Rachel - liver recipient
At the tender age of three months, Rachel was diagnosed with a rare liver disease known as biliary atresia, a result of an under-developed gall bladder which caused bile to build up in her system. The condition left scar tissue on Rachel's liver leaving her with a cirrhotic liver at three months.

Rachel's family was told that their daughter would need a new liver and she was placed on the national transplant waiting list following her 1st birthday. Her family waited for 18 months before a new liver was available for Rachel. She received her liver from an anonymous donor when she was 2 ½ years old.

It has been more than six years since Rachel received a life saving liver transplant. Thanks to the generous decision a family made to donate their young child's organs, Rachel is living an active life like the rest of her elementary aged friends.

Gary - heart recipient
Looking at Gary today, you would never guess that he nearly died of heart failure before his 40th birthday. In his late 30s, Gary was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy which commonly causes congestive heart failure. His condition deteriorated, so he was eventually placed on the transplant waiting list. Gary had already received a pacemaker and a defibrillator, but his heart was failing. He was hospitalized for another surgery to install a heartmate (a device which helps the heart beat) when doctors told him that he would be receiving a heart that day instead of another device. Although he had only been listed for 27 days, Gary was extremely sick and very near death. Thankfully, he is alive today because of a family's decision to donate their loved one's organs.

Gary has had his new heart for more than six years. Since his transplant, Gary is working full-time at his own construction business and volunteering for Life Connection of Ohio as well as Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Ken - liver recipient
It has been five years since Ken received the gift of life from his hero. In 2001, Ken was diagnosed with cryptogenetic cirrhosis of the liver, which occurs when scarring replaces healthy tissue, preventing the liver from working by blocking the bile ducts. Ken was placed on the national waiting list later that year. After nearly a year of waiting, Ken received his life-saving liver transplant. Since his transplant, Ken has resumed his full-time job as a professional photographer.

Many transplant recipients write anonymous letters of appreciation to donor families, which is strongly encouraged. After several anonymous correspondences, both parties agreed to meet in person. There, Ken was able to thank his donor family in person for giving him a second chance at life and to learn more about his hero.