December 2, 2020: Friendships lasting nearly 50 years are incredibly rare and special. In 1972, 17-year-old Deborah Labud’s brother sent her back home from Oklahoma to Florida on a bus, but she missed her connection in Alabama. She caught a ride with a truck driver to her friend’s house in Gainesville, Florida. That’s where she […]
October 16, 2020: Legislation enacted in mid-September gave Donate Life Florida, the non-profit coalition of Florida’s organ, eye and tissue donor programs that runs the state’s donor registry, the green light to produce a Donate Life Florida license plate. First, however, they must presell 3,000 vouchers to Florida motor vehicle owners before the plate will […]
Throughout 2020, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services has recognized 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 third quarter and ask each of them questions related to their time volunteering. July Ambassador […]
September 11, 2020: As a woman of faith, Cristy Sutton had come to appreciate the life-saving miracle of organ transplantation. Four years ago, lying flat on her back in a hospital bed, she came face-to-face with the emotional uncertainty that she may need a liver resection to survive. The pause brought about by Sutton’s stay […]
August 20, 2020: Kimberly Morales was the youngest of four siblings, with 15 years between herself and the oldest. She was sassy, determined and as her mother described, “spoiled by all.” Kimberly had an active childhood. She played soccer for a couple seasons. She enjoyed musical theater and acrobatics. Her true love, though, was dance. […]
August 13, 2020: Heart recipient Tyrone Brisby and his wife, Demetris (Dee), strive to meet with his donor family each August – the month of Kyle’s birthday, but also the month he passed away and became an organ donor. “The first time we met my donor family was very emotional,” Tyrone said. “I didn’t know […]
August 6, 2020: Brenda Darling and Daryl Mullee worked together as nurses at Gainesville’s Alachua General Hospital. Brenda worked in the recovery room, and Daryl worked in the operating room. Their sons, Brandon and Charles, were in the same first grade class at J.J. Finley Elementary School, and the two quickly became best friends. They […]
August 1, 2020: “Life is back to normal,” Shiara Veltman said. “I get to jump in the pool with no cares. I get to swim in the river with my friends. Taking medications is an easy compromise for having a life again.” Shiara lived a healthy childhood until seventh grade, when she fell ill following […]
July 21, 2020: “A transplant would mean freedom,” said 17-year-old Max Williams. “I could play sports with my friends and not have to sit out after a few minutes. It would mean I could graduate and become an adult. Getting my heart transplant would give me life.” Max has been waiting for a heart transplant […]
LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services recognizes ambassadors of the month to bring attention to those who generously give much of their time to organ donation outreach. In this blog, our second quarter nominees answer questions related to their time volunteering. April Ambassador of the Month: Liz Kasey 1) What caused you to become an ambassador? […]
