WINTER 2020

2 Overcoming Challenges

to Save Lives

4 Honoring Our Heroes' Legacies

6 Our 2020 Heroes

8 Helping LifeShare Save Lives

10 FightingtoLive

12 LifeShare Proud

www.LifeShareCarolinas.org | 800.932.GIVE

149ORGAN

DONORS

416LIVES

SAVED

316TISSUE

DONORS251

EYE DONORS

5PEDIATRIC DONORS*age 17 and under

There are few things more powerful than a conn

ection between a donor family and the recipien

t of

their loved one’s gifts. These beautiful meetings

often provide healing for both sides. Donor fam

ilies

get to know someone who was saved by their lo

ved one. Recipients get to express their deep

gratitude to the family of their hero.

During the most recent meeting, Thomas Smoo

t’s mom, stepdad, brothers, and grandparents

met Jodi, who received cells from Thomas’s pan

creas. The meeting happened virtually to mainta

in

COVID safe practices. 18-year-old Thomas was

the oldest of three boys. His mom says he had

a

big imagination and dreamed of being a directo

r/screen writer. He loved watching football with

his

family, especially the Panthers. Those who knew

him said he had a big, kind heart and always let

people know how much he loved them.

44-year-old Jodi has battled type 1 diabetes sin

ce childhood. She feared she wouldn’t live to

see her daughters walk down the aisle or watch

her son grow up and achieve his dreams. Eager

to

regain her life, she joined a research study aime

d at finding a cure for diabetes. She received he

r islet

cell transplant July 7, 2019. She has since been

living her life without the need for insulin and fe

eling

amazing. Jodi no longer feels sick or like she’s b

attling her body to stay alive. She enjoys the

freedom of being able to eat foods she never co

uld before – like pizza and chocolate donuts.

She’s even become a Panthers fan, just like the y

oung man who saved her life. Jodi says "I

have a lot of wishes for the family. For mom and

dad, Stephanie

and Aaron, I wish for peace. I hope they see Tho

mas's smile in

the sunrise and hear his infectious laughter the

wind. I also

wish for them to meet more recipients. They des

erve

to see how many lives that Thomas has saved. F

or

Thomas’s brothers, I wish for them to remembe

r

how much Thomas loved them. I wish for them

to

wear ugly Christmas sweaters, like Thomas and

continue making movies in Thomas’s honor."

The meeting happened on what would have

been Thomas’s 20th birthday. Jodi made a ch

ocolate

pie in honor of the occasion. She says she will

forever be grateful to Thomas and his family and

will

celebrate him every chance she gets.

This was the third online meeting hosted by LifeSh

are. Donor

families interested in communicating with their lov

ed one’s recipients

can learn more at LifeShareCarolinas.org/Donor-Fa

milies.

connectingDURING COVID

2020 was a difficult year for everyone, in m

any ways. As we battled a global pandemic,

LifeShare Carolinas remained committed to

giving hope, life, and healing. When the CO

VID-19

virus began to spread, we found ways to ad

apt to keep our donors, donor families, hosp

ital

partners, community, and teammates safe.

Despite the challenges, the LifeShare Caroli

nas team worked hard every day to save the

lives

of those waiting for a lifesaving transplant,

setting a record for the number of lives save

d. 416

people are alive today thanks to 149 heroic

organ donors in 2020. That is an increase o

f 13%

in the number of lives saved from 2019. Tho

usands more lives were saved thanks to 316

tissue

donors and 251 eye donors. Our tissue team

also set a new record, recovering the most

types

of tissue in LifeShare history. That means m

ore tissue grafts can be made and more live

s will be

saved. Despite a 10-week shutdown due to

COVID, our eye bank persevered and transp

lanted

more eye tissue than last year.

The entire LifeShare team wants to express

our sincere gratitude to our donors and the

ir

families. We know this can be a difficult dec

ision, especially during an already difficult y

ear.

We hope each donor family finds healing kn

owing their loved one lives on.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

TO SAVE LIVES LIFESH

AR

E L

INK

3

This year, six of our youngest donor heroes were honored with a brick in Eli’s Garden at Our Children’s

Memorial Walkway in Charlotte. Since we weren’t able to dedicate the bricks in person, we turned to social

media to spread the word about these young heroes. We give our respect and honor to these young donors

and their parents for the monumental decision they made in order to spare another family from the same pain

of losing a loved one.

Our annual Donor Remembrance Celebration – a time for family members to reflect, share memories, and honor their loves ones – was held on Zoom. Guests heard from the McLanes, whose son Connor was an organ donor at age 19. They also heard from a number of transplant recipients who expressed their gratitude for their second chances at life.

Each family was given the chance to share the quilt square they made for the Quilt of Life and light a candle for our Light of Life ceremony honoring our donors.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE MISSING A LOVED ONE. While many are smiling and laughing, donor families may be grieving. As part of our

continued commitment to helping families heal, we hosted

our annual Hope for the Holidays event online.

Families were sent a box of materials to create a special

keepsake in honor of their loved ones. They were able to fill

their keepsake with various colored ribbons, each representing

a different emotion often felt during the grief process.

REMEMBERING

& HONORING

our heroesLifeShare

Carolinas has the ho

nor of hosting

events throughout t

he year that pay trib

ute

to our heroic donor

s. Just like everythin

g

else in 2020, these

events looked a

little different this y

ear.

DONOR REMEMBRANCE

GARDEN OF LIFEAnthony L. Frazier . 14 years old . Organ Donor  Avayah Ross . 16 months old . Heart Valve Donor Griffin “Finn” Ciullo . 9 weeks old . Heart Valve Donor  Laila Short . 11 years old . Heart Valve & Cornea Donor  Thaddeus Graves . 20 months old . Donor in Spirit  Brooke Haire . 7 years old . Organ Donor

celebration

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The people listed here were donors between November 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020.

Aaron

Abigail

Adrienne

Afton

Agustin

Aidan

Alan

Albert

Alejandra

Alex

Alexis

Alfred

Alice

Alisa

Amanda

Amari

Amber

Ampelio

Amy

Andrea

Angel

Angela

Angelia

Anner

Anthony

April

Ashley

Austin

Autumn

Aviana

Barbara

Belinda

Betty

Beverly

Billie

Billy

Bishop

Bobbie

Bobby

Bonnie

Brandon

Brayan

Brett

Brian

Brianna

Brittany

Bruce

Bryan

Cara

Carmen

Carole

Casey

Cassandra

Cecil

Chad

Chance

Charity

Charles

Chastity

Cheri

Chevon

Chris

Chrissy

Christian

Christopher

Cindi

Cindy

Clive

Clyde

Cody

Connie

Cordero

Crecenciano

Crystal

Cynthia

Dairyon

Dakota

Dangelo

Dani

Daniel

Danny

Darrel

Darrell

Darrius

Darryl

Daryl

David

Deborah

Debra

Decari

Dena

Derek

Derrin

Destry

Dewayne

Dewey

Dianne

Dileon

Donald

Donna

Doris

Douglas

Earle

Edgar

Edwin

Elaine

Elishia

Elizabeth

Emanuele

Emetrise

Ernest

Eugene

Exenia

Farrell

Faye

Fernando

Floyd

Forest

Franklin

Freddie

Garry

Gary

Gene

George

Gerald

Gerry

Glenn

Gloria

Golda

Gregory

Guillermo

Guy

Harold

Harry

Hattie

Hayden

Henry

Herldon

Hubert

Ignatius

Isabel

Jabe

Jack

Jackie

Jacob

Jacqueline

Jacquelyn

Jakailah

James

Jamie

Janet

Janice

Jaquis

Jason

Jaterio

Jayden

Jeffery

Jennifer

Jereme

Jerome

Jerry

Jess

Jessica

Joe

John

Johnnie

Jonathan

Jordan

Jose

Joseph

Joshua

Judy

Julia

Kamiree

Kara

Karen

Karl

Karmel

Katherine

Kathleen

Kathy

Keeari

Kelly

Kelvin

Kenneth

Kentner

Kevin

Keyla

Kim

Kimberly

Kristina

Lambert

Larene

Larry

Latoya

Laura

Layla

Leanna

Lela

Leslie

Liam

Linda

Lisa

Lloyd

Loretta

Lori

Lorine

Louis

Lynn

Macie

Madison

Malonda

Marcia

Maria

Marilynn

Marion

Maritza

Mark

Martin

Mary

Matthew

Melanie

Melissa

Melvin

Mercedes

Michael

Michelle

Miguel

Montayvia

Morris

Mychal

Nancy

Nathan

Nicholas

Nikki

Nina

Norman

Novon

Olivia

Omri

Pamela

Parks

Patience

Patricia

Patrick

Paul

Peggy

Peter

Phyllis

Porsha

Randolph

Randy

Randy Lynn

Raphael

Rasheed

Ray

Raymond

Rebecca

Reginald

Reid

Renico

Reyna

Rhonda

Richard

Ricky

Riscardo

Robert

Roberta

Rodney

Roger

Roland

Ronald

Rosalind

Rose

Russell

Rusty

Ryan

Rye

Sammy

Samuel

Santiago

Sarah

Scott

Sean

Sergio

Shannon

Sharon

Shawn

Shayolyn

Sheila

Sheldon

Sherry

Shirley

Spencer

Stanley

Stephanie

Stephen

Steve

Steven

Suoiman

Susan

Sydney

Sylvia

Tabitha

Tamara

Tamysen

Tanya

Tara

Tasha

Taylor

Teddy

Terence

Teresa

Teri

Terrence

Terri

Terry

Theodore

Thomas

Tiffany

Timothy

Tito

Todd

Tommy

Toni

Tony

Tracy

Trevor

Tyrell

Tyrone

Ulysses

Urvashi

Valerie

Vicki

Victoria

Vincent

Walter

Wayne

William

Willie

Young

Yueh

Zachary

Zerina

Donors makegiftsoflifeandhealingin2020life possible

Remembering those who gave the

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oftheHERO week

This past September would have been the 3rd

Ronald Blake Hughes

Memorial Ride. The event had to be cancelled d

ue to COVID. But that

didn’t stop Blake’s dad, James, from doing his p

art to keep his son’s

memory alive.

Donation was a choice Blake made for himself and one that has given his dad James some comfort. Through his advocacy, James Hughes has raised awareness for donation and inspired others to register as donors. He’s also become dedicated to raising funds to help LifeShare with outreach. This year since he couldn’t host the event, James decided to host his annual fundraiser online. From Blake’s birthday in August through the date of his death in September, James raised money in his son’s honor. All contributions went directly to LifeShare Carolinas, to help us continue spreading the word about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. We want to express our sincere thanks to James for his commitment to honoring Blake’s legacy by being such a wonderful advocate for donation.

If you are interested in hosting a personal fundraiser to contribute to the LifeShare Carolinas Fund, please email Info@LifeShareCarolinas.org.

calling ALL donation champions

Are you a recipient, donor family member or liv

ing donor? Maybe you’re just very passionate

about organ,

eye, and tissue donation? Then we would love

to have you join our volunteer program, NC Ch

ampions for

Life! To learn more about our volunteer progra

m, visit LifeShareCarolinas.org/Volunteer.

CONNECT

LifeShareCarolinas

Show your Donate Life pride on social media using #DonateLifeMonth

LifeShareNC

BLAKE'S LEGACYHONORINGHELP LIFESHARE

SAVE LIVES This November, LifeShare Carolinas launched a new social media series aimed at honoring our donors. Each week, we will

feature a donor as part of our Hero of the Week series.

To learn more about this opportunity or to nominate a donor

for a Hero of the Week feature, visit LifeShareCarolinas.org/Donor-Families and click the Honoring Our Donors button.

Your generous donation can help LifeShare save lives. A financial contribution supports our work recovering and distributing lifesaving organs, eyes, and tissue. Donations allow for critical capital needs, public education on the importance of transplantation, and support our Bridge to Healing program for grieving donor families. Ways to contribute include:

• Designate LifeShare to receive memorial contributions in lieu of flowers; or

• Donate to LifeShare in honor of a transplant recipient, donor, or other loved one

When a financial donation is made in honor of a friend or loved one, the person honored, or the donor’s family is notified of the gift. All contributions are tax-deductible and are used to support LifeShare’s work in fulfilling our mission of giving hope, life, and healing.

Donations can be made online at: LifeShareCarolinas.org/Contribute, or you can a check payable to LifeShare Carolinas and mail to: LifeShare Carolinas, PO Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28262.

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HOSPITALS SPREADING

HOPELifeShare Carolinas would like to extend a special thank you and

congratulations to our hospital partners who worked so hard in

2019 and early 2020 to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation

as part of the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life program. We

appreciate all you do to save lives!

*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all participating hospitals were

recognized at the Platinum level since they weren’t able to complete

events planned during March and April.

Atrium Health CabarrusAtrium Health PinevilleAtrium Health’s Carolinas Medical CenterHaywood Regional Medical CenterMission HealthNovant Health Matthews Medical CenterNovant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Sarah’s struggle started in 2013, when she was in a car accident. While being examined, doctors discovered something much worse than expected – they found a tumor in her thyroid. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and went through treatment. During a follow up scan, doctors found a growth on her gallbladder and recommend having the organ removed. Over the next several years, Sarah was in and out of doctor’sofficesandhospitalswithdiagnosisafterdiagnosis–stomachfailure,intestinalfailure, sepsis, blood clots, and feeding tube failures. Running outofoptions,herdoctorfinallysuggested a transplant. She was hesitantatfirst,butthedoctorwarned her a transplant was her best hope for survival.

In early 2020, Sarah went to University of Miami to be evaluated for what she thought was a small bowel transplant. But she says the surgeon had other

plans, “He said ‘Oh yeah, we’re actually going to be replacing 4 or 5 organs.’ We said, ‘Oh no, no, hold on! What did you just say? Is that a thing?’” Shocked and scared, Sarah leaned on her faith and realized if there was anyone who could save her, it was this surgeon and his team. She now calls this group calls her “Dream Team.”

As soon as she came to terms with her new reality, Sarah was dealt another blow. Her insurance was going to deny the costly surgery because she wasn’t in end-stage liver failure. Her doctors got involved and warned if she made it to that point, she would be too sick for the transplant and couldn’t survive. She dug deep and brought outherfightingspiritonceagain,taking to social media to launch a public appeal. For six months, she fought.Finally,inJuly,aresolutioncame. The decision had been overturned. Sarah was overcome withemotion.Ittookhertwohours to gain her composure and

One look at Sarah Granados and what you see is a beautiful,

infectious smile. What you can’t see is the physical and emotional

pain she’s been battling for the past seven years. Sarah is deep

in a fight for her life, waiting for a multi-organ transplant. If

her miracle doesn’t come soon, the 35-year-old mom of three

fears she may not live to see her teenage children grow up.

be able to call her family, and, even then, she could barely get the words out.

While she waits for her second chance, Sarah is home with her family, soaking up every moment. She can’t do all the things most moms do – like go swimming with them or go out to eat – but, she’s present in every moment, making memories that will last a lifetime.Withoutherhusbandandher kids, she doesn’t know if she could survive this journey, “You know, they are everything to me and if it was not for them, I don't know how I would even have the strength. Even last week I just kept saying, ‘How do I do that? How? How do I do this?”

It has now been more than 100 dayssinceshewasofficiallylistedas“statusone”onthewaitinglist.But, the wait hasn’t come without complications.SarahhasbattledmoreinfectionsandiscurrentlyfightingMRSA.Asshecontinuestofightforherlife,sheoftenlooks

downatatattooonherrightarm,Revelation21:4.TheBibleverse reminds her that there will be a day with no tears and no pain. She prays for that day, not just for herself, but for her loving familywhohasfoughtthisbattle

along with her for so many years. Our hope for Sarah is that next October, when she celebrates her 36th birthday, she will have no pain and only tears of joy as she reflectsonthehard-foughtbattleto regain her life.

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5000-D Airport Center ParkwayCharlotte, NC 28208

In 2004, I remember waking up to our phone ringing and hearing my father say, “We will be right there.” It is one of those dreadful moments that will forever stay in your mind. One of my cousins had been in a tragic car accident at age 19. I remember arriving at the hospital and learning the tragic news that he was brain dead. After a few hours, my uncle told us he had decided to help others through organ donation and that my cousin was going to save others. My cousin helped saved eight lives!

As a united family, we moved on with our grief and always felt proud of my uncle’s decision, knowing my cousin lived in others. Many years later, I attended a Diversity and Inclusion conference, and sitting beside me was a teammate from LifeShare. We started

chatting and by the end of the day, she told me I would be a great addition to the LifeShare team.A few days, later I went for an interview at LifeShare. The family support manager asked if I was familiar with organ donation.

I mentioned my cousin and how he was able to save eight lives through organ donation. As I talked about my experience, I vividly remember my interviewer looking at me speechless. When I was done speaking, she took a deep breath and told me she was the one who spoke with my uncle about my cousin’s option to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor in 2004.

It is so ironic how the world’s population is over seven billion, yet I was meeting the person who provided support and education for my family during our tragic loss. Ironic, because I was interviewing for that same position seven years later.

I began working for LifeShare in March 2011. I was trained by a heart recipient who was very passionate about LifeShare and its mission: to give hope, life, and healing. I can say I learned from the best of the best and my passion was cultivated instantaneously. As a family support specialist, I provide support to family members going through the painful journey of losing a loved one. I also have the opportunity to educate these families about the potential their loved can have in helping others through organ, eye, and tissue donation.

I know from first-hand experience what it is like to hear those awful and dreadful words that your loved one is not going to recover or that your loved one has died. In those heartbreaking moments, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to care for them, to provide support, and offer them the opportunity for their loved one to continue living their legacy in others by organ, eye, and tissue donation.

I am beyond blessed to be a part of the LifeShare team and I am beyond blessed to be someone who makes a difference daily. I am very much, LifeShare proud!

LIFESHARE PROUDby Maribel Lopez