INSPIRING STORIES

My daughter, Abigail “Abbey” Mae Conner, was a 20-year-old college student who passed away tragically from a pool accident during her winter break with her brother in Cancun, they both were found unconscious, face down in chest deep water in the resort’s pool. 

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Unfortunately, Abigail didn’t make it even after medical intervention. She was in junior year at the University of Whitewater, WI majoring in Public Relations. She was a smiling and loving young lady who was loved by so many people.

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Abbey’s Gift of Donation has allowed four males, ages of 20-60, to live through the donation of her organs. In addition, her eyes and tissues were donated whereas even more people benefited to having their sight restored and living better lives.

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In honor of Abbey and to help me deal with my own grief, I cycled 2,000+ miles across the country. I left Madison, WI on May 22, 2017 and arrived in Fort Lauderdale, FL on July 10, 2017. The Finish Line at Broward Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL is where Abbey was transported, received exceptional care, and prepared her for the donation of her organs for transplant. The hospital and Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency, University of Miami, took exceptional care of my daughter during the organ donation process.

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Throughout my entire ride, I brought awareness to the impact of organ donation and how important the gift of life truly is when tragedy shows up on your doorstep. It’s your legacy. Question that, what could be a better legacy to leave behind than saving a life? Along my route I asked people to register online to become organ donors.

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I cycled six days a week at an average of 60-65 miles per day. I made a special stop on June 18, 2017, on Father’s Day, in Baton Rouge, LA. This is where I had the pleasure of meeting Abbey’s heart recipient, Jack Loumouth Jr. And his family. 

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I listened to Abbey’s heartbeat. It was a very special day as two fathers celebrated Father’s Day together. I celebrated knowing Abbey lives on in this young man and Jack’s father celebrated his son’s life. Jack is alive. Abbey is alive in Jack. 

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It’s her heart that gave life to another. For the cycling journey across the country, there was a driving force behind every push of the pedal. Organ donation and carrying Abbey’s name forward, as that’s what she’d would have wanted me to do. So I did!

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- Bill Conner, Donor Father

Danny Pino was 19 years old when he was struck by a car while crossing a street in Tallahassee, Florida. He passed away seven days later on September 28, 2014. Danny’s spirit and the mission he was born to serve lives on through all of us at PinoStrong, a foundation created with funds raised to bring him home. 

Danny, whom his friends lovingly called “Pino,” was known for his loyalty, determination and compassion. He was funny too and the life of the party. In his short time on Earth, he touched many lives and helped many people in different ways. 

Danny loved and was loved. He had many interests and passions, but his greatest was baseball. Baseball fueled his competitive nature, moving him from short stop at age five to lefty pitcher in high school and college. His senior year of High School, he was recruited to play baseball by the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, New York. 

At the young age of six, he was touched deeply by the events of September 11, a day that changed his life. It inspired him to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and later join the Army ROTC at Florida International University. 

Thirteen years later on September 11, 2014, he received his Army Combat Uniform, which he wore proudly. His ultimate dream, more than playing baseball, was to serve his country.

Although he was not able to fulfill his dream of serving his country in the way he had imagined, his Act of Valor for his country was the donation of his organs. He saved two boys, ages 7 and 12, and a 63 year old man. That is his ultimate gift and his Legacy. 

Our hope is that the recipients will want to meet us one day soon. Please follow the PinoStrong Foundation on Facebook.

 

-Peggy Jimenez Pino Donor Mother

On July 24, 2013, a princess arrived, Deanna Lynn Anderson, who weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces. Our two older sons, Christian & Matthew, were overjoyed that they had a little sister, and yes, she was a princess in their eyes. 

We had her pink tutu ready for her to wear home from the hospital and lots of bows to choose from…we learned she would be going home with something else, too…a Bili blanket. Deanna had jaundice and the lights from this blanket would help the levels of jaundice in her system.    

After two visits to the pediatrician, we were told that Deanna no longer needed the blanket and was fine. Deanna always smiled, ate a lot, and gained weight, but her skin coloring changed, too. 
After asking the doctor if we should be concerned, we were pleased to learn that her skin color was a combination of Mommy and Daddy. It made sense, and who wouldn’t love a tan, right?  

Deanna’s second cousin, Sabrina, who is also a pediatrician, visited our family to meet Deanna when she was almost three months old. When Sabrina walked in and saw Deanna, her face was filled with panic. 

She told us that Deanna was not tan and that she was yellow, and it was not normal. Shortly after, Deanna was admitted to Joe Di Maggio’s Children’s Hospital, where they began running numerous tests.  

On Halloween of 2013, we were educated about a rare and life-threatening infancy disease, called Biliary Atresia or BA; where the bile ducts to the liver are blocked/nonexistent. BA occurs in every 1 in 15,000 births approx. The medical team at Joe D tried to repair the biliary system and was so hopeful, however, our destiny was to walk a different path…

On December 9, 2013, our family was told that Deanna needed a new liver. A liver transplant would be the only way that she would see her first birthday. As scary as it sounded at the time, and as much fear and anxiety we felt, our family stayed strong and prayed. Deanna was evaluated at Miami Transplant Institute and listed for a new liver New Year’s week of 2014. Her stay at MTI/Jackson felt like forever, yet, thanks to their loving and caring team it was like a second-home to Princess Deanna. 

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On February 27, 2014, Deanna underwent an 8-hour liver transplant under the hands of an astounding team. She woke up from surgery with a new pink coloring and fighting against the respirator. Our princess never gave up and never lost her strength.  

Deanna is a very outgoing, clever, and loving three year old. She loves her family, her friends and teachers at school. She is obsessed with Princess Elsa and Princess Anna from the movie Frozen and loves being read to. Deanna has changed the world…her story may save other lives, and has encouraged many to register as organ donors. 
All this is possible thanks to her Organ Donor, he made this journey possible along with our family, the medical teams, and our entire support system. Deanna encourages us every day to believe in miracles and never give up.  

 

- Heidi Anderson, Recipient Mother
 

April 1, 2009 was the most joyous day of my life. On this day I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. The sister my son always wanted and the joy to my already proud family. 

With all the emotion I also found relief, not just from birthing my second healthy child, but now doctors could examine me and see what was going on for the past seven months on pregnancy. Three months into my pregnancy my skin and eyes became yellow and my liver enzymes numbers were elevated. 

Doctors were unsure why since I have been a healthy 25-year-old and had no complications in my previous pregnancy. All I knew was now the baby was born and healthy. Now I can be treated and get to the bottom of my illness brought on by my pregnancy.

Two weeks after the birth I had many blood tests performed and a liver biopsy. After an agonizing five days waiting for the results my doctor sat me down and explained I had stage 3 bridging and end stage of liver cirrhosis. 

They called it pregnancy induced autoimmune hepatitis. Being a nurse myself for the past six years I knew this was not good and I feared for my life. I cried for days and feared my babies would grow up without their mother.

Doctors quickly put me on a strong steroid regimen and other pills to try and salvage my liver, but after three years of intense medication therapy I became extremely ill at University of Miami Hospital (UMH) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from liver cirrhosis complications. I needed a new liver and that was the only way I would be able to leave the hospital alive.

After being in ICU for two months I received the call I was patiently waiting to receive. Finally there was a match for me and I was going to have the liver transplant I had been dreaming and praying for. I called my family and kissed my kids for now I was leaving my life in God’s hands along with the great surgeons of UM.

On February 5, after three hours of surgery, I came out of ICU with a new liver feeling beyond blessed and healthy as ever. Waking up to my babies and family was the best thing in the world.

Five days and 65 staples later I was healthy enough to go home to my family. Since then I have lived a healthy life with no complications. I feel normal again and it has been a year and a half since my surgery. I was able to see my daughter graduate kindergarten and my son became MVP of his basketball league. I am so blessed to be given a second chance in life. 

Because of my amazing selfless donor family I am a mother to my kids, a wife to my husband, and a daughter to my mother. I can never repay my donor’s family for their amazing gift and saying yes to donation. I pray to see her one day and be able to thank my angel up in heaven.

 

- Jessica Escobar, Liver Transplant Recipient
 

When Julio did not wake up after being warmed up, my mind told me he was brain dead, but my heart did not want to believe it. After several tests and a repeat CT of his brain, the neurologist determined that there was nothing there to sustain any type of normal life. 

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Knowing Julito as we all did, we knew he would not have wanted to live in a vegetative state: that was not who he was. He loved music, dancing, traveling, and being at the beach.

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The Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency team was with my family and me throughout the entire DCD process. We all gain comfort in knowing that Julio saved two lives with the gift of his kidneys. 

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Furthermore, his gift of eyes, bone and tissue improved the lives of over one hundred people. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my son especially seeing his daughter grow up without him, he would have been a fun dad, but I think about his life and remember the memories he gave us, the lives he touched with his gift of organ and tissue donation and not his tragic death. He always used to say, “Life is too short, so live each day like you are on vacation and never stop dancing,” so please do so in his memory.

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- Angela Buenano, Donor Mother

On October 31, 2011, our 19-year-old son lost his battle for life. After being declared brain dead, my husband and I were called into the room with a representative from the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency to make a life-changing decision. 

At the time, Trevin was not a registered organ donor, and as I sat in a daze, listening to what she was saying and staring at what seemed to be the end result of my son’s life, I had one question: “Is there anything anyone can do to give my son back to me?” 

After receiving a shattering no and for a brief second, I thought about what Trevin would want me to do. Trevin was a dear and sweet child and he would have given anything to anyone if it was in his power to give. With him in mind, I decided to say yes to organ donation. 

However, although I agreed to donation, I had no understanding of the impact it would have, not only in the lives of others, but in my life as well; it wasn’t until I received a letter from the organization stating Trevin’s organs were used to save the lives of four people. I knew then that I had made the right decision. It’s bittersweet, but I am honored to be a donor’s mom.

There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t miss him, and I know he would be so honored to be a part of such great cause. I am truly grateful that God has allowed us to take this horrible tragedy to turn it into a miracle for others.

 

- Renee Jones, Donor Mother

Jeffrey Esters has led a life of adventure. Jeffrey has a sense of ambition and determination that has led him to where he is today. He has always had a natural talent for sport and after graduating high school, he received a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh to play football. 

He played for the university for 4 years and then went on to play in the NFL for 3 years. He played for renowned teams such as the NY Jets and the LA Rams before he had to retire.

A few years after retirement from the NFL he was diagnosed with heart disease. In September 2015, due to the severity of his cardiac condition, and after years of treatment, he underwent placement of a ventricular assist device at Memorial Regional Hospital. He was placed on the National Waiting list for a transplant and his journey began for a new heart. 

On December 16, 2016, he underwent a heart transplant by the exceptional transplant team at the Memorial Transplant Institute. Today, Jeffrey is thriving and is doing very well. 

He has been given the chance to continue to raise children and be a part of the lives of his family & friends. He is charismatic, generous, and enjoyable to be around. Jeffrey is honored by the gift of life he has received and plans to continue his journey of adventure as fruitful and productive as possible.

I was 17 when I received my transplant, only a few days away from an appointment to begin dialysis treatment. I had a condition called Hyperoxaluria that was found when I was only a toddler. With this condition, my liver overproduced oxalate that built up in my kidney and produced kidney stones.

For as long as I remember, I was on a strict regimen of medications every four hours, four times a day. Once the doctors decided that my kidney was deteriorating too much, they put me on the organs waiting list and scheduled me for dialysis. My appointment to get my dialysis shunt was for a Monday, and two days before, on a Saturday, the hospital called me with the news of a possible donor, and I received the gift of life from a young man who had passed away, and my life was saved because of my donor.

I have always thought of my transplant as the ultimate blessing in my life but recently, was blessed again with a beautiful baby girl on May 18, 2017. Before, I was not sure this would ever happen to me, because of my medical conditions. I am beyond grateful for my donor family’s decision to donate life to me, and now for my daughter.

Since then, I try to merge my gratitude into my daily life. Now, I work as a nurse in the hopes of making my patients feel comfortable and at ease, like many of my nurses did for me throughout my medical journey. 

Also, I volunteer with Make-A-Wish granting wishes to young children with life-threatening illnesses, and with Life Alliance sharing my story and spreading awareness of the organ donation process. I hope that my story will enlighten many to consider being an organ donor.

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- Allison Brennan, Kidney Transplant Recipient