Donor Family Stories

Tattoos: More Than Just Skin Deep

June 17, 2024 // Donor Family Stories

Tattoos may only be skin deep, but the reasons behind certain tattoos can go much deeper. For those connected to organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation, the meaning behind their tattoos represents life & many get organ donation tattoos. Tattooing the skin as a means of personal expression is a practice that connects us […]


Beyond Transplant: A Mother’s Day Story of Two Families United by Organ Donation

Celebrating Motherhood Mother’s Day is a time to recognize all moms for their unconditional love and support. Donor Alliance honors all mothers, including those who are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant. Our organization, which facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation, also recognizes mothers who received the gift of life, and those […]


Marc Henning – Gift of Life Story

May 29, 2023 // Donor Family Stories

Cadet Marc Henning was a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, served as head manager of the Falcon football team, and was active in Engineers Without Borders. He was developing into a genuinely liked and respected leader. As Linda and Van Henning, Marc’s parents, and his brothers surrounded Marc’s bed the night before he […]


Inspirational Stories of Hope – Pat Thomas, Donor Mother

March 24, 2023 // Donor Family Stories

Pat Thomas began her journey promoting organ and tissue donation after receiving a letter from Kisayo, an 85-year-old woman from Japan, that changed her life. Inspirational stories like Pat’s start from a tragedy, but then turn into advocacy. In the letter, Kisayo stated that she used to be blind in both eyes. After receiving a […]


Introducing a Colorado hero at the 2023 Rose Parade®

Tanner Denton had a tremendously big heart. Tanner was best known in his hometown of Grand Junction, CO as a baseball player, but that was just a small part of why he was loved by so many. He will be adorned on the Donate Life float at the 2023 Rose Parade. Tanner was one of […]


Book Reviews: Need Summer Reading Ideas?!

Summer is only halfway over and parents are ready for kids to be back in school! Vacations are mostly over, school supplies are on sale and back to school clothes are out in the stores. It’s also when we remember that there is probably a summer reading assignment hiding in the backpack that hasn’t been […]


Transplant Scars: Where the Light Shines Through

December 19, 2021 // Donor Family Stories

What is a scar? What does the word ‘scar’ mean? The Oxford Language Dictionary defines a scar as “a mark left on the skin or within the body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has formed.” By the time we are adults, most people will have […]


Last Christmas: A Review Through a Donate Life Lens

“Very emotional for me, but I feel like it’s a movie worth seeing as a donor family member,” said Laurie. Laurie is a donor’s wife and an Advocate for Life from Casper, Wyoming who helped us review the 2019 romantic holiday comedy, Last Christmas, through a Donate Life lens. While Laurie’s connection to donation and […]


#ShowYourHeart for National Donate Life Month: How to Raise Awareness for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation from Home

Organ, eye and tissue donation is the ultimate act of kindness, and Colorado and Wyoming are among the most generous states in the country when it comes to signing up to become a donor. However the need for transplantable organs is an ongoing public health crisis and residents need to be reminded of the importance […]


Aftercare: Conectando a Familias de Donantes y Receptores

Parte dos de tres de nuestra serie “Aftercare” Muchos miembros de la familia de donantes y receptores han expresado lo significativo que es comunicarse y conectarse entre sí. Donor Alliance fomenta la correspondencia entre las familias de donantes y los receptores, y se enorgullece en ayudar a facilitar estas conexiones siempre que sea posible. “Apoyar […]


Know the Facts: Who Can Be a Donor?

Why Don’t People Sign Up To Be a Donor? Lack of Knowledge: Many of those that have never considered organ donation or have delayed signing up to become a donor, do so because of inaccurate information or assumptions about organ donation and transplantation. “I’m Not Healthy Enough”: In both Colorado and Wyoming, someone thinking they […]


Tissue Recipient Meets His Donor’s Mother

Tissue Recipient Meets His Donor’s Mother AlloSource and Donor Alliance worked together to introduce Phil, a cartilage recipient, to his donor’s mother, Annette. A former Division I soccer player and active father, Phil attributes his mobility to the generosity of his tissue donor, Marcos. Read the full story of Marcos, Phil and Annette here.