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Virtual Donor Remembrance

Honoring Donor Heroes
Join Donor Network of Arizona Saturday, July 31, 2021, at 7 p.m. DNAZ.org/Remembrance >
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Anna Reidenbach

Liver Recipient

As a Donate Life Arizona volunteer, Anna shares
her lifesaving story of hope.

Sign up to volunteer >

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Noel Rivera Fuentes

Donor

Alysson’s dad, Noel, saved many
lives as an organ and tissue donor.

Read his story >
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Oliver Crawford

Heart Recipient

Oliver’s life was saved by a generous organ donor.

Read Oliver’s story >

Join the 4,153,827
Arizonans in the
DonateLifeAZ Registry

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Donate Life Arizona

3 days ago

Donate Life Arizona

"Hi guys, before you read my journal entries I want to make one thing clear: this is not a sad story. My story is a happy story.

A heart transplant allowed me to live my life with freedoms I’ve never experienced before.

I am not the greatest sufferer in the world. In fact, my life is amazing.

I’m sharing my journal entries with the world because I’m hoping this will inspire people to become organ donors, and give hope to those staying in the hospital.

So enjoy your read, and keep on thriving."

Read Justin Wang's story and check out his heart healthy cookbook! ... See MoreSee Less

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Donate Life Arizona

4 days ago

Donate Life Arizona

Today is National Chicken Finger Day, and we're sharing today's #RecipesofRemembrance in honor of Tyler. If you make a recipe from dnaz.org/recipesofremembrance be sure to tag us. 💙💚

45 minutes | Serves 2-3

Ingredients:
Oil for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
1 cup milk
1 egg
3 chicken breasts, cut into strips
Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce

Instructions:
In a pot, heat the oil to 375°F.

In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. In another bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Dip each chicken piece into the egg mixture, roll it in the seasoned flour mixture, and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

In small batches, fry the chicken until golden brown, then remove.

Coat the finished chicken with Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce, toss and enjoy. #ChickenFingerDay #NationalChickenFingerDay ... See MoreSee Less

Today is National Chicken Finger Day, and were sharing todays #RecipesofRemembrance in honor of Tyler. If you make a recipe from dnaz.org/recipesofremembrance be sure to tag us. 💙💚 45 minutes | Serves 2-3 Ingredients: Oil for frying 1 cup all-purpose flour Salt and pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne ½ teaspoon paprika ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon onion powder 1 cup milk 1 egg 3 chicken breasts, cut into strips Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce Instructions: In a pot, heat the oil to 375°F. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. In another bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Dip each chicken piece into the egg mixture, roll it in the seasoned flour mixture, and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. In small batches, fry the chicken until golden brown, then remove. Coat the finished chicken with Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce, toss and enjoy. #ChickenFingerDay #NationalChickenFingerDay
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Julie Jones I did not know Tyler was an organ donor...we are a couple days from Jimmy Guy Tucker 's donation

Donate Life Arizona

5 days ago

Donate Life Arizona

I still recall the summer day when my brother Memo renewed his driver’s license. He had just turned 18 years old and decided to be a donor. He was so happy about his decision that he came home and shared his news with all of us. Organ donation was new to my parents, immigrants from Mexico, and all of us kids, aged 17, 16, 15 and 13. But he convinced me that this was important and when I turned 18, I too became an organ donor. Then at the young age of 37, my brother died suddenly from a dissecting aorta. The doctors said it was unusual for this to happen in someone so young. The hospital staff did not know he was a donor, so it took about an hour before I was able to share that Memo wished to be an organ donor and they contacted the donor bank. In November 1995, my brother donated his heart valves, his eyes and other tissues.

About a year later, the recipients tried to reach out to my mother to thank her, but she was not ready. Now it brings her great comfort to know that there are people living life to the fullest because her son was an organ and tissue donor. We also have a cousin in Chihuahua, Mexico, that performs transplant surgeries and has done much to educate the community of the importance of organ donation. I am honored to have been able to help Memo’s wishes be carried out. Each one of us can make a difference. As they say in Spanish, “yes we can” or “Si se Puede!”

Register in Guillermo's honor at . #DonateLife ... See MoreSee Less

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Donate Life Arizona

1 week ago

Donate Life Arizona

Myleigh and Makayla want to use the stand to raise awareness on the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives.

"They want to open people's eyes and hope people understand how important it is to say yes to organ donation," their mother said. "They don't want other kids to feel this -- if their siblings have been waiting for a transplant and they didn't make it. That's what they talked to me about."
https://goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/… ... See MoreSee Less

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Hope it goes well. Good luck.

Donate Life Arizona

2 weeks ago

Donate Life Arizona

After a two-year journey that began in 2017 when I was diagnosed with NASH cirrhosis, I received the gift of life (liver) from an anonymous donor on the early morning hours in March 2020. I was very fortunate to receive a new liver so quickly, as I was only on the national transplant waiting list for about 11 days.

Those two years of all my pre-transplant testing was a long and difficult journey, but it was well worth it in my opinion. However, my surgery was not without major complications. During my liver transplant my heart unexpectedly flatlined, so they had to give me chest compressions during surgery to bring my heartbeat back. It really surprised me when I heard that my heart stopped three times during surgery because I passed all the pre-transplant cardiology tests and my heart was fine. I guess things like this can always happen and you have to be prepared for it. Once I woke up from surgery in the ICU I was in excruciating chest pain from the cracked ribs from the chest compressions they gave me during surgery to get my heart going. I was also feeling a lot of pain radiating from my new incision so my recovery was difficult and very painful the first three to four months after my transplant.

It’s now been over a year since my liver transplant and I feel great. My appetite is very good and I haven’t experienced any liver rejection issues since being discharged from the hospital over a year ago. My new liver is producing wonderful blood test results. I’m on a very low dose of daily immunosuppressant medications. When I first got out of surgery, I was taking close to 18 different pills a day. Now a year later I’m only taking about five different pills (twice a day).

I first noticed that my liver was not functioning properly back in 2017. My first symptom was a very distended and tight feeling stomach. It felt like it was full of fluid. My stomach was so big and stuck out. It was not a pleasant sight or feeling! It got so bad at times it was very difficult for me to bend over just to tie my shoes. It was a horrible feeling. The other symptoms were swollen legs, swollen feet, tiredness, bloated face, swollen eyelids, skin color was yellowish, chronic dry cough (because of fluid in my lungs), forgetfulness, my liver enzymes were very high and my blood platelets were very low. I just felt miserable inside and my body was so full of fluid because my liver was not working properly. When I was first admitted to the hospital back in 2017, the first thing they did was to give me a paracentesis and thoracentesis to drain all the excessive fluid in my body. I couldn’t believe how much fluid came out of my body. It was unreal. I felt so much better and like a new person after receiving those medical procedures.

The transplant process is a long and amazing journey that tests the limits of the human strength and courage. I will never forget all I went through before receiving my new liver. It requires a lot of commitment and faith as well as emotional, mental, psychological and physical endurance. I found it to be a very long and difficult process, but it was well worth it at the end. If a person can handle transplantation, you can conquer anything you set your mind to. It is one of life’s greatest challenges and among the reward is the gift of life itself. It’s definitely not for the weak-minded or faint-hearted. I’ve been pricked, prodded, probed, needled, tested, etc. Before I had my transplant I was afraid to go to the doctor and always put it off. Since going through this whole ordeal, I’m no longer afraid of doctors or going to the hospital and I now look at my doctors and nurses as my very best friends.

Having a liver transplant was well worth it as I feel so much better now. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t think of my wonderful donor and their family for their generous lifesaving gift. I always feel their presence around me every day. It’s a very strange feeling to say the least. I am so very grateful for their gift of life and they will always have a special place in my heart. May they forever Rest In Peace.

Lastly, God is good and has blessed me with so many wonderful miracles these past several years!! It truly amazes me.

I’m happy to report that after this past year I feel really good and I have an excellent appetite. I have no complaints and regrets. My care while a patient at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix was extremely good. I’m very happy with the transplant team of doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc. I received great, compassionate medical care and the follow up care I received after my transplant was excellent as well.

Register in Christopher's honor at . #DonateLife ... See MoreSee Less

After a two-year journey that began in 2017 when I was diagnosed with NASH cirrhosis, I received the gift of life (liver) from an anonymous donor on the early morning hours in March 2020. I was very fortunate to receive a new liver so quickly, as I was only on the national transplant waiting list for about 11 days. Those two years of all my pre-transplant testing was a long and difficult journey, but it was well worth it in my opinion. However, my surgery was not without major complications. During my liver transplant my heart unexpectedly flatlined, so they had to give me chest compressions during surgery to bring my heartbeat back. It really surprised me when I heard that my heart stopped three times during surgery because I passed all the pre-transplant cardiology tests and my heart was fine. I guess things like this can always happen and you have to be prepared for it. Once I woke up from surgery in the ICU I was in excruciating chest pain from the cracked ribs from the chest compressions they gave me during surgery to get my heart going. I was also feeling a lot of pain radiating from my new incision so my recovery was difficult and very painful the first three to four months after my transplant. It’s now been over a year since my liver transplant and I feel great. My appetite is very good and I haven’t experienced any liver rejection issues since being discharged from the hospital over a year ago. My new liver is producing wonderful blood test results. I’m on a very low dose of daily immunosuppressant medications. When I first got out of surgery, I was taking close to 18 different pills a day. Now a year later I’m only taking about five different pills (twice a day). I first noticed that my liver was not functioning properly back in 2017. My first symptom was a very distended and tight feeling stomach. It felt like it was full of fluid. My stomach was so big and stuck out. It was not a pleasant sight or feeling! It got so bad at times it was very difficult for me to bend over just to tie my shoes. It was a horrible feeling. The other symptoms were swollen legs, swollen feet, tiredness, bloated face, swollen eyelids, skin color was yellowish, chronic dry cough (because of fluid in my lungs), forgetfulness, my liver enzymes were very high and my blood platelets were very low. I just felt miserable inside and my body was so full of fluid because my liver was not working properly. When I was first admitted to the hospital back in 2017, the first thing they did was to give me a paracentesis and thoracentesis to drain all the excessive fluid in my body. I couldn’t believe how much fluid came out of my body. It was unreal. I felt so much better and like a new person after receiving those medical procedures. The transplant process is a long and amazing journey that tests the limits of the human strength and courage. I will never forget all I went through before receiving my new liver. It requires a lot of commitment and faith as well as emotional, mental, psychological and physical endurance. I found it to be a very long and difficult process, but it was well worth it at the end. If a person can handle transplantation, you can conquer anything you set your mind to. It is one of life’s greatest challenges and among the reward is the gift of life itself. It’s definitely not for the weak-minded or faint-hearted. I’ve been pricked, prodded, probed, needled, tested, etc. Before I had my transplant I was afraid to go to the doctor and always put it off. Since going through this whole ordeal, I’m no longer afraid of doctors or going to the hospital and I now look at my doctors and nurses as my very best friends. Having a liver transplant was well worth it as I feel so much better now. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t think of my wonderful donor and their family for their generous lifesaving gift. I always feel their presence around me every day. It’s a very strange feeling to say the least. I am so very grateful for their gift of life and they will always have a special place in my heart. May they forever Rest In Peace. Lastly, God is good and has blessed me with so many wonderful miracles these past several years!! It truly amazes me. I’m happy to report that after this past year I feel really good and I have an excellent appetite. I have no complaints and regrets. My care while a patient at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix was extremely good. I’m very happy with the transplant team of doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc. I received great, compassionate medical care and the follow up care I received after my transplant was excellent as well. Register in Christophers honor at www.liveonaz.org/stories/christopher-t-bucholz. #DonateLife
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Thank you for featuring my transplant story on your Facebook page. It’s been a long journey but well worth it and I feel so much better!! God is good!!

Thank you for sharing your amazing story Christopher. You are no doubt very blessed😉

Praise the Lord! Thank you for sharing your special journey. God bless you and yours! 💙💚

Thank you for sharing your story 💚

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Make a slice or two of "ah-cado" toast today in honor of Will Hutchison 🥑 #DonateLife #NationalAvocadoDay #AvocadoDay #RecipesofRemembrance Find more recipes honoring donors at dnaz.org/RecipesofRemem….…

Today is #NationalChickenFingerDay, and we're sharing today's #RecipesofRemembrance in honor of Tyler. If you make a recipe from dnaz.org/recipesofremem… be sure to tag us. 💙💚#ChickenFingerDay…

@luapppank Thank you so much for sharing 💙💚

It brings [my mother] great comfort to know that there are people living life to the fullest because her son was an organ and tissue donor. Each one of us can make a difference. Si se Puede! liveonaz.org/stories/guille…

Myleigh and Makayla want to use the stand to raise awareness on the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives. #DonateLife goodmorningamerica.com/family…

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