Wyomingites #ShowYourHeart in Honor of National Donate Life Month

In honor of National Donate Life Month this April, Donor Alliance is inviting Wyoming residents to #ShowYourHeart to help raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation by sharing with friends and family why they are signed up to be a donor. Participants can take part by visiting DonateLifeWyoming.org/ShowYourHeart to upload a photo, customize it with a heart and share what inspired them to sign up as an organ, eye and tissue donor using #ShowYourHeart on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“Wyoming is among the most generous states in the country when it comes to percentage of residents who have signed up as organ and tissue donors, and we love hearing the inspirational stories behind what encouraged Wyomingites to say yes to giving the gift of life,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “To represent the nearly 2,000 people right here in our community waiting on a lifesaving transplant, we are hoping to accrue at least 2,000 submissions in support of the generous gift of organ and tissue donation. In addition to raising awareness for this important cause and encouraging more people to sign up to become organ, eye and tissue donors, sharing the stories of our friends, family and neighbors gives hope to those on the waitlist.”

Passionate Volunteers Reconnect Because of Transplant Journey

Donor Alliance Advocates for Life volunteers Lucy Williamson and Mark Holder are sharing their stories with their communities this April. After being diagnosed with cryptogenic liver disease and nearly a year on the waiting list, Lucy’s life was saved with a liver transplant in 2009. Now, eleven years after her transplant, Lucy is living her life to the fullest. She is sharing her story to give hope to and be an example for others new to their transplant journey, including Mark. Mark received his lifesaving transplant in May 2020 after living with cryptogenic liver disease for seven years. Not a day goes by that Mark doesn’t think about his donor. He is sharing his story of profound gratitude to encourage more people to sign up to be donors.

Beyond sharing their stories to encourage others to say yes to giving the gift of life, they are also sharing their stories as an example of the incredible support of community. Through their volunteer work advocating for organ, eye and tissue donation, Mark and Lucy discovered a remarkable connection. After seeing Mark’s familiar name and a candy recipe from her childhood days in Advocates for Life volunteer materials and looking up his story, Lucy realized that she and Mark were old childhood friends. Mark’s grandmother used to make candy for her Sunday school class and Lucy recognized the sweet treats from her youth. Lucy wrote Mark a letter and they have since reconnected through their unique diagnosis, transplant and recovery stories. Due to the pandemic, Mark and Lucy have not been able to see each other in-person, but have made plans to reconnect virtually on Thursday, April 8.

#ShowYourHeart by Sharing Your Support for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

Show your support by visiting DonateLifeWyoming.org/ShowYourHeart.
UPLOAD your photo & share why you signed up as an organ, eye and tissue donor
CUSTOMIZE your photo with a heart
SHARE with your friends on social media
Help reach 2,000 photo submissions to represent those waiting for the gift of life throughout Colorado and Wyoming.

Donor Alliance is the federally designated non-profit that facilitates organ and tissue donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. For more information about organ and tissue donation, please DonorAlliance.org. To sign up to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeWyoming.org.