Meet Humans Who are Heroes - AKA Organ Donors

Have you ever wanted to save a life?  Would you if you could?

You have the capability to allow someone to stay on this planet longer, be with their family longer, enjoy laughter and life by making a living decision to gift life forward.  

You can do this by becoming a LIVING Organ Donor or checking a box to become an Organ Donor.

Selfless acts of ORGAN DONATION enable someone living to have a second chance and DO LIFE.

These are the stories of heroes.  Understand the power of human kind. 

BE THE GOOD. 

DO LIFE.

Mindy Stella was at the appointment with her dad, Tom Arnold, when he received the news that he had Liver Cancer, Non-Alcoholic’s Cirrhosis and would need a liver transplant and unfortunately, time wasn’t on his side.

“The risk we ran was the longer we waited, the higher the likelihood  the cancer could spread, and he would no longer be a candidate for a transplant of any kind,” Mindy says.

For that reason, Tom was told a living donor would be his best option.

“I remember thinking in that moment, it would be me,” Mindy says. “I prayed I was a match.”

Her prayers were answered: She was.

“When it was confirmed I was a match, I had a sense of peace with it and knew the outcome was going to be in our favor,” Mindy says.

As a mother of two, it was a big decision to be her dad’s living donor. But she never second-guessed the decision.

“I was confident it was the right thing to do,” Mindy says. “He’s my Dad and without a liver, whether it was from me or someone else, he wouldn’t fare well.”

She had also watched her friend and sorority sister, Traci Tigue, co-founder of BGVT, go through the process the year prior which gave her even more confidence and hope throughout the process.

“It was almost a year to the day that Traci donated a portion of her liver to her son, Brodie, that I donated to my dad,” Mindy says. “I do not believe that was just by chance.”

Within a few weeks of finding out she was a match, it was time for the big dual transplant surgery where Mindy would donate 60% of her liver to her Father.

“I knew I was in the best possible hands I could be at the Cleveland Clinic. I was reassured every step of the way.”

The surgery was a success and Tom improved very quickly after receiving the transplant.

“It was amazing that in a few days, his color was coming back,” Mindy says. “He had a smile again. He was my Dad again!”

Being a living organ donor, paired with the transplant experience - has taught Mindy to fight through the hard times and look for the silver lining in all situations.

“No matter where your life takes you, tough times are going to come,” Mindy says. “No one is immune to that.  If you can open your eyes to the people that surround you, those that may come into your life, the circumstances you have at hand; you can find the silver lining, a lesson to be learned, and you’ll find you aren’t alone.”

The backwards L-shaped scar on her stomach is a constant reminder that life can change in an instant.

“Live with intent,” Mindy says. “Dream big. Do the things that make you and others around you happy. Stay strong and live with a big faith.”

Karen's Story

Sadness was the most overwhelming emotion that Karen remembers about her good friend Mindy’s diagnosis.

“My friend was so sick and we were limited in our ability to help,” Karen says.

Or so she thought.

Mindy was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in 2012 and Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer) in 2015. Due to the complexity of her diagnoses it was determined that Mindy’s treatment course would include chemotherapy, radiation, internal radiation, and a full liver and bile duct transplant.

Once a plan was in place, Karen was hopeful that her friend would get the treatment she needed. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Her insurance company refused to cover treatment.

“She was actually told by the insurance company that because her survival rate was less than 5%, they wouldn’t cover her treatment,” Karen explains. “Hearing her share this news was heartbreaking.”

Thankfully Mindy’s husband Scott works for a fabulous company, The Garland Company, who went to bat on her behalf and covered treatment while Mindy and Scott fought the insurance company.

In the fall of 2015 when Mindy started this journey, the Cleveland Clinic had only treated five people with Cholangiocarcinoma who were continuing on with a Liver/Bile duct transplant following cancer treatment. Of those five, four died before making to to transplant.  The fifth patient is a young male attorney who lives in Israel and had successful cancer treatment and liver transplant.

“Mindy was on track to be the first American female in CCF history to beat cancer and be transplanted,” Karen says. “This was huge!”

Mindy was placed on the deceased donor transplant list in early November 2015 while still receiving cancer treatment. As time started to pass, it was determined that the best option for Mindy was to obtain a liver through Living Donation.

“Her health was declining much quicker than expected by all involved,” Karen says.

Originally Mindy’s medical team thought they’d have about one year before her liver failed following the cancer treatment. In reality, she was experiencing liver failure in less than three months. She was in and out of the hospital every few days with complications and unexpected surgical procedures.

Mindy’s husband Scott posted updates on a Caring Bridge blog site. Karen read them all. Including the post where he was pleading for liver donors.

“I followed the Caring Bridge site faithfully and read Scott’s post that Thursday morning,” Karen says. “I knew immediately that I wanted to volunteer.”

So she told her husband, Kevin, what she wanted to do. His response surprised her.

“His response was perfect,” Karen says. He told her, “I’m surprised it took you this long to say it, I knew you’d volunteer as soon as I read Scott’s post.”

Karen contacted the Cleveland Clinic transplant requesting to be considered for Living Donation. “Honestly, I had pretty much counted myself out as a donor for two reasons,” Karen says. “First, I’m adopted and I assumed that my lack of medical history would make me a terrible candidate. Second, I have asthma that requires steroid medication daily.”

She tried not to get her hopes up as a possible donor but also didn’t want to skip an opportunity to help her friend if she were able to.

“To my surprise, I received a call from Donna Ferchill, Donor Transplant Coordinator (and BGVT board member) while traveling to Chicago for Christmas,” Karen says.

Although more information would need to be collected, on paper she looked like a good candidate for Mandy. Donna contacted her a few days later to share that she was the clinic’s “top pick” as a hopeful transplant match for Mindy.

“I was speechless with excitement,” Karen says. “This meant that out of all candidates that volunteered, the medical team chose me to begin testing.”

Karen began the extensive testing process anonymously. She didn’t want to share with Mindy until she knew for sure she could be the donor.

On January 20, 2016, just two weeks after she started the testing, Karen and her husband were able to tell Mindy and her family that she was going to be her Living Donor.

“It’s impossible to put into words what it feels like to tell a person news of that magnitude,” Karen says. “It’s exciting, invigorating, frightening, humbling, and nerve-wracking to name a few emotions.”

Once the surgery was scheduled, the biggest obstacle was keeping Mindy healthy enough to receive the liver.

When word had spread about the upcoming surgery, the two families received an unimaginable outpouring of support from their families, friends, the community of Olmsted Falls, and more.

Karen’s family was nothing short of amazing throughout the process.

Her parents made plans to live with them for five weeks post-surgery to help take care of her family. Her sister made arrangements to leave her family in Chicago to stay Karen n the hospital for the week post op. Her in-laws and sister-in-law made themselves available to help wherever needed.

“My children were remarkable in stepping up their responsibilities around the house and showering me with love and care while I recovered,” Karen says.

She received visits from friends from near and far. The people of Olmsted Falls organized meals for both families, provided them with gift certificates for house cleaning, gift cards to various restaurants, and even shuttled their kids to and from activities without hesitation.

“We are forever grateful and indebted to their generosity,” Karen says.

When people compliment Karen on her decision to donate, it’s hard for her to remember to say “thank you.”

“In my mind, there was no decision to be made,” Karen says. “I was raised to believe that if an opportunity presents itself to help another person, you do it.”

Karen doesn’t consider her act heroic or even a gift.

“It was a choice that I wouldn’t change in a million years,” she says. “A small sacrifice on my part resulted in life for another person.”

Lucky for Karen, that person is her friend. She has the opportunity to watch her leave her footprint on the world daily.

“She is an amazing wife, mother, daughter, friend, teacher, and so much more,” Karen says. “We should all be so lucky to have a Mindy Craft in our lives.”

Michelle's Story

“From the moment I first held Madison after she was born, I felt a strong bond that I have never felt with any other baby,” Michelle Mari says.

It was that strong bond that led Michelle to want to save her niece’s life.

Madison, Michelle’s niece, was born in 2013 with a rare disease called Biliary Atresia, a life-threatening condition that causes the bile ducts to become inflamed and blocked soon after birth. The bile then stays in the liver where it starts to destroy it and eventually requires a liver transplant.  

When she was eight weeks-old, Madison had the Kasai procedure done in order to try and restore function to the liver. Unfortunately, this procedure did not work and Madison was placed on the transplant list.

“My mother told me pretty early on that Madison and I share the same blood type and that I could possibly donate to her,” Michelle says.

Michelle was advised that donating her liver would be the last resort and that they would likely get a deceased donor more quickly.

“Regardless of what we were told, I knew from that moment I was going to be the donor,” Michelle says. “Just a gut feeling.”

A deceased donor didn't come along as quickly as the transplant team had thought and Madison's health was quickly fading.

“It was truly heartbreaking to watch a sweet, adorable, and mostly happy baby suffer so badly,” Michelle says.

As Madison got closer to her first birthday, her health continued to get worse.

“She was terribly malnourished, weighing only 10 pounds, had a very noticeably swollen belly from the ascites as well as extremely yellow skin and eyes,” Michelle says.

Michelle started the testing process in the middle of July 2014. The testing process took about four weeks but in the end, she was cleared to donate.

“I have to say, I questioned a lot of things during this time,” Michelle says. “Why was this happening to an innocent baby? Could this have been prevented?”

The surgery was set for 9/10 but had to be pushed back due to Madison needing some additional vaccinations that could not be given right before the surgery.   

On October 1, 2014, the transplant team removed 25% of Michelle’s liver and placed it in Madison.  

“They said my liver was so tiny and perfect for Madison's little body that they immediately started seeing positive results!”

After surgery, Michelle was in a fog for about four days then snapped out of it on the fifth day. She was released on that fifth day.

“After I was released my mom would drive me down to visit Maddy,” Michelle says. “I remember feeling scared that the transplant didn't work because Madison still seemed ill.”

The doctors assured her that everything was going very well and that Madison would gain health soon.

“About a week after I was released we went in for our visit,” Michelle says. “I was holding Madison when suddenly she reached her little hand up, grabbed my face, looked at me and just had this huge smile! I knew right then and there that she was going to be ok. That will always be one of the happiest moments of my life.”

Michelle’s mom was there to capture the special moment.

Although the past few years have had ups and downs for both Madison, who was diagnosed with Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), and Michelle, who had hernias after her surgery, they are both doing well.

Madison is a lively three year-old who continues to be strong and brave.

“I feel so blessed that I am able to play a role in her overcoming this dreadful disease,” Michelle says. “I cannot begin to explain how rewarding it has been to watch her grow, walk, eat without a feeding tube, and just be a happy baby. She has such a big presence wherever she is with a huge infectious smile, adorable laugh, and a goofiness that can brighten anyone's day.

Michelle says the experience has changed her life for the better, too.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Michelle says. “The surgery is not as bad as described.”

She wears the scar proudly like a badge of honor. And it is.

“The first summer in a bikini, I was a little self conscious of my scar but now I rock that scar,” Michelle says.

“I saved a life and that shows it.”

Donor - Traci Tigue

Organ: Liver

Recipient: Son

Transplant Day:  10/19/2015 - NEW LIVER BIRTHDAY! 

Reflection:  My heart was so torn on whether to be my son's donor, I was so confused.  I didn't want to leave my 3 year old daughter and husband in distress.  Who would care for my baby? My family?  It was logic vs. emotion.  When I heard the words.  You. Are. A. Match.  My emotion won.  So did my husband Russ'.  There was no question.  We were going to do what it took to save our son.  Now a year later in hindsight, I wish I could go back and let logic and reason know it was the right choice.  If you have a chance.  Gift life. Give Life  It is AMAZING.