The Day Her Sister Became a Survivor: Nilda Jimenez’s Story of Living Donation

April 2025 October 12, 2023 marked a life-changing moment for the Jimenez family. It was the day they had long prayed for — the day Elaine, beloved sister and grandmother, became a survivor. This miracle was made possible by Nilda Jimenez, who made the selfless decision to donate one of her healthy kidneys to her […]

Story Keeper

April 2025 By Kim Gilmore Dunn If you ask Rob Bellanich about his liver transplant, he will point you to his wife, Lezlee – his caregiver and the unofficial keeper of his story. Lezlee goes to great lengths to preserve the bravery and selflessness that shine through in retelling not only her family’s journey, but […]

Poetry in Motion

January 2025 By Kim Gilmore Dunn, senior public education coordinator It started with a simple yes-or-no question. “The lady from LifeQuest asked if I knew how to fold the American flag,” said Pastor Kenneth Frame, a veteran and parking enforcement technician at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. “I told her yes.” Frame witnessed an Honor Walk — […]

The Value of a Penny

December 2024 By Kim Gilmore Dunn, LifeQuest Senior Public Education Coordinator Jackson Bebiak was a softhearted soul who loved making others laugh. He was best known for his capacity to love, his sensible nature and his passion for video games, cars and music. “Jackson really appreciated the way things used to be,” said his father, […]

In Sickness and In Health

July 2024 In 2019, Kevin Jacques wanted his proposal to his then-girlfriend Amanda Meyer to be a surprise and thought a spot 1,500 miles away would be less likely to give away his plans. He decided on Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, Maine. His family owns a lake house nearby, and a summer vacation […]

High-Octane Octogenarian

June 2024 If you are looking for a reason to stay fit, Sid Riley is a motivating force. He refuses to accept the notion that life is for the young.  When he fell ill and needed a liver transplant at the age of 75, his personal commitment to staying active tipped the scales in his […]

Pawsome Pet Therapy

April 2024 When friends and family of a patient who had passed away gathered at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare to say their goodbyes, 7-year-old Golden Doodle Louie knew exactly what to do to comfort them. “My big 95-pound dog got in bed with the little boy and put his chin on him; it was so touching,” […]