News and Media Relations
Natrona County DA says he received heart transplant last fall – Casper Star Tribune, Casper, WY
Natrona County, Wyoming District Attorney Michael Blonigen is ready to speak about the life-saving gift he received last fall. Suffering from multiple heart complications after undergoing bypass surgery, stints and even a pacemaker, Blonigen was told by his doctors that his heart was only working at 10% capacity and that he would need a life-saving heart transplant. In October, 2015 Mike was airlifted to the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora where he received the gift that saved his life. “Somewhere out there … is a young man’s family and they did a remarkable thing and I’m trying to repay that a little bit,” Blonigen told the Casper Star Tribune.
Colorado Springs donor’s family honored at National Donate Life Month Ceremony – KRDO 13, Colorado Springs, CO
Step-daughter gives step-dad the gift of life – KCWY 13, Casper WY
April is National Donate Life Month, a celebration of those who have saved lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation. It’s also a reminder that there are nearly 200 people in Wyoming waiting for a life-saving transplant. One Casper man was on the list, waiting for a kidney for nearly five years. But his wait was cut short when his step-daughter surprised him with an unexpected gift.
VIDEO: Colorado organ donor’s mom chosen to appear on ‘Donate Life’ float in Rose Parade – KDVR-TV Fox31, Denver
Englewood resident Amy Johnson is making a difference by taking to the national stage to convey the importance of raising public awareness about donation. She has been selected to appear on the Donate Life Colorado float in the 2015 Rose Parade. Johnson has endured what no parent should have to, losing her 15-year-old daughter Nicole, killed by a drunk driver. Nicole’s organ donation saved three lives, including that of Ron Jacques who says, “she saved my life, she gave me life again.”
VIDEO: Donate Life Colorado Members Hand Out Roses To Transplant Patients – CBS4 Denver
In this season of giving, more than 2,500 Coloradans are hoping for the gift of life — an organ transplant. The folks from Donate Life Colorado gathered a group together on the transplant unit of the University of Colorado Hospital on Wednesday. Amy Johnson handed out red roses in honor of her angel, daughter Nicole, who was killed at age 15 in a one-car crash. The driver was drunk. “I lost my daughter 13 years ago and we were able to donate her heart, liver and kidney,” Johnson said.
Colorado organ donor’s mom chosen to appear on ‘Donate Life’ float in Rose Parade – CW2, Denver
Eighteen people die each day in the U.S. while waiting for an organ transplant. Officials say that is a tragedy considering how easy it is for people to sign up to be organ donors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that more than 123,000 people are waiting for an organ. More than 2,500 are on the list in Colorado.
Arvada man shares transplants story at Rose Parade – Denver Post YourHub Arvada, Colorado
Twenty-two year-old Connor Randall shares the story of his two heart transplants.
Centennial woman promotes organ, tissue donations – Centennial Citizen, Colorado
For Robin Mitchell, a Centennial resident and mother of five, the unselfish act of registering to be an organ donor has taken on special meaning. At the age of 15, during the process of applying for his driver’s permit, Mitchell’s son Joe had registered to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. Mitchell will remember Joe by walking in the 2013 9NEWS Parade of Lights with Donate Life Colorado’s “Gift of Life” balloon float.
Donor Dash 5K raises awareness for lifesaving transplants – KUSA-TV NBC 9 News, Denver
Organ donation saves hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Hear from six year-old heart recipient Gabriel Vallejos, and his mother Lisa, on why they run the Donor Dash, a 5K run/walk to honor the lives of organ and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.
Donor Dash highlights need for organ donors – KUSA-TV NBC 9News, Denver
More than 2,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming are in need of lifesaving organ donations. On Sunday, the Donor Dash highlighted the need, and the payoff, of organ donations.
Transplant patient uses ‘Donor Dash’ to encourage organ donations – KCNC-TV CBS 4, Denver
Thousands of people will gather this Sunday in Washington Park for the annual “Donor Dash.” Among them will be Scott Pinkney, a man from Northglenn who is nearly 2 years out from a liver transplant.
Donation awareness walk a success – Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming
A donation awareness walk hosted by Wyoming Medical Center on April 27 was a success.