Steve's Organ Donation Story - The Circle of Life

[jhaassage]

This is an awesome video...my mother was lucky enough to receive a kidney donation in May of 2009...However in November of 2009 she became deathy ill...she was diagnosed with a very rare liver disease...in December of 2009 she was told she needed a liver transplant and at the top of the list..On January 11, 2010, she died, at the age of 58 yrs old, waiting for a liver....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give the gift of life!!!!!

[squamish4244]

How to save a life!

[ghagel37]

amazing! touching story. hope all is well Steve!

[diarykeeper]

Hey ! Pretty good.

Fron your description she sure was a nice Girl that had to go far too soon.

When I should die I too will allow people to transplant my Organs.

Currently all I can do to help is probably transfusing Blood ( Even though my bloodtype isn't really rare ;). )

[Skabeeri]

ISN'T transplantation in the US ANONYMOUS?

[DonateLifeIllinois]

@Skabeeri You are correct. A donor’s family will be told the age, sex, state and other general characteristics of recipients. If both the donor family and the recipient agree to release information to one another, they may exchange names, correspond and even meet. This process is coordinated through the organ procurement organization.

[Orangebike666]

I like a lot of my family plan to be cremated no matter what... I hope that anything and everything that could possibly be used will reach people like this or at least as a cadaver . Thank You.

[cherryblossom0629]

my brother gave me a kidney about a month ago. im very grateful and try to take good care of the kidney

[tzzlite]

HOW did Kari die??

[SteveFerkau]

Hi tzzlite...

Kari had a subarachnoid hemorrhage - an intracranial bleed that caused pressure in her brain and eventually cut off blood circulation to her brain. It happened the day before her Junior prom. She was an amazing girl.

I've met a dozen of her friends and, after 10 years, they still speak so fondly of her. Several of them come out to climb with me. Thanks for asking... Love, Steve

[Nosillaqld]

This was such a great video, very touching! I lost my Aunt 2 years ago. She was the lucky recieved a donated liver but passed away 18 hours after surgery to something else unrelated. Even though she didn't make it, I will forever be grateful to the donor and family for giving my aunt a 2nd chance at life. It ment so much to my family.

[7d7scooby]

Awesome video! I am a kidney donor to my husband on 2/18/09

[angieskidney]

I am grateful for my kidney transplant! Sept 30th 2007!!

[abcat2000]

Great video!

I'm a grateful kidney/pancreas recipient.

[vtulcus]

YOU ROCK!

[AlexDurral9]

i want to help but i don't know how ...

Really want to help this sick puppy. it makes me very sad

Look at this video watch?v=pYLWLfuVOgc

[itlabs]

im in England, an ive just registered to be a donor, hearing storys like this just confirms to me that it is something we should all do

hope your well Steve

God bless you and Kari :)

[DonateLifeIllinois]

Thanks for the kind words! Steve is doing well.

Last month, he did the Hustle Up the Hancock, a stair climb up the second tallest skyscraper in Chicago, with Kari's friends to raise funds for lung disease research.

[HarpLover13]

Steve - this was short, eloquent, touching, and the best thing I have seen yet on organ donation. God bless and continue getting the message out!

- 49 with CF in Ontario

[SteveFerkau]

Thank you so much, HarpLover13!!! Coming from a fellow CFer - I hope you know how much your comment means to me... Are you post transplant, or considering? Above all -- I wish for a cure or treatment for you, but if you go my route, I hope your journey is as amazing as mine has been... Thanks again! Love, Steve

[M3nag5]

U just made a donor out of me

[kabo0m]

WOW that is an amazing video! I wish I knew my donor's name! Beautifully made! Thank you !

[rsp60048]

Steve, what a great video and beautiful tribute to Kari. All the best to you and the team as you all hustle up the Hancock.

[nancyhesby]

thank you for sharing your beautiful tribute. My brother Andy was a donor represented on the parade today, and you just did a wonderful job of showing your story. All my lovingkindness to you, and of course, Kari and her family.

[NTAF83]

This was forwarded to me by a professional in the transplant community. Made me cry tears of happiness ... nothing is more powerful than the gift of life.

[workman445]

Steve, this is a beautiful tribute to a very special young woman. My son Wesley died April 2008. He also had chose to be an organ donor. I received my first contact with one of his organ receipents just a few days ago. I can not tell you how good that made me feel. It was the BEST Christmas present I could have ever received.

Jo Anna (proud mom in Ohio)

[sox0533]

Hi Steve, it's Stephanie (your niece, if there's more than one Stephanie :) ) I watched your videos right after you left my house just like I said. Great video! See u at Christmas!

[msbuddies]

Steve you made me cry again. I am going to forward your video to my doctors.

your pal

Risa

[colemanrhett]

Steve, That was an awsome video. We are all looking forward to seeing you again.

"Everyday is the day".

Brandon- Tri-for-Life

[villilja]

Hi !

Great video. Here in Sweden we are only allowed to know age and gender of the donor.

Take care. From Villilja in Sweden, 36 years of age with cf and doublelungtransplanted in 1995 : )

[vvision02]

Great story. Another miricle

[msbuddies]

Oh Steve, this is by far the greatest video on organ donation. Scott you are one talented man.

love, Risa

your transplantbuddies fan

[billieprd]

A Truly amazing story!

[GiftOfLifeMichigan]

Wow, this is a wonderful video. Steve shares his and Kari's story in a beautiful, powerful way. Thank you for inspiring others, Steve!