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. “Her ...
Quentin Durell
Quentin Durell, from Arizona, lived to be 83 years old and experienced the better part of the 20th century during his life. He suffered a heart attack and passed away in 2001. When Quentin passed away, his Hospice nurse asked...
Terry Snowden
Terry Snowden suffered of liver failure and passed away in Stoughton, Wis. at the age of 58. “He was very much a giver,” said Terry’s wife Jane. “He loved doing special things for me. He’d bring me flowers and gifts for no o...
Stephen Rutherford
Kathy Rutherford describes her son, Stephen, as the perfect baby boy with beautiful blue eyes and big dimples. He was a normal teenager who loved to have fun and make people laugh. Stephen always helped his fellow classmates ...
Melissa Hanson
“My daughter and best friend, Melissa, was born on Christmas Day,” said mother Loni Wendt. “We lost her in a car accident on April 19, 2002, at the age of 16.” According to her mother, as Melissa grew up she quietly helped an...
Linda Heffernan
Linda Heffernan passed away suddenly at the age of 50 in February 1999 from a pulmonary embolism, five days after undergoing elective surgery. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and a friend. She rais...
Heather Johnson
Heather Johnson lost her life in a car accident between Madison and Portage, Wis., just a short time after celebrating her 21st birthday. “She was a very caring person who liked making others feel good,” said Heather’s fathe...
Clifford Nelson
Clifford Nelson had lived a full and wonderful life when he passed away at the age of 84. He died of a massive stroke and had been on dialysis for just over seven years. His wife of 53 years, Lillie, said she and Clifford we...
Bob Jones
Bob Jones’ life came to an end in the early hours of January 1, 2002. He and his wife, Kathy, had spent New Year’s Eve with their daughter and were driving back to their home in Dixon, Ill. when a drunk driver rear-ended thei...
Bette Kroll
Elizabeth “Bette” Kroll was an avid reader and gardener, especially known for her sparkling sense of humor. Bette lost her life at the age of 69, leaving behind three children and three grandchildren. “I don’t believe our ch...