Posted on

Heart Transplant Recipient Celebrates 25th Birthday and Transplant Anniversary

Loading

In the United States alone, there are more than 100,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

By Linda Ha

Hannah Grinnan celebrated her 25th birthday and 25th heart transplant anniversary this past April, which also marked National Donate Life Month. She has dedicated her life to educating others about the miracle of organ donation and the impact it can have on those in need.

Hannah was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) while in the womb, a critical congenital birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. Read more in ANN.

Loading
Posted on

The ‘Heart’ of the Matter is That an Organ Donation Saved Sam Dey’s Life

Loading

In 2009, Sam Dey was working for General Motors and in India on business.

It was during that business trip that Sam started falling.

“I was collapsing and falling in these incredibly crowded streets of India,” says Sam. “I was falling everywhere, and people were always pouring water on my face to revive me.”

Doctors in India told Sam—who had congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes—that his badly damaged heart would prevent him from returning to the United States.

Sam ended up being stranded in India from 2009 until 2014.

Read Sam’s full story, here.

Loading
Posted on

How Kevin Schnurr Honors His Gift of a New Kidney

Loading

On May 6, 2014, all Kevin Schnurr had to do was remember his name and date of birth.

So—on May 6, 2014—Kevin awoke from surgery, and doctors and nurses asked him his name and date of birth.

Kevin successfully replied, “My name is Kevin Schnurr … and I was born on March 31, 1986.”

Kevin then furthered his response.

“I’m also in a Stony Brook Hospital recovery room … and my best friend, Matt, just gave me a kidney.”

The doctors and nurses laughed, and replied, “Yes. Matt did … and the kidney is working!”

Read Kevin’s full story, here.

Loading
Posted on

Alexandra Harrison-Flaxman—How a Transplant Recipient Became a Legislation Advocate

Loading

“The passage of the Immuno Bill is not just a win for the patient community …” says Alexandra Harrison-Flaxman “… it’s a win because of the patient community.”

On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3353 – Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplants Patients Act of 2020 (The Immuno Bill).

Earlier, on December 8, 2020, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5534, which set up the Senate vote.

The bi-partisan passage of the Immuno Bill now awaits the President’s signature.

Getting the bill passed has been Alexandra’s (“Alex’s”) passion for several years now and she says she cried when watching both the House and Senate pass the legislation.

“I was thinking, ‘This is crazy,’ I’ve just been a part of enacting actual change for kidney-transplant recipients,” says Alex, 34.

Read Alexandra’s full story, here.

Loading