Zach and Pam Stern. Pam Stern and her son Zach always had an incredibly close relationship. Pam says Zach was known for his beautiful smile and an incredible sense of humor. Pam loved being his mom at every stage of his life, watching him grow from a baby to a toddler and into an adult. About a year-and-a-half after having Zach, at age 31, Pam was diagnosed with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDCM),   a heart condition that ran in their family. Recent studies show FDCM is m

Kristin prepares to return home after her successful kidney transplant to enjoy the holidays with her family. When Kristin Rice was born, the umbilical cord snapped, causing Kristin’s body to go into shock, damaging her renal system. At age four, she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) . She had a normal childhood with FSGS, but knew at some point she would need a kidney transplant.    Kristin played a variety of sports growing up, including swimming

Harold Mintz is known for his unconventional thinking and zest for life. After losing his father at a young age, he decided he would live life with more intention and make decisions that brought him joy and happiness. He grew up unaware of the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation. Over time, he was gradually exposed to different materials about organ donation and transplantation. With each exposure, he found himself more curious about donation and wanted to find w

George Franklin celebrates 50 years and counting with his kidney transplant. The summer George Franklin turned 18 years old; he had plans of enlisting in the military. But once he got sick, his plans changed. After a bout with an ongoing cold, his mom took him to the hospital to get answers. There, he found out he had high blood pressure and was transferred to the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, where he was unexpectedly diagnosed with end-stage renal

Emily Bardales was only nine months old when her parents, Vicky and Marvin, found out her heart was not functioning properly. They learned her heart tissues were damaged and the only way for Emily to survive was to receive a lifesaving heart transplant. Doctors explained the wait for a new heart could take days, months or years. Her parents were devastated about her prognosis, but the potential of a future heart transplant gave them hope. Emily’s parents turned to their faith

Sierr’a’s favorite picture with her daughter Sienna.  Sienna Dixon-Newman was born in January 2008. After having several debilitating asthma attacks, she was diagnosed with severe asthma at nine months old. Tragically, in 2015, at only seven years old, Sienna passed away from an asthma attack. Because her parents made the selfless decision for Sienna to be a tissue donor, Sienna saved and healed more than 75 lives. Her donations included her heart valves, corneas to restore s

Dave honors his donor hero at the Infinite Legacy Donate Life Fun Run. In 2017, Dave McLaughlin of Catonsville, MD, was going about his normal life until one day he started feeling sick and had a stroke. Dave went into heart failure and learned that his heart was only functioning at 10% effectiveness. To survive, Dave had an abdominal left ventricular assistance device (LVAD) implanted in 2019 to help blood pump more effectively.    Over the next few months, Dave continued to

Xan at Butler University's basketball courts, ready to photograph the sport he loved most. Alexander “Xan” Korman was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, by two loving parents, Carolyn and Steve Korman. Xan was their only son and from a young age, he had a strong interest in sports and photography. He loved basketball and giving back to others. After attending Walter Johnson High Schoo l in Bethesda, Xan continued his education at Butler University in Indianapolis. Tragically, in 2

Infinite Legacy team members handing out The Decision Project backpacks at the District Heights, MD, Block Party. Throughout the summer, Infinite Legacy and The Decision Project  proudly host Block Parties in several communities in Maryland, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. Our block parties aim to raise organ donation awareness in the communities we serve. The events provide a great opportunity to talk directly to people about the importance of organ, eye and tissue don

Leo Castillo with his wife Lesly and his two daughters, Gaby and Camila. Leo Castillo, a Honduran immigrant who lives in Washington, DC, is a proud father and husband. His wife, Lesly and daughters Gaby, age 20 and Camila, age 17 always looked forward to seeing Leo when he got home from work. Known for his sense of humor, he would put a smile on everyone’s faces with his harmless jokes. They were a family strong in their faith, unaware of the journey that lay ahead. The Begin

Read Charles' story, a donor hero who saved many lives including his mother's former classmate by chance.

In March 2022, I received a lifesaving liver transplant that gave me something beyond measure, a second chance at life. Before my transplant, I had spent eight long years on the national transplant waiting list, suffering through the daily realities of end-stage liver disease. My life was filled with doctor’s visits, hospital stays and the uncertainty of whether I would live to see another season. Each day was a physical and emotional struggle, but I held on to hope. When I f

Brad Tennis (left) with his husband Drew Roberts. Brad Tennis loves running. For years, the meditative rhythm of his feet on pavement brought him peace like nothing else could. And it turns out, he was quite good at running as he  even qualified for the Boston Marathon. But while Brad was chasing his goals, unbeknownst to him, his heart was slowly deteriorating. In November 2018, out of the blue, Brad was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or ARVC,

My name is Tameka, and I received a lifesaving double lung transplant.

Demetrias “Dewey” Waters of Towson, MD, was the class clown. Dewey had super high energy throughout his childhood and had a love of...

“Learn more, be nice to everybody, make more friends.” These were the words 12-year-old Kimberly Adams jotted down in her notebook at the...

The journey of donor families intertwines grief and gratitude. Taylor's Gift and Infinite Legacy help families never grieve alone.

James Harris and Russ Redhead went from rivals to close friends after a pool playoff match that went awry and a chance meeting.

By Deanna Pratt On a stormy night in July 2022, my daughter died after a car accident. Catherine was the light of my life and the life of...

This summer, Infinite Legacy staff had the opportunity to observe a private Canine (K9) training session in a simulated disaster scenario...