Alexandra (Allie) Biess was born on her due date, September 17, 1993. She was a full-term, 8-pound, 11-ounce baby. Allie was Maribeth and Larry Biess’ first child. She was a little jaundiced at birth, which is not abnormal for a baby, so her doctor suggested phototherapy to resolve her condition. After six weeks, Maribeth returned […]
Some people feel a sense of dread when they get a phone call from an unknown number. That was not the case with Paul Croft, who felt a surge of adrenaline when his phone rang at 4 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. He knew the drill. Answer your phone at all times of the day […]
A couple months after she was born, Shechinah Butler was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a liver disease that affects the bile ducts and typically occurs in infants. Although from Jacksonville, Shechinah was listed to wait for a liver transplant through Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of the nearest hospitals for the procedure at the time. […]
Beginning in 2020, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services began to recognize Ambassadors of the Month to bring more attention to those who generously volunteer much of their time to organ donation outreach. In this blog, we showcase our three ambassadors for the first quarter of the year and ask each of them questions related to their […]
As alike as two peas in a pod. That is how Danny Martin described his friendship with Katie Walton. They trained together and began serving as LifeQuest Ambassadors two years ago. They immediately hit it off and have volunteered together ever since. “We are very close, and it’s very sweet,” Martin said. “Katie’s a special […]
March 2, 2020: Whenever the examiner at the driver license office asked Erica Shields if she wanted to register to be an organ donor, she was quick to answer. “I would always say no,” Shields said. “No, no, no, no, no.” Then something happened that caused Shields to have a change of heart. Her son, […]
January 2, 2020: When the inner core of Hurricane Michael slammed into Panama City Beach, Fla., last October, Dr. Marlene East, a licensed mental health counselor, was at her house a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Mexico. Construction inside her new home was not yet complete, but she was confident its infrastructure would withstand […]
December 20, 2019: LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services was the first organ procurement organization (OPO) in Florida to recover a heart for transplant from a donor after circulatory death. Until recently, hearts were only recovered for life-saving transplantation from organ donors who had been declared brain dead. Several U.S. organ transplant centers have been approved to […]
November 1, 2019: Every life has equal value. Every creature deserves the chance to live a healthy and productive life. These principles have guided Sarah Podobinski for as long as she can remember. “I don’t see anybody’s life being of lesser value than anyone else,” Podobinski said, the casualness in her voice a sharp contrast […]
October 13, 2019: Immense sadness and tears. That is what I had expected to find at a recent gathering of donor and recipient families held at Pensacola Yacht Club. It was my first time attending the annual event, In Celebration and Remembrance, hosted in part by LifeQuest. “Bring lots of Kleenex,” a friend advised. So […]
September 11, 2019: For Vincent Alderson, promoting organ donation was about more than just doing his job. It was about creating a lasting movement of goodwill. Mission accomplished. A memorial stands in the main hallway of Orange Park Medical Center due in large part to the efforts of our friend and co-worker who served as […]
August 14, 2019: Losing a loved one is heart-wrenching, but when handled properly, it can be an inspiring experience for family members and survivors left behind. Just ask Zach Binford. He recently participated in the first Honor Walk held at Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center, celebrating the life and legacy of his brother, Chuck, who […]
July 12, 2019: Humans share a symbiotic relationship with trees. Trees deliver the oxygen we breathe to sustain life on earth and serve a vital role in every culture. Given our eternal connection to these living organisms, it is fitting that Donate Life Florida’s 2019 National Donate Life Month (NDLM) campaign theme for the Florida tax […]
April 10, 2019: It was a simple yes or no question. “Are you an organ donor?” I asked at a recent seminar about why African-Americans are reluctant to donate their organs. A few of FAMU’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity brothers proudly raised their hands to show they had joined the registry when renewing their driver […]
November 19, 2018: High schools are at the forefront of organ donor education, and engaging students is an important part of LifeQuest’s mission to give every individual the option to donate. Connecting with teenagers on their turf brings context to the overall conversation and generally has a positive effect. Classroom visits also result in a […]
August 7, 2018: What’s better than saving lives? On a Saturday in late June, Alachua County Animal Services hosted an event in which those who registered as organ donors or donated blood received an adoption-fee waiver to cover a pet’s adoption fee! The pet could be adopted that day, or the voucher could be used […]
“I think I can, I think I can.” That was the motto of The Little Engine That Could. Gulf County Tax Collector’s offices recently took a leaf out of the classic children’s book that teaches the value of optimism and hard work. With an organ donor sign-up rate averaging 67 percent in April, they finished […]
The Suwannee County Tax Collector’s Office hosted its Second Annual “Be a Hero 5K Family Fun Run/Walk” on April 21 to benefit Donate Life Florida. The National Donate Life Month event took place in Live Oak and had more than 75 participants. It raised more than $5,500 for Donate Life Florida. The inaugural 5K, held […]
March 12, 2018: More than anything Libby Smith wants to thank the family of the 24-year-old woman who donated her heart and saved Libby’s life. But how do you thank someone you’ve never met for a gift you can never repay? “I never expected to feel like this,” Smith said, fumbling for the right words […]
Positions open in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Tallahassee Responsibilities: First responder to donor referrals from area hospitals; team huddle with unit staff; offer the option of donation to families where there is no donor directive; obtain a past medical history. Must articulate information in an easily understood manner to families whose ability to process information is […]
February 7, 2017: We work with the most incredible donor families who generously and heroically provide the Gift of Life to others. Some of these donor family members decide to volunteer with our cause, seeing a need to educate the public about the importance of organ and tissue donation while sharing their testimony. One of […]
January 8, 2017: We are so fortunate to have phenomenal volunteers who work frequently and diligently to share the importance of organ and tissue donation and encourage others to register their decisions to become donors. Our volunteers assist us in countless ways, including presentations, administrative work, craft projects, organ donor registration stations and more. One […]
December 21, 2017: On October 20, approximately 150 guests gathered at Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach for LifeQuest’s annual Tribute to Life ceremony. This reverent event honors organ, tissue and eye donors, the donors’ families, living donors and transplant recipients. Twenty-three donor families were represented this year, and the families, living donors and recipients […]
November 14, 2017 While Ben Anderson has not had a personal experience with organ donation and transplantation, the Okaloosa County Tax Collector and his employees are committed completely to the cause. “It’s such an honor to participate in the Donate Life program in Florida,” said Anderson. “It’s one of the most incredible programs that our […]
October 23, 2017: There were a record-breaking number of organ transplants performed in 2016 and a record number of individuals who gave the Gift of Life. A total of 33,600 patients received the Gift of Life from 15,945 generous organ donors. That is 92 people each day whose lives were saved because another person or […]
