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...

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

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

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.

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