Tissue Recipient
Stories

Bruce Stroever (Bone Graft Recipient)

Retired CEO of MTF Biologics, now a grateful recipient

His tenure as President and CEO of MTF Biologics did not prepare Bruce for the fact that he would join the more than 8 million tissue recipients the organization has helped through tissue transplantation.

As a child, Bruce had significant dental work to fill multiple cavities. As an adult, he had root canals, broken teeth and eventually removal of two molars. Chewing properly became difficult so he made the decision to replace those molars with dental implants. Bone grafts were necessary in order to regenerate healthy bone growth, which would serve as a scaffold for the dental implants, and for Bruce, there was only one choice – MTF Biologics tissue.

The success of the grafts have provided a lasting result, enhancing his quality of life, enabling him to enjoy time with his family during his retirement years. 

Dylan Vitucci (Bone Graft Recipient)

Fearless pediatric recipient beats bone cancer to save arm

In May of 2017, doctors diagnosed Dylan Vitucci with osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer in children and teens. The osteosarcoma was discovered in her right humerus after Dylan suffered a fractured shoulder while playing soccer, just a few weeks before her eighth birthday. Although Dylan noticed some discomfort a couple days prior, it took a soccer ball striking her in that same shoulder to send her to the hospital. The injury quickly became a blessing in disguise for Dylan and her family as her doctors became alarmed when her range of motion didn’t return despite her fracture healing. 

A biopsy was recommended and taken from Dylan’s shoulder in hopes of identifying why her arm had decreased mobility. Doctors were not immediately certain of the specifics concerning her cancer, but they were confident Dylan had a form of sarcoma. But Dylan never seemed worried, according to her father. “I think she knew she was going to beat it,” he said. “I don’t know how, but she had something over her that made her feel completely comfortable.”

A request from her surgeons came to MTF Biologics and they contacted all 30-plus recovery partners across the United States about the urgent need for an upper humerus graft, and her best match came from another pediatric patient that had died. Dylan endured an 11-hour surgery to remove the tumor and undergo shoulder reconstruction using the donated allograft along with other prosthetics. She followed her surgery with nine months of chemotherapy, and even spent her first day of third grade in the hospital receiving treatment. But thanks to tutors and even a video-equipped robot, she never skipped a beat.

This confidence Dylan possessed allowed her to power through some difficult moments. Throughout her recovery she faced a number of complications: a blood clot on the outside of her heart, a collapsed lung and a fungus infection throughout her bloodstream. Yet she and her family continued to live by the motto, “a smile can get you through your toughest day.” And they had. Dylan, who is a triplet with another older sister, frequently exchanged laughter with her three siblings throughout the duration of her recovery. Her sister Sydney would even station herself next to her bed holding hands when that laughter seemed too hard to come by. Before long Dylan was escorted back to school in style with the help of her local fire department, and was warmly welcomed by all her teachers and classmates. 

Dylan is now cancer free and she  is beyond grateful to her donor family’s generous gift of life, and MTF’s role in transplantation. “Thank you to my donor family for their special gift that helped me get better,” she said. “I now have movement in my arm which allows me to do all the activities I could do before I had cancer. I can now play soccer and swim again. It means everything to me that you were so nice to give me the gift of donation.”  Dylan hopes her story reveals to everyone how much you can help and change someone's life through the act of donating organ and tissues.

Chris Zero (Bone Graft Recipient)

Allograft tissue provides a helping hand for pain relief

The importance for organ and tissue donation was something that remained with Chris after he watched his mother die waiting for a heart transplant. He worked in orthopedics as a surgical technician, which exposed him to allograft and eventually brought him to MTF Biologics where he trained new technicians.

Years later, when Chris developed cervical osteoarthritis and began to lose sensation in his hands, he knew that only one tissue graft would be used in his healing and recovery – the one processed in the building where he had worked for over 20 years. Pain free and feeling his best, today Chris now lives in a place he calls paradise. He spends his days enjoying time with his loved ones and doing things he once dreamed of doing again - fishing, photography, and painting.

Will Calhoun (Bone Graft Recipient)

A man in motion

Will Calhoun was a man in motion. A physically active job, a busy parent, an active coach, and member of his church didn't leave him much time for sitting. As a carpenter, he was used to lifting heavy objects every day, and didn't give it much thought. But this time, something felt different. Immediately, he felt the pain in his neck which radiated down his left shoulder to his arm. He continued trying to work as usual, but a few months later, he began to feel numbness in his arms and shoulders, making lifting impossible. By the time Will finally saw a neurosurgeon, strength and sensation on his left side was almost gone and he was diagnosed with 2 herniated disks in his cervical spine. The evenings he spent passionately coaching special needs children in baseball and coaching a wrestling team would come to an end, as would the weekend fishing trips with his daughters. No longer able to work as a carpenter, the financial strains began to have an impact on his family. Surgery was the only option if he wanted to return to the life he once loved and to care for his loved ones.

Will's surgeon inserted a bone graft into the disc space to stabilize the cervical disc segment. Immediately following his surgery, the pain in his arm, neck and shoulders were instantly gone. Within 3-4 months, he was back to doing carpentry work and soon after was back to coaching again. Will later learned that the bone graft used in his surgery came from donated human tissue and that he could write to the family who donated this precious gift to him. In his letter to them, he expressed his gratitude for the blessings of the gift bestowed to him. "Your special gift and donation has allowed me to continue working and providing for my family, coaching, and enjoying precious weekends fishing with my daughters again. Something good came from the loss of this life, and I was the blessed beneficiary of this gift".

Frank Perez (Adipose Tissue Recipient)

Regaining His Footing

Frank Perez is a family man. He is married with four wonderful children and a grandson. Frank loves being able to provide for his family, but after complications from diabetes, his entire livelihood was jeopardized. Frank spent most of his life as a heavy equipment operator and working in solar farms but had to stop when his left toes were amputated due to osteomyelitis – a serious bone infection which was complicated by diabetes. In 2018, Frank began to have problems with his right foot as well. He lost a big toe as well as his 2^nd and 3^rd toes from complications of diabetic foot ulcers that would not heal. He had always taken great care of his feet but spending 14+ hours a day on them took a toll.

In 2019, Frank noticed a new ulcers on the little toe of his right foot. His podiatrist began a familiar regimen of cleaning, irrigation, and standard medications. The treatments were not working, so Frank’s podiatrist discussed the possibility of amputation. He explained that if he amputated Frank’s little toe, he would likely need to amputate a significant portion of Frank’s right foot as well. Not wanting to take the risk, Frank opted to participate in a new study his podiatrist suggested as a last-ditch effort to save Frank’s toe, one that involved treatments with donated human tissue in the form of adipose.

While Frank’s initial prognosis was not good, to his surprise, his toe began healing within a week. “It was pretty amazing stuff,” Frank remarked. “I was dumbfounded by it.” About a month later, the ulcer on his toe was basically gone.

Frank is grateful for having received the donated tissue that helped his wound close. “Thanks to my donor who gave the adipose tissue that helped me. I am saddened for the family who lost their loved one, but some good came of it because they were able to help me.” Frank is now getting back into his routine and doesn’t let anything slow him down. “I can continue to take care of my family. I get up every morning and take walks, climb ladders, and can go fishing again.” Thanks to the gift of donation, Frank has regained his footing and looks forward to a vibrant life for many years to come.

Patricia Horwath (Placental Graft Recipient)

Back on the List Again: Wound Healing Brings Hope for Organ Transplantation

Patricia Horwath and her husband Barry loved to travel even while she was awaiting a kidney transplant which was necessary due to her diabetes. Unfortunately, their passion for traveling was jeopardized after a leg injury resulted in the development of a non-healing wound on her foot. “She’s the most important thing in my life,” Barry exclaimed. “We’ve been married 47 years, and I want us to actually be able to do stuff again.”

After 10 weeks of unsuccessful skin grafts, her podiatrist tried placental grafts from MTF Biologics. The placental grafts accomplished just what Barry wished for. After three applications of placental tissue, her wound was completely healed. Because transplant recipients can’t have any open wounds, Patricia was removed from the transplant list. The couple estimates that they lost about a year of waiting due to the wound on the bottom of her foot. Patricia is now back on the transplant waiting list, with hopes of receiving a kidney transplant one day.

Thanks to the placental grafts, Patricia has a chance at life without dialysis and the opportunity to resume living life to her fullest. Patricia is incredibly thankful to the mothers who donated their placentas after giving birth, and Barry was deeply affected by her recovery.

“ You don’t know how much it meant to us. It felt like I lost half of my partner. Patricia was stuck in this house for almost a year, and the only time she was able to get out was when I would take her to the doctor. Now I’m finally getting her back. Without the donated placental grafts, Patricia’s wounds would never have healed. ”

Naheima Sears (Skin Graft Recipient)

Surfing the Tsunami

Imagine being CEO of a fashion company when a monster wave threatens your life. Naheima, both a proud mother of three children and an avid surfer, experienced just that. While catching waves in Sri Lanka, she had a terrible surfing accident. Naheima hit the ocean floor and was bruised badly from her neck to her knees. During her treatment, the doctors discovered a tumor growing in the back of her breast. Naheima was diagnosed with breast cancer on her daughter’s birthday. The devastating news hit her like a tsunami.

As part of her healing journey, Naheima received 5 months of chemotherapy. During her second round of treatments, she also received immunotherapy. In time, Naheima underwent a mastectomy. During the breast reconstruction procedure,  her surgeon used donated human skin grafts. A common concern for women undergoing treatment is how natural they will look and feel afterwards. Naheima’s response was simple: “I couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Naheima has become more comfortable talking about her experience. She has reached out to her community and connected with others who had been through similar experiences. She realized the impact that donation had on her life and wrote to her donor family. “I definitely will be living my life more fully and will try to care for myself a little bit more.” Upon reflection, Naheima says “I think I’ve always been an extremely positive person and thought life was precious, but this definitely added a different layer of perspective. And to be honest, there is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about the gift that I was given. It sits on my heart. How could I not think about the person that gave their life, you know?” Naheima is grateful for the gift of life and looks forward to catching the perfect wave again soon.

Sue Pilon (Skin Graft Recipient)

Without Missing a Beat

At age 52, Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer, the third generation of her family to battle the disease. Her maternal grandmother died of the disease but her mother, now deceased, was a 25-year survivor. It was her mother’s experience as a breast cancer survivor that greatly affected Sue’s attitude towards her diagnosis.

“When it was my turn to face this disease, I was determined to not just beat it. I wanted my life back completely. Breast reconstruction was not offered to my Mom and her quality of life wasn’t the same after cancer,” Pilon said. “Given all the advances in breast cancer treatment and reconstruction options in the years since, I was certain there was a path available that would get rid of the cancer and yet allow me to get back to the way I looked and felt before the surgery.”

The University of Michigan Breast Cancer Center and Plastic Surgery Department provided the answer. Since Sue’s cancer was discovered very early, and her overall health was very good, she was a candidate for reconstructive surgery using dermal skin grafts. Her mastectomy and reconstruction all occurred on the same day and she left the hospital 24 hours later, cancer-free and not requiring any additional reconstruction.

“This is a tremendous gift I’ve been given. I am extremely aware and appreciative
of the fact that a family, at the worst possible time, was asked if they were willing
to make a gift of organs and tissue from their loved one, so that other people –
strangers – might have a great quality of life after breast cancer without missing
a beat. I thank my donor family in my heart every day,” said Pilon.

Bobbie White (Skin Graft Recipient)

Having Faith to Reconstruct Life After Loss

Bobbie was embracing her graduate studies in psychology when she learned that she had breast cancer. “I didn’t sign up for this but here I am, among the group of millions of women plagued by this disease,” she remembers.  She was single and spent a lifetime working and caring for children with special needs, especially those with diabetes like herself, helping them to cope with their condition.  Her faith and training had taught her how to deal with these tough situations and Bobbie was ready to give this her best fight.  

Three months after her diagnosis, Bobbie had a lumpectomy which was followed by double mastectomy after the cancer began spreading to her lymph nodes. In a single surgery, the cancer was removed and both breasts were reconstructed.  Her recovery was swift and Bobbi was soon enjoying days of fun in the snow with reconstruction results that were better than she expected.  

Following her surgery, Bobbie learned that donated skin was used with her breast reconstruction. “Someone died to help me heal again. What a gift!” remarked Bobbie as she was overcome by gratitude by the kindness of the donor family who made this possible.  Bobbie later learned that even with a diagnosis of cancer and diabetes, you can donate corneas to give sight to others. Today, she honors her donor family by becoming a registered donor and lives each day in gratitude for the gift that has been given to her.

Jason Ray (Donor) and Kenneth Williams (Bone Graft Recipient)

I have my life back

Tissue recipient Kenneth Williams (far left) suffered for nearly 20 years with debilitating back pain from an old weightlifting injury. The retired aircraft engineer battled degenerative disk disease in his back. “It was like someone had a chisel in my back and was constantly hitting it with a hammer,” said Kenneth, who lives in Southern California.

While Kenneth struggled with his disease, a family in North Carolina also struggled with the tragic loss of their beloved son. Jason Ray (above right) was the team mascot for the University of North Carolina’s basketball program who was struck and killed by a car while attending a New Jersey basketball tournament in March 2007. However, hope would come for both Kenneth and Jason’s family in the form of organ, eye and tissue donation. 

Kenneth could only find relief through a surgical procedure on his back that required donated tissue—tissue that he received through Jason’s gift. "Jason's spirit lives on through people like me," stated the father of five and grandfather of six.

Now, simple tasks like driving, sitting or standing for more than 15 minutes at a time, traveling on an airplane, and taking walks on the beach with his wife are possible without pain for Kenneth. "I have my life back," said Kenneth. "My wife can tell you I became withdrawn due to my pain. Now she says I’m back to the way I used to be.”

Chris Mitchell (Tendon Graft Recipient)

Three transplants later he is biking and snowboarding

It was the beautiful scenic landscape and challenging terrain that drew Chris Mitchell to Utah’s invigorating outdoor activities. Extreme sports like snowboarding and mountain biking are the activities he loves doing the most. Unfortunately, along with the thrill of extreme sports, knee and shoulder injuries are common and Chris has had more than his share. But donated tissue has helped Chris come back from surgery for the repair of both his left ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and his shoulder.

Two and a half months after his last surgery, Chris was back on his bike riding about 3,000 miles over the next year and snowboarding 83 days. Although he has tempered his level of activity to avoid additional injury, he is thrilled to be back enjoying the sports he loves.

“I’ve had three transplants which have allowed me to continue to participate and do the things I love doing. I registered to be a donor decades ago, but I never expected to benefit from donated tissue. My tissue transplant experience has brought this close to home, bringing everything full circle to me. It gave me a new lease on life; allowing me to participate in the sports and activities that I love. Receiving a tissue transplant is a much more intimate connection for me since this gift is implanted inside of me. I had a chance to write to my donor’s family, thanking them for their generous gift. I am forever grateful to the network that exists which allowed me to heal including donors & their families, the staff recovering the tissue, surgeons and hospital staff who cared for me.”

Joe Rothpearl (Bone Graft Recipient)

Driven to Overcome

In 2011, Joe Rothpearl suffered a catastrophic injury to the C6-C7 spinal segment in his neck. This spinal segment provides essential structural support and flexibility to the neck, and plays a vital role in protecting the spinal cord.

So, when doctors told Joe he would be a quadriplegic relying on a ventilator, he was left with an important decision to make—approving a fusion surgery. Joe gave his surgeon the thumbs up, and his injured disk was soon replaced with a donor bone. 

Within 2 years, Joe had two more surgeries, one of those involving donor bone to another area of his cervical spine.  After his third surgery, Joe began the road to recovery.

Although Joe's injury has led to his diagnosis with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, he looks forward to every day and his passion for Dodge Challengers to help fight the pain. He even developed a blog, Every Day Brings New Challengers, for the sole purpose of sharing unique photos of Challengers. This blog quickly turned into a website, ChallengeroftheDay.com, in order to share even more. But his passion doesn't stop there.

Joe has also developed an impressive collection of die cast Challengers over the years—a hobby he picked up as a kid.

"Throughout the years I had a lot of days where I needed a smile and Challengers always came through for me," he says. "Joy is all I ever feel when I open a new die cast or sit or drive in mine, or even just stare at any scale version."

He has developed a noteworthy following across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and hopes his collection of photographs and videos bring a smile to those who may need it.

Furthermore, Joe's gratitude for his donor has inspired him to actively encourage others to become organ and tissue donors themselves. "You never know, who around you, is already a recipient", he notes. "And there is no greater gift a person can give in this world. It is the gift of a lifetime."

Jim Noble (Tendon Graft Recipient)

Grateful for Life's Second Chances

As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jim Noble is no stranger to the need for second chances.  He has made a career of seeking justice while protecting the public, which sometimes means offering other people a second chance at life.   Little did Jim realize that he himself would soon be on the receiving end of a second chance—through the gift of tissue donation.

Jim ruptured the ACL in his left knee while playing intramural soccer at Texas Tech University.  In youthful exuberance, he was hesitant to have surgery at that time.  He enjoyed basketball, tennis, and running 5K’s, 10K’s and half marathons.  As time marched on, the effects of the injury began to take an even greater toll on his body.  Casually skiing down a slope or simply stepping off a curb often came with excruciating pain.  How would this outdoor enthusiast ever be able to return to the active, east Texas life he knew and loved?

After consulting an orthopedic specialist, Jim knew that surgery was his only hope.  His surgeon suggested using donor tissue to optimize his chances of quickly healing.  Jim diligently underwent physical therapy.  After four months of rehabilitation, Jim was able to re-engage in light running.  His is knee was once again stable, he was pain-free, and he was back to competing in sprint triathlons again!

Jim remains passionate about donation and transplantation.  “You certainly become more grateful for donation when you benefit first hand.  It improves your quality of life in a very tangible way,” shares Jim.  In fact, Jim’s family has a rich heritage of donation.  His father felt so strongly that he donated his body to UT Southwestern Medical School.  Jim signed the state registry to become a donor as well.  “I think it is important, while you are healthy, to make the donation decision, and not push that decision off to your survivors,” Jim reflects.  He is grateful for the second chance at a vibrant life both as a middle-aged athlete and with his daughters.

Lesley Geller (Skin Graft Recipient)

Knowledge is Power

Lesley is a motivational speaker, life/business coach, and an optimistic fitness fanatic. As a mother of two young men, she found herself unprepared for the life-threatening storm brewing. “My mother died of pancreatic cancer,” Lesley recalls. “She also had the BRCA gene mutation.” Since offspring of carriers have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation, Lesley was tested at the urging of her family. The results confirmed that Lesley was a carrier. She was now at increased risk of becoming part of the 1 in 8 U.S. women who will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes. Armed with this knowledge, what would she do?

As a precaution against ovarian cancer, Lesley immediately had her ovaries removed. Doing so lowered her risk of ovarian cancer from 40% to 0% and lowered her risk of breast cancer from 85% to 40%. Initially, she was adamant, however, that she would not have a double mastectomy. But she recalled her 23-year old son saying: “Mom, that’s still almost a 50% chance of getting the disease.” Lesley knew that at all costs, she had to avoid the risk of later having to look into her oldest son’s eyes having to tell him that she had gotten a cancer that could have been avoided with the mastectomy. Simultaneously, her sister decided to undergo the preventive procedure. She did this as a preventive measure despite a history of normal mammograms. After surgery, however, tests revealed precancerous cells in the removed breasts. Terrified, Leslie immediately called her own doctor and said: “We need to schedule the double mastectomy. I’m not going to go sit and wait for it [cancer] to get me!”

After a very difficult surgery, Lesley prepared to return to work a week later. She learned that the tissue graft used in her reconstructive surgery came from a donor. "I was so touched. I had never even heard about tissue donors. I was just kind of astounded and really touched that someone would go out of their way to be a donor and never even know its possibility". A tempest of emotions left Lesley sobbing, "With an 85% risk of developing breast cancer, I lived in fear of my future. Yes due to the generosity of a skin donor and preventative breast reconstructive surgery, I am now empowered by what the future holds," Lesley proudly exclaims.

Denise Cantrell (Skin Graft Recipient)

Resilience: Surviving Breast Cancer

Denise is a musician with a passion for living a vibrant life.  She loves writing music and also practices yoga—one of her favorite hobbies. To her dismay, Denise was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. The diagnosis was particularly jarring because only a year earlier, her mammogram test was negative. “I started experiencing pain under my armpit. I didn’t think much of it at first, but then the pain was persistent,” Denise recalls.  The shocking news came as she was departing on a long-anticipated trip to Paris with her husband.  Denise was urged to repeat her mammogram as soon as possible.  The biopsy confirmed her worst fear—Denise had stage 2A breast cancer.  Days later, she underwent a total bilateral, skin-saving mastectomy. 

Denise made a slow but steady recovery. Six weeks after her surgery, she was even able to begin yoga again. Shortly after that, however, Denise experienced complications, so a second surgery was needed. Following surgery using donated human tissue, Denise recovered well from the surgery and is back to enjoying life. 

Denise and her husband are passionate about organ and tissue donation and are both registered donors. “I really didn’t realize that you could donate something other than the major organs and corneas. That’s what you hear about in the media.  Donated tissue helps so many people, like myself, with surgeries every single day."  Denise and her husband look forward to one day touching other’s lives with the generous gift of donation.

Barbara Boyer (Bone Graft Recipient)

In the saddle again

A retired schoolteacher, Barbara loves open spaces, mountains, and outdoor adventures.  But spending time with her horses is her greatest passion. After two horseback injuries exacerbated her back pains, an MRI revealed that she needed back surgery. Her surgeon, a horseman himself, reassured her that she was going to ride horses again and suggested using donated human tissue for her surgery.

Six months later, Barbara was on her way to recovery. For the first time in her life, she finally experienced complete relief of back pain. With the help of her local equine therapeutic center and robust physical therapy, she is riding her horses again. “This tissue transplant has enabled me to live life to the fullest - everyday. I love being able to stride again and not walk with mincing steps for fear of pain. My motto is ‘just keep moving’. I am not only riding my horses again but I can now travel once more.”

Barbara has written to her donor family to thank them for being a part of her recovery. She is now a registered donor and is planning to donate her body to research so that medical knowledge about arthritis and other conditions can be advanced through her donation.

Janna Levin (Tendon Graft Recipient)

Judoka looks ahead to National Championship

Janna Levin is a Judoka – a practitioner of the Japanese martial art of judo. Judo is a dynamic sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline, and Janna has found it to be a great outlet. As a mother, wife, and teacher, she carries the principles of the sport from the practice mats into her everyday life. In 2015, with her sights set on placing at the National Championships, Janna suffered a significant knee injury, a severed anterior cruciate ligament and damage to the meniscus. Cruciate ligament tears often have serious implications, sometimes resulting in permanent damage to the knee. To give her the best chance at a full recovery her surgeon strongly suggested surgery using human donated tissue to replace the severed tendon. While she waited to have surgery, Janna maintained her strength with intense physical therapy. Immediately following her last class of the semester, she had her surgery.

Recovery from ligament tears is a lengthy process, taking several months. Fifteen weeks post-surgery, Janna was able to run on a treadmill and is back in the classroom, managing many long hours on her feet. Janna is slowly getting back to judo, and she is determined to compete at the Judo National Championships once again. Her young sons can’t wait until she can tolerate falls again, so they can practice throwing her on the mat during judo class. And Janna looks forward to spending time with them doing something they all love to do.

Janna was unaware that she would be able to thank her donor family until a hospital staff member gave her information about how to write to them. Janna wrote to them following her recovery. "This tissue will allow me the opportunity to enjoy being active with my family, maintain the level of exercise I'm used to, and make a bid at the National Championship in Judo next spring. With this donation, you have given my life back to me." Although she has always been a supporter of donation, she is grateful to be a recipient of this gift.

Carrie Dailey (Bilateral Shoulder Surgery Recipient)

A girl, her guitar, and a promise

For as long as she can remember, Carrie would wake up each day relocating her dislocated shoulder after a night’s sleep. A rare genetic disorder, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), caused the ligaments and tendons in her body to stretch like taffy, resulting in joint dislocations, especially in her shoulder. Her physical injuries were so debilitating, it kept her from fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse like her mother.

 After multiple failed surgeries using her own tendons, Carrie was diagnosed with EDS and her physicians now understood the reasons for her graft failures. They decided to use donated tendon to repair her right shoulder. The surgery was successful but a few months later, her left shoulder failed and a second donated tendon enabled her left arm to be functional again.

 “The surgeries not only gave me back the full use of my arms, it gave me freedom from that feeling of defeat by my disorder. I am going to get to do the things that give me life again – playing my guitar, fishing with my grandfather, hugging with both arms, walking my dog, driving my car, and above all gain my independence back’, said Carrie. 

 A few years ago, Carrie lost an uncle who was a tissue donor. In her letter to her donor’s family, Carrie shared her promise, “I promise to always look for ways to give back to others, just as you did by making that decision, whether I do that in my career, personal life, or elsewhere. Your ability to see the potential in your loved one during the time of difficulty is so inspiring that I promise to do that in my life as well. I will find the potential in others and do my best to help them overcome their battles just as your family helped me to overcome mine.”

You can view Carrie’s video story on our YouTube Channel.

Ivy Chang (Tendon Graft Recipient)

Donor Gets a Dancer Back on Her Feet

An active young woman, Ivy Chang didn’t know much about tissue donation or allograft surgery – even though she works as a nurse, but that all changed after a skiing accident.  The damage to her ACL was extensive, requiring that the tendon be replaced with a donor tendon.  Although the surgery put her active lifestyle on hold, she is finally through with all her physical therapy, and feels fully recovered. 

Ivy is back to her much loved dance classes, and is trying out jazz! She says this gift of donation has her excited about skiing again, hiking, dancing and caring for her young puppy.  “I will be forever grateful for this gift your family gave me” wrote Ivy in a letter to her donor family.  “During my recovery, I also signed up to be a donor so I can give others the same opportunity to receive this very special gift”

Mary Louis (Skin Graft Recipient)

Grateful for the Gift

It was an ordinary Friday afternoon when Mary, an energetic teacher in Houston, was wrapping up her workday. She straightened her room, erased the whiteboards, and then checked her email. To her surprise, she saw a stunning message from her physician: "The results from your biopsy are back and we are 80% sure that it is cancer," it read. The news was devastating. "What does this mean?"... "Are you sure this is my diagnosis?" she wondered. She spent the weekend in turmoil, thinking about what she had just read but unable to ask questions about her condition. None of this made sense. Mary runs marathons and practices yoga. She's vegan and eats a gluten-free diet. "It couldn't be me," she thought. Mary had always been a picture of health. In fact, cancer had never visited her family tree. Her life had been consumed with teaching students by day and by night. After years of saving, she was finally able to buy a cozy vacation home in the French countryside. How could cancer be touching her life, her body, especially now?!

The news became more devastating. Mary had triple negative breast cancer--the most aggressive type of breast cancer-- affecting mostly young, pre-menopausal minority women. Traditional treatments for this type of breast cancer are not effective. After visiting with an oncologist, Mary immediately began chemotherapy and subsequently chose to have bilateral mastectomy to avoid the possibility of cancer affecting the other breast. A few months later, she scheduled breast reconstruction surgery and decided to use donated skin graft for the procedure. Mary had learned from a cousin that using donated skin grafts was an option to improve the outcome of reconstruction and she believes her surgical results are excellent.

Gratitude is a word that comes to mind often to Mary. She's grateful for her new perspective on life, family, friends, and her donor gift that enabled Mary to feel whole again. "I've always been a donor. I registered a long time ago but feel honored to be part of the receiving end of this cycle of giving. I've always been a giver, but this has awakened me to a whole new level of gratitude for the generosity of such a gift". Today Mary enjoys running again, spending vacations at her countryside him in France, and speaking to small groups about her cancer journey.

You can view Mary’s video story on our YouTube Channel.

Sandeep Chiplonkar (Tendon Graft Recipient)

Father Restores Active Lifestyle

As a tissue recipient, Sandeep Chiplonkar’s work at MTF Biologics hits very close to home. While playing basketball, he suffered an injury, resulting in a torn ACL. After 3 years of wearing a knee brace and not being able to return to an active lifestyle, Sandeep sought a second opinion and followed his surgeon’s recommendations to have ACL reconstruction surgery using a donated tendon. 

A decade after his surgery, Sandeep’s knee remains fully functional and he no longer wears a brace.  Now a father, he spends countless hours with his active son, enjoying the parks and other fearless physical activities. 

Sandeep believes in paying it forward and is a registered donor. A member of the Asian Indian community, Sandeep is a fervent advocate for donation, and like many who share the Hindu faith, he believes in the concept of Karma, duty and selfless giving. Today, he loves sharing his story to audiences and teaching others about the importance of signing up to be a donor.

Sterlynn Clendenin (Skin Graft Recipient)

Climb of a Lifetime

For Sterlynn, a 30-year-old who loves hiking and other outdoor activities, moving to Colorado was a dream come true. This was the perfect place to combine her work as a philanthropic event planner with her love of outdoor activities like camping, tennis, and running. Unfortunately, five months after she moved, she received a devastating diagnosis. She had breast cancer. Although both her mother and grandmother had been struck with the disease, the diagnosis was still shocking for a vibrant young woman like Sterlynn.

Hundreds of miles from her friends and family on the east coast, Sterlynn found herself facing the biggest uphill battle of her life. Nevertheless, she courageously forged on. Completing 6 rounds of chemo, Sterlynn chose to have both breasts removed. In a single surgery, the cancer was taken out and each breast was successfully reconstructed using donated dermal tissue. As difficult as it was to deal with the loss of her native breasts and adjust to the new ones, Sterlynn was thrilled with the results of her breast reconstruction.

When Sterlynn learned that donated skin was used in her surgery, this tugged at her heartstrings. “My work with philanthropy relies on the generosity of people to give so that others can get the help they need. Now, I am experiencing generosity of a different kind—generosity in a deep and personal way,” remarked Sterlynn. As one of the 3.1-million breast cancer survivors in the United States, Sterlynn feels blessed to have received the precious gift of life. Through tissue donation, she proudly reclaimed her life with a renewed sense of vigor.

Kelly Gilbert (Skin Graft Recipient)

Learning to Live Her Best Life

Kelly is an instructional specialist that loves being in the classroom and making a difference in the lives of children. Happily married with a four-year-old daughter, she enjoys reading, outdoor sports, and spending time with her friends. About once a month, Kelly meets up with friends she met when she started teaching 15 years ago.  During those times, she enjoys catching up over coffee and sharing play dates with the other mothers.  Over time, however, she began to sense that something was wrong.

Kelly felt a small pea-sized lump in her upper left breast. Knowing that breast cancer ran in her family, her husband encouraged her to get it checked out. Her doctor suggested she get a mammogram, which was soon followed up with an ultrasound and a biopsy.  A few days later, on a Friday afternoon, she got a call from her radiologist. Her test results were not good, but another radiologist would review the results with her on Monday.  After an agonizing weekend of waiting anxiously, Kelly learned that she had a very aggressive form of cancer called triple negative breast cancer. Further testing also revealed that she had the BRCA gene. 

Armed with that knowledge, Kelly decided to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. During her breast reconstruction procedure, donor tissue was used. Kelly was already a registered organ donor, and her experience with donation only strengthened her feelings. “It was really difficult to think about what that family had to go through, but knowing that it really helped you,” Kelly says. “It’s a selfless act that takes a lot of courage to step up and do.”

“The tissue transplant has allowed me the opportunity to heal psychologically and emotionally. I am able to feel whole as a woman and heal through this journey. The confidence due to my reconstructed breasts will ensure that I am able to watch my daughter grow up and make a lifetime of memories with her and my husband.”

Now, Kelly jumps at the opportunity to live her life to the fullest. Just this year, she and her close friends made a point to go on vacation together. “While I was working and being a mom to a young child, I had put a lot of things on the backburner. Even simple things like going to a concert or going out and doing different things that I used to do all the time. Now I jump to say yes to things I want to do instead of making excuses for why I can’t.”

Sandy McManus (Tissue Graft Recipient)

Taking Time to Smell the Roses

Sandy McManus is a dedicated healthcare worker. When she isn’t serving the needs of others, she enjoys playing with her dogs and seeing the beauty of the surrounding nature. There is, however, a notable complication. She has suffered with chronic sinus infections her entire life, which had virtually eliminated her sense of smell. At 26 years old, Sandy’s septum was deviated. She underwent plastic surgery to fix the problem. Years later, Sandy was ejected through the windshield during a car accident. After a series of plastic surgeries, her nose unfortunately fell again. By then, Sandy had grown weary from the painful surgeries and their side effects.

Thankfully, Sandy found a surgeon in Dallas that was able to end the longstanding saga with her nose. Using donated costal cartilage tissue, the surgeon reconstructed Sandy’s nose. A week later, Sandy could freely breathe through her nose again. For the first time in decades, she also enjoyed a normal sense of smell. “My nose is perfect now,” Sandy exclaimed. With self-confidence restored, she can now enjoy a rejuvenating night’s sleep and no longer suffers from sinus infections. Best of all, Sandy can take time to smell the roses once again. She spends her weekends volunteering to help with the emotional and physical needs of children and adults through horse equine therapy. Sandy had also never considered being a donor before. Now Sandy gleefully exclaims, “The surgery made me so happy that I want to become a donor and bring joy to someone else.”

Richard Pawling (Skin Graft Recipient)

Skin donation makes difference for burn victim

On June 24, 2006, 16 year-old Richard Pawling and his sister were riding their dirt bikes when they suddenly collided. “I don’t even remember what happened. All I know is that somehow we crashed and my gas tank exploded,” said Richard.

Both Richard and his sister were burned, however, Richard’s injuries were more serious. Richard had third degree burns over approximately 65% of his body. He was in the hospital for 95 days, and required 26 different surgeries. He also required skin grafts to heal. “Very early in my healing process I received donated skin. My doctor told me what it was and where it came from. I’m very grateful for it.”

Today, Richard is married with two children. He has completed college and has his own taxidermy business. “I’ve learned from this ordeal. Donation is a very good thing and tissue is very much needed for patients like me.”

Karen Hanks (Tendon Graft Recipient)

I Can Finally Walk Again

Riding horses was Karen’s delight. It gave her a chance to be outdoors and enjoy nature. But when a horseback riding accident left her with an injured knee and the need to use crutches to get around, she was determined to fight back.

“The accident not only hurt my knee but my confidence in what I could now do.” Complicating her recovery was the fact that Karen also had Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease which can impact mobility, especially walking.

Treatments for her knee were limited due to MS. Without surgery she would be wheelchair bound. Her surgeon informed her that she would need a graft from human donated tissue since her own tendon could not be used. Several months after surgery, Karen was back at work running her own company and participating in life again. 

“While I can no longer ride my horses anymore, I am so grateful for the very simple things in life like getting out of bed and spending time with my family. Although MS has made this a bit more challenging, I can finally walk again,” Karen said. “This tissue transplant has allowed me to put my knee back together and thus, my life.  Without it, I would not have walked. I will always be grateful for the donor’s family decision which is changing my life in so many ways.”

Julie Dey (Bone Graft Recipient)

Back in the Great Outdoors

Julie Dey promised her family a life filled with great outdoor adventures when they relocated to Utah.  Little did she know that one of those adventures would result in her own life-changing experience. On Memorial Day weekend in 2013, she crashed while riding her daughter’s dirt bike. The top of her tibia was crushed. Repairing it required a talented surgeon, a titanium plate, seven pins and donated human tissue.

“I was in pretty bad shape and the extent of my injuries was far greater than what we imagined.” Extensive physical therapy helped her learn how to walk again. Six months after her surgery, the donated bone implanted in her tibia had produced enough bone growth that her surgeon was able to complete additional surgery needed to repair her knee.

During her hospital stay, Julie received a packet from the hospital staff that provided information on writing to her donor family. “Not a day goes by that I am not filled with gratitude for this generous gift,” she wrote. “The donated tissue has really blessed my life.  It has allowed me to walk again. What a miracle.”

Hunter Johnston (Osteochondral Graft Recipient)

Back on her feet

Hunter Johnston was an active high school senior when a serious car accident dramatically changed her life. This vibrant eighteen year old suffered a head injury, a contused lung, bilateral hip dislocation and multiple fractures to her face, fingers, pelvis, sacrum, and ankles. Many surgeries later, she was found herself wheelchair bound facing intense physical therapy. Physical therapy got her back on her feet but only with crutches as her left leg could really not handle any weight bearing activity.

Five months later, Hunter underwent another surgical procedure to her left hip that determined she needed to have the head of her femur replaced. The only replacement option for her damaged femur was an osteochondral allograft. An osteochondral allograft is used in a grafting technique indicated in patients with articular cartilage damage to help restore the normal functioning of the joint. After waiting for about three months, Hunter received the call she had been anxiously anticipating...a donor graft had been found.  According to her surgeon, the “graft fit like a glove."

Only six weeks following her surgery, Hunter was walking again! Today, Hunter is working full-time at a job that requires her to stand on her feet for over eight hours per day. “Since the accident, I have changed to become a donor for both organs and tissue because without people to provide the donations, I wouldn’t be where I am today," she said.

Regina Harris (Skin Graft Recipient)

The Gift of Donation Turns Personal

Regina Harris had spent her career working as a nurse and helping to set up healthcare facilities at US Military installations around the globe.  Among her many roles, an area of great pride was training staff on the importance of organ and tissue donation, and offering families whose loved ones would not survive about their options for donation.

Little did she envision that she would be on the receiving end of those difficult conversations, as a recipient of donated skin.

As retirement loomed on the horizon, Regina and her husband made the choice to settle in Arizona on the outskirts of Phoenix. 

Just as they were settling into their new life in the desert, Regina went in for a routine mammogram, and was asked to return for an MRI due to some suspicious looking tissue in her breast.  As a healthcare provider, she asked to look at her own films, and was horrified at what she saw.  The suspicious shadows   looked like a large piece of gauze were thinly folded inside the layers of breast tissue.  Biopsy results were positive.  Less than a month later, she underwent a double mastectomy.   

Regina feels very fortunate to have the option of having her post mastectomy breast reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy.  Donated skin helped her heal, and be able to resume her work within 8 weeks of her surgery.

“I’m proud of the role I played in organ and tissue donation during my career, and I am so grateful for the tissue donation” said Regina, “I really look forward to the opportunity to give back by sharing my story, hopefully inspiring others to appreciate the value of donation”.

Lara Marinich (Bone Graft Recipient)

Bouncing Back: Beating Bone Disease!

Imagine being an active female athlete with a love for competitive sports. You passionately play lacrosse, touch rugby, and field hockey. Your life, your friends, and your world centered on sports, but that has ended because you now live in immense pain. That is the situation Lara Marinich found herself in. The high school junior was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), a debilitating condition that can cause bones to deteriorate and die from insufficient blood flow.

After three years of pain, Lara underwent surgery to restore circulation to her knee. Disappointingly, the pain and the OCD persisted. Lara began to lose hope. “I was in a dark place,” she recalled. In desperation, she underwent a second series of procedures. Her new surgeon replaced the dead bone with donated bone and repaired her damaged cartilage. Physical therapy was a grueling, 5-month ordeal. Lara wore a full-leg brace initially and a partial brace for another 2 months. Finally, she was on the road to recovery.

Because of donated tissue, Lara is looking forward to vibrantly getting back into the game of life. “I had no idea that tissue donation would impact my life,” Lara reminisced. “I can’t fully express how thankful I am for the surgery and the good things it will bring,” Lara wrote to her donor family. Although sad that her donor family lost a loved one, she is glad that their compassionate gift continues to give back to the world through her. “I will forever memorialize my donor,” Lara resiliently proclaims.

Debbie Torrey (Skin Graft Recipient)

A Survivor

A positive outlook on life and work in health care has prepared Debbie for many setbacks she has experienced. As a second time survivor of breast cancer, she did not hesitate to move forward when told about options for breast reconstruction using donated dermal tissue following her mastectomy.

Pleased with her outcome following surgery, Debbie is grateful for the gift that has allowed her to feel secure, special and alive again. She is a survivor. Debbie continues her journey by journaling about her experiences, gardening, and spending quality time with her grandchildren.

“You and your family member will remain in my thoughts with appreciation, generosity, and kindness,” wrote Debbie in a note to her donor family.

Laurie DeClara (Skin Graft Recipient)

I Will Survive

Laurie was only forty when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Her journey mirrored her mother’s, having also been diagnosed at a young age. After learning that Laurie’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a 2nd time, Laurie’s friends urged her to schedule a follow-up mammogram. Although it had been 10 years since she had first been diagnosed with and treated for cancer, as soon as Laurie saw her radiographic image, she knew the news would not be good. This time, the type of cancer was different. It was more invasive and would require a mastectomy. Fearing the recurrence of a 3rd round of cancer in the other breast, a 50% risk according to her oncologist, Laurie opted for a bilateral mastectomy. “As a wife and mother of four active boys, I need to be here for my family. I needed to survive,” she said.

Deciding to undergo the mastectomy was the easy part for Laurie. She was not, however, prepared for the emotions that would follow. Laurie’s considering a bilateral mastectomy raised questions like: “What will I look like? Will I still feel feminine? Would a mastectomy be noticeable in clothing?” These were some of the many questions that flooded Laurie’s mind. Her plastic surgeon immediately put Laurie at ease with the reassurance that after a single surgery, she will not only have the cancer removed but will also have new breasts in place that will give her the confidence to feel as feminine as she always has. A couple of weeks after her surgery, Laurie was self-assured once again. She was pleased with both her outcome and her decision.

Laurie was pleased to learn that donated skin grafts used with her breast reconstruction surgery. As a healthcare professional, Laurie was elated to find that donated tissue could be used to help so many people in so many ways. She later discovered that her donor was a woman - possibly a mother, daughter, aunt, or sister. She was so moved by the generosity of her donor’s gift, that she was compelled to express her gratitude to her donor’s family. “Thank you for giving me such an amazing gift. You have given me back to my family. You have made it possible for me to live out my life. I want to honor your loved one’s memory with strength and grace.”

Tracey Warren-Hein (Skin Graft Recipient)

Donated Tissue Helps Mother Continue Fight

At 43 years young, Tracy Warren-Hein was a busy, active mother of 2 young boys. Her days were filled with her family, and enjoying an active outdoor life, which included pleasure and competitive horseback riding. Always conscience of her health, Tracey had a routine mammogram in May of 2017, and the results were negative for any kind of growth or lump, however in August she felt something. And she knew it just wasn’t right.

Tracey had Stage 3 Triple negative breast cancer. By September she underwent a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Tracey did her best to keep all their family routines the same, focusing on her life, rather than her illness. In June, 2018 after chemotherapy and radiation were finished, she underwent breast reconstruction surgery. It wasn’t until after the surgery that she learned that her surgeon used donor skin with her procedure.

“I had no idea skin was even something people could donate” she said.

Full of gratitude, Tracey wrote to her donor family, and included these words “The donated tissue has allowed me to heal enough to continue my cancer battle,” she wrote “I have two beautiful smart sons who mean the world to me.  I am determined to beat cancer.  Your family member will remain in my thoughts for their kindness and generosity”

Evan Walker (Bone Graft Recipient)

Back in Full Swing

In 2015, high school football tackle Evan suffered a season-ending broken collarbone.

Collar bone breaks often fuse back together without surgical intervention. Unfortunately, Evan’s injury required surgery with a plate, six screws, and donated bone grafts (DBX Putty) to heal properly. Six months after his surgery, Evan was literally back in full swing. He earned a spot on the varsity baseball team as pitcher and had a great season. Evan’s pitching arm is as strong and fast as ever and his golf swing is better than ever.

Looking ahead to college and hoping for a career in sports management, Evan takes with him his story of donation. Evan is an active donation ambassador for MTF and the local organ recovery program in his home state. His story touches the lives of people who are not aware of the success of bone donation after death. He inspires individuals to say “yes” to donation.

Evan sent a letter of gratitude to his donor family, thanking them for helping to restore him to health and mobility. Not a day goes by that Evan and his family say a silent thanks to their donor’s family. Evan’s Mom notes, “We are so thankful that Evan was able to have the tissue donation so that he could be a fully functioning 17-year-old boy and get back to the activities he loves, including sports, hanging out with his friends and volunteering at our church food pantry”. 

Angela Hadfield (Skin Graft Recipient)

A life-changing donation inspires to change lives

Angela was born with a condition that remained undiagnosed most of her life. In childhood she began having seizures. As a teen she suffered severe headaches. Her symptoms worsened to include vision problems, short-term memory loss, and tingling in her extremities. In 2013 Angela was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation. This rare congenital condition forces the brain downward into the spinal canal due to an abnormally small or misshapen skull. Without surgery her plight would continue to worsen and possibly end in death.

Angela’s doctor performed brain surgery using skin grafts to relieve the pressure causing her debilitating symptoms. “I am humbled. I know that somewhere out there, there is a grieving family who looked past their loss and made the selfless decision to allow donation to occur,” Angela recalls. She is grateful for her successful surgery and the generosity of the donor families that made it possible. Today Angela is a tissue recovery coordinator and enjoys an active life of running, hiking, and raising community support through the Chiari and Syringomelia Foundation.

Turia Pitt (Skin Graft Recipient)

Donor Tissue Rescues Runner After Australian Wildfire

Turia Pitt, a fitness enthusiast, mining engineer and model, was caught in a freak firestorm while competing in a 100 km ultra-marathon in Western Australia in 2011. The 24-year-old was helicoptered out of the remote desert, barely alive, with horrific burns to 64 percent of her body. Unable to find the donated skin needed to save her life in Australia, her doctors turned to the United States. MTF Biologics provided Turia with the life-saving gift of skin.

Post skin grafting and extensive physical therapy, Turia continues to compete in triathlon and iron-man events. She’s a bestselling author, a motivational speaker and mentors thousands of individuals world-wide through her online goal setting programs.

“I want to thank Americans for their generosity, especially the donors and their families who said yes to donation and saved my life”, Turia said. “I would not be here today without their decision to give the gift of life. To these special people I say Thank You and Bless You, I carry your generosity in my heart as I do what I love – train, run and enlighten others to achieve their personal best.”

In 2016, Turia Pitt and her fiancé, Michael, traveled to the U.S. to thank her donor families for her life-saving gift.  During her time in the U.S., she visited MTF Biologics and met with staff members who were a part of the process of making this happen.  

Sgt. First Class Joseph Fontenot (Bone and Tendon Grafts Recipient)

Saluting Our Soldiers

Sgt. First Class Joseph Fontenot is a proud soldier in the 101st Air Assault division of the U.S. Army. This Louisiana native has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has lost friends in combat, and was named “Military Times Soldier of the Year” in 2015. Little did this husband and father know the battle he would soon be fighting to recover from a career-threatening injury. With adrenaline pumping during an intense training exercise, Fontenot did not realize the extent of the injuries sustained while exiting a Blackhawk helicopter. Despite rupturing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus during this pre-deployment military exercise, Fontenot did what he was trained to do—soldier on.

As the day progressed, Fontenot’s knee continued to swell. Due to the complexity of his surgical needs, Fontenot was sent to Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Using donated tissue, he completed a series of three different, specialized surgeries on his right knee. After 18 months of surgeries, five months on crutches, and extensive physical therapy, Fontenot fiercely recovered.

“I can honestly say that without having this tissue transplant, my military career would be over,” Fontenot recounts; “It’s given me a new lease on life.” He once again enjoys canoeing, kayaking, and being part of a team of soldiers defending freedom at home and abroad. MTF Biologics proudly salutes Sgt. First Class Joseph Fontenot, his wife—a fellow veteran, and the other men and women that protect and serve our nation. MTF Biologics further honors the many donors and donor families committed to sharing the gift of life that makes essential partnerships with military installations and Veterans Administration hospitals possible, bringing innovations in tissue transplantation to our nation's veterans.