The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency Podcasts

Show Notes: We talk to donor mom, Reecie Gilmore, who turned her experience with the loss of her young son into a mission to help others. Learn about The RescYou Group, the mission, their community and the services offered to grieving families. In our mental health moment, we chat about how to maintain balance in your mental health journey by using…

Show Notes: We reconnect with previous guests on episodes 160 and 169, Mark and Lynn Scotch, whose chance meeting during a leisure trip to Louisiana, saved another man's life through the living kidney donor voucher program. You don't want to miss the updates to their remarkable saga and learn where The Organ Trail has taken this inspiring couple no…

Show Notes: Have you considered giving the greatest gift, the gift of life? We are joined by authors and advocates, Elizabeth Crais, who's a kidney recipient, and Carol Offen, who has donated a kidney to her son. These two ladies have merged forces to help educate through their own life experiences with both kidney disease and living donation. In o…

Show Notes: A California prosecutor is using his personal story to encourage more people to register as marrow donors. Charlie Huang joins the podcast to talk about how his diagnosis led him to hope, healing and finally, advocacy. Learn about the new law he helped pass to make marrow donation as easy as registering as an organ, tissue and eye donor…

Show Notes: High school sweethearts, Lisa and Reid Barker, are authors of the book DeLivered. They join us to share their unique path and how organ donation has made an incredible impact on their lives, through the precious gift of life from a donor hero, and through living donation. In our mental health moment we chat about taking intentional step…

Show Notes: When a person allows passion to take the lead in their career, life thrives for professionals and the people they serve. Amy S. Peele, a nurse since 1974, discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she kicked off her career as a transplant coordinator. Now, following a 35 year career in transplantation, Amy found…

Show Notes: Following a near death experience and subsequent heart and kidney transplant, Shana Pereira is sharing insights she gained to inspire others to have a better relationship with crisis. Hear how her remarkable story unfolds and how her holiday miracle, through the gift of life, has changed her life and in turn, is inspiring others. We tak…

Show Notes: CareDX is using artificial intelligence to help with the timely assessment of the likelihood of rejection in kidney transplant patients. AiKidney helps clinicians to predict kidney failure before it occurs and allows the medical team to make adjustments to reduce the risk of rejection. This fascinating technology is taking transplant ca…

Show Notes: Individuals from multiethnic communities make up the majority of the transplant waitlist in the United States. We welcome two guests to chat about how they are working together towards eradicating multiethnic bias in transplantation. Dr. John Goss, professor and chief of the Division of Abdominal Transplantation at Baylor College of Med…

Show Notes: It’s our 200th episode!!! To celebrate, we invited donor mom, Angie Calamari, and kidney recipient, Brooke Shapre, to the studio to take us on a donation journey that leads us full circle right back to LOPA in an unexpected way. Libbie Harrison, one of LOPA’s Family Support Coordinators, joins in and sets the framework for how this uniq…

Show Notes: A staggering statistic, children from 1 to 4 years of age are at the highest risk for drowning. Drowning prevention is a year-round essential education for all people, adults and parents alike. We welcome Chris Knoblauch with the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office and Kristen Sanderson, Injury Prevention Manager, with the Louisiana Dep…

Show Notes: Grieving is the process of rebuilding following a loss. In this episode we connect with donor mom and author, Autumn Jackson, to hear her story, and learn about her tips for growing with grief. She provides those who are grieving with resources, and she shares her newest outreach efforts through SODA, Student Organ Donation Advocates, a…

Show Notes: There are currently 57 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) throughout the United States. In a lively conversation, we connect with passionate President and CEO of LiveOnNY, Leonard Achan, to learn about how the gift of life has changed the trajectory of his career. Hear how his OPO is saving and healing lives in the Empire State, and …

Show Notes: On this episode we learn about an organization facilitating the process of living donation for veterans in need of a transplant and hear from one of the program's altruistic living donors. Veteran and living donor, Lindsay Gutierrez, first tells us how she connected with DOVE Transplant founder, Sharyn Kreitzer who also recently donated…

Show Notes: The organ transplant recovery process is a crucial time for recipients. Denise Redeker with Heartfelt Help Foundation joins us to share her experience following a heart transplant, and the importance of clean, safe and accessible temporary housing during transplant rehabilitation. Hear how the foundation works to alleviate what is often…

Show Notes: August is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, and in this episode we connect with Chavon Trahan, a Tissue Family Advocate with LOPA. Chavon walks us through how she personally connects with multiethnic families to explain the opportunity to give the gift of donation, and how she addresses families' concerns about common myths. T…

Show Notes: We welcome Tara Storch with Taylor’s Gift Foundation, who's a previous guest from episode 43 of The Gifted Life. She re-joins The Gifted Life to talk about Taylor's Gift Kindred Hearts Program and how it is creating a space so that no donor's family ever grieves alone and welcomes them to participate as long as services are needed. In o…

Show Notes: Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the #1 leading cause of death in student athletes. Michelle Temple is donor mom to hero Grayson Temple and started Gray’s Army Foundation in honor of her son. The foundation has passed legislation as a way to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in children and young adults. They also focus on education, providing…

Show Notes: MediGO brings together forward-thinking and caring leaders that share a desire to use technology to digitally transform and revolutionize the organ donation and transplantation process to save lives. Scott Plank, CEO and co-founder of MediGo, shares how the company got started, the uniqueness of the donation/transplantation supply chain…

Show Notes: Donor mom, Melanie Marcel, joins the podcast to talk about both the power of adoption and the miraculous power of donation. Hear how Melanie's multifaceted story about her son and hero, Connor, has continued to make an incredible impact on her family's life in ways she didn't anticipate. Then we discuss tips for regulating emotions in o…

Show Notes: In episode 189, we welcome members from our internal Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee to facilitate an important conversation. Sheron, Cheryl and Sid discuss how LOPA's multicultural outreach has evolved throughout the years, and what steps are being put into action to ensure continued and exponential growth. The panel also wel…

Show Notes: This is part 2 of a series, and we encourage you to listen to part 1, episode 187. We are joined by Dr. Jayme Locke, the lead transplant surgeon for the pig to human kidney transplant at UAB, and Drew Shunk, the director of clinical services at Legacy of Hope. Dr. Locke explains why pigs are a good choice for xenotransplantation, the te…

Show Notes: Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting organs or tissues from one species to another. In this episode, we talk with Alan Spriggs, the Program Manager of Authorization Development from Legacy of Hope, about how he and his team worked with the family of Jim Parsons to present a unique research opportunity with the potential t…

Show Notes: Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser, joins us to share how a trip to the Rose Bowl Parade inspired him to register as an organ, tissue and eye donor and to encourage every Louisianian to register to save and heal lives. We discuss the gift of life and how it encompasses his passion for the state and its culture. Then learn …

Show Notes: In honor of Pediatric Transplant Week, two moms join the podcast and reveal both sides the gift of life and the incredible strength they see in each other. Melissa McQueen, with Transplant Families and a previous guest on episode 158, is joined by Sarah who's the mom of her son's donor hero. Sarah reflects on her family's choice to dona…

Show Notes: Just over 8 years ago, Hailey Steimel received the gift of life through a heart transplant. While she was waiting, she couldn't find many books relating to organ donation or heart disease, and she wanted to change that. Hailey shares her journey and talks about her new children's book, A Heart on Valentine's Day. Then we walk through su…

Show Notes: One donor's family, Larry and Vivian Lefferts, join us to talk about connecting donor families through a virtual network. Hear how their personal journey through grief following the loss of their son drove them to help co-found the Donor Family Care Network and how families from throughout the nation can participate. We are joined by a …

Show Notes: American Idol's Scott MacIntyre who is a two-time kidney transplant recipient and is best known as the blind pianist in season 8, has an amazing story of overcoming adversity. Scott thrives on using his story to encourage others to see the beauty in life and find hope in the midst of hardship. Hear his journey and about his latest passi…

Show Notes: Join us as we hear all about the adventures and misadventures of the Cart family on their journey to see their hero, Ryan Cart, honored on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. From meeting Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, to almost falling down the Grand Canyon, they share moments of gratitude and awe with a healthy dose of humor. Sar…

Show Notes: Learn how the facts and stats of organ, tissue and eye donation are being shared in Illinois classrooms. We welcome Kelly Pataky, with the Teach LIFE Toolkit Program. She shares how the program was developed for high school students and how it could be adapted for a variety of classrooms everywhere. We take a moment for mental health to…

Show Notes: We welcome Nelson Ballard with Sharing Miracles to learn about donated birth tissue and how these gifts are used to aid in wound healing advancements and a multitude of other medical needs. Hear how expecting moms can participate, how they are honored and how the process works. We honor hero Andrea Boullt and our mental health moment gi…

Show Notes: We delve into research that could be the biggest life saving change for organ donation in 40 years. LSU Mechanical Engineering Professor Ram Devireddy is researching different cooling rates for organs so that they remain viable for transplantation longer, giving every organ transplant recipient a greater chance at life. In our mental he…

Show Notes: Our hosts are excited to welcome Pam Cart, a long time Forensic Relations Specialist for LOPA. Pam explains her role and why having strong relationships with the coroners opens up more opportunities for donation. We also learn about Pam’s hero and inspiration, Ryan Scott Cart, her youngest son who became a donor following an accident in…

Show Notes: Ever wonder if the donation process is different in other countries? We learn first hand how things are done in Canada when we talk with Jamie Hitch, a Canadian altruistic living kidney donor. Sara talks about the power of saying no in our Moment for Mental Health, then we honor this episode’s donor hero, Josh Hicks.…

Show Notes: Glaucoma is a disease we usually associate with older patients. In this episode, we learn there is a congenital form of glaucoma, and the treatment is a corneal transplant. We talk with two experts on the subject, Kyle Mavin from Southern Eyebank and Delarrie Dunlap whose daughter Ari received a cornea transplant as a toddler. Sara disc…

Show Notes: 37 million people suffer from chronic kidney disease in the United States. We welcome Monica Fox, a previous guest on episode 110 and Director of Outreach for National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Monica is the host of a new podcast, The Journey Continues. The podcast is committed to promoting kidney health and organ donation through …

Show Notes: November is Eye Donation Month, and we are celebrating with two guests to this episode. First, Eye Bank Association of America's President and CEO, Kevin Corcoran joins the conversation to detail how COVID has impacted eye donation and transplantation in the last year. Then, Melissa St. Pierre, cornea recipient and volunteer for Baton R…

Show Notes: On this episode we welcome Heather Thomson, an adored reality star from the hit Bravo Network reality series, The Real Housewives of New York City. She is also a successful entrepreneur, podcaster and has a son who is a liver recipient. Her son, Jax, received his gift of life at the tender age of 3 months old. Heather gets raw and real,…

Show Notes: How does COVID-19 impact donation? Can I still be a donor if I've had COVID-19? We welcome Dr. Jonathan Hand, who is the Medical Director of the Transplant Infectious Diseases Program at Ochsner Medical Center and LOPA’s Associate Medical Director. Dr. Hand breaks down all things related to COVID: vaccines, the best sources for accurate…

Show Notes: Paul Cardall is a Dove Award winning pianist with 11 Billboard #1 albums and over 3 billion streams globally. He was also born with only half a heart. Paul had several near-death experiences and eventually was able to receive a heart transplant in 2009. He is a survivor that infuses his music with a vibrant appreciation for life and a d…

Show Notes: Mark Scotch rode a bicycle across the US to raise awareness for living kidney donation and registration as an organ, tissue and eye donor, and now he's right here on episode 169 to share the details of his journey. We welcome Mark along with his wife, Lynn, and his kidney voucher recipient, Hugh Smith, to hear their update. Sara leads a…

Show Notes: We welcome the Executive Director of The Alliance, Kerri Hobson-Pape, to learn about their 'All Teach, All Learn' style of collaboration to facilitate the sharing of professional best practices related to organ donation and transplantation. Sara leads us through a discussion on the myths of happiness. We honor Ivana Butler and answer yo…

Show Notes: We welcome Brandi Zofkie, a director with Lung Bioengineering, for a fascinating discussion about their lung perfusion system and the personal passion that fuelled founder Martine Rothblatt. Hear how their focus on lung transplantation innovation and technology is striving to change the culture of the transplant world. Sara explores how…

Show Notes: Our hosts have a fun and informative conversation with Lana Stevens. Lana is a community educator for LOPA and the co-host for NOLA Hawts, a podcast focused on Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) and all that goes with it. Lana was inspired to use the podcast medium after seeing how The Gifted Life helped educate and inspire the donation & t…

Show Notes: We welcome Diane Jackson from The Slone Group for a conversation about the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in organ donation policy as well as in the culture of organ procurement organizations. Nila Schwab, a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor, offers some advice about the resistance to change and how to recognize…

Show Notes: We welcome back Howl the Owl author Brenda Cortez, we first spoke with her in episode 115. Brenda has written a new book, Because of Donation, which is a curated collection of inspiring stories about organ donation. She is joined on this episode by Brittany Elliser, mom to liver recipient Briggs. Their family’s story is one of 25 storie…

Show Notes: The gift of life can inspire and motivate people to reach for the stars. In this episode, we connect with musician Althea Grace, whose toddler daughter Lennon is not only a liver recipient, but also her songwriting inspiration. We learned about their story on American Idol, where Althea was a contestant and are excited to share their jo…

Show Notes: We welcome a young man who's transplantation journey has become his professional inspiration. Liver recipient, William Porter, tells us about his road to receiving the gift of life and how it influenced his career path and inspired the creation of Operation Impact. Then we offer some tips for coping with despair, answer your question an…

Show Notes: Organ and tissue donation for medical research is a way for heroes to contribute to innovation and the search for treatments and cures. On this episode, we welcome Caroline Hare from Autism BrainNet who shares how donors and their families are paving the way for greater understanding of the biological causes of autism spectrum disorder …

Show Notes: We connected with Mark Scotch from Wisconsin, whose chance meeting during a leisure trip to Louisiana, saved another man's life through the living kidney donor voucher program. You don't want to miss this remarkable story and how it led to the creation of The Organ Trail. Then we chat about what true mindfulness is and honor hero Camero…