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This Thing Called Life is a podcast about acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson, will introduce you to powerful stories about organ, eye, and tissue donation from individuals, families and front-line health care teams, whose experiences will hopefully inspire you and remind you, that while life is hard and unpredictable, it’s also beautiful. We hope this podcast serves as a catalyst for you to register to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor.
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with Mike McConnell about kidney health and community outreach.
Resources:
https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://lifepassiton.org/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.instagram.com/lifecentercincy/
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
https://twitter.com/LifeCenterCincy
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with someone who saw a vital need and acted on it in regards to living kidney donation, Brett Milam. Tune in to hear his journey as a living kidney donor.
Episode Highlights:
- Andi previews National Kidney Month and the importance of education. Kidney disease, diabetes is often referred to as the silent killer.
- There are more than 37 million Americans who have Kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure.
- More than 90,000 people are waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.
- To get more information about kidney health and prevention, please visit lifepassiton.org or nkf.org today.
- Guest, Brett Milam, shares when he first thought about kidney donation. He saw a fellow journalist through Instagram who made it seem really doable.
- Andi asks Brett to talk about the process to become a donor. He went through UC Medical Center.
- Brett says you don't pay anything to be a living donor and the commitment was not overwhelming. The Medical Center even reimbursed his parking tickets.
- Andi talks about the safeguards in place for routes of discrimination.
- How long do you need to be off work?
- Brett shares what it feels like when your organs are reconfiguring after surgery.
- Brett has visited dialysis centers and talks about what it is like.
- What if your family needs a kidney after you have previously donated?
- The fall after his surgery he went skydiving for the second time in his life. He talks about the drawal to do it.
- He overcame his fear of public speaking to champion this cause and in 2022, Brett decided to work for Life Center.
- Andi asks Brett to talk about mental health. He had a personal journey with depression that he navigated through and what helped him overcome.
- What is talk therapy?
- If you are struggling with mental health, Brett has advice for you. He said do not fear telling your primary care physician that you are struggling mentally. You may have to go through different therapists and/or medications but it is very worth it.
- Andi talks about recognizing managing new normal after covid and how Life Center decided to offer counseling to their staff.
- Brett loves to read. He talks about what he enjoys reading. He recently read Stranger In The Woods.
- Brett did not know who his donor recipient was but it was still such a fulfilling experience.
- Andi reminds listeners that there are 103,933 men women and children who need life saving organ transplants. What can you do to help?
3 Key Points:
- March is National Kidney Month. Many Americans have kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure which then in turn requires dialysis or kidney transplant. It is important to be educated to be out in front of the disease in prevention.
- Brett Milam shares that it was a simple calculation for him to decide to be a living kidney donor.
- Life Center’s mission and purpose drew Brett in. He thought he would work in journalism forever until a perfect turn of events led him to use his skills for this specific organization.
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson highlights March as National Kidney Month. Kidney disease is often referred to as the “silent killer” because so many people have experienced it and complications that cause it without knowing it for an extended period of time. Tune in so you can be educated about this important topic and proactive with your own health.
Episode Highlights:
- Do you know what Kidney health is?
- Do you understand your family history as it relates to kidney disease?
- Andi says, “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” What does that mean?
- More than 90,000 people in the US are waiting for life saving kidney transplants.
- Andi lists the signs of kidney disease and encourages the listeners to visit nkf.org for more information.
- How can you create generational health?
- In Cincinnati, LifeCenter is working with The Links Incorporated and Closing The Health Gap and will be holding their first ever forum on this issue of diabetes and kidney disease.
- Andi says they have seen an increase in children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and that is the wrong way to be trending.
- Andi says the partnership forum will open the conversation for physicians and others who have been through the experience so that everyone can be educated to take steps they need to for generational health.
- You can find out more about Closing the Health Gap at https://closingthehealthgap.org/
- There will be a lot more content coming on the podcast this year. For previous episodes visit https://lifepassiton.org/
Tweetable Quotes:
- “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” -Andi
- “More than 90,000 people in our country are waiting for life saving kidney transplants.” -Andi
- “This is a great month to start the conversation about kidney health and understand if this may impact you.” -Andi
Resources:
https://closingthehealthgap.org/
https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series of exploring all the parts and roles in the donation process at the OPO. There is one final position to cover, the Executive Director of Life Center, held by Barry Massa. He is also President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Tune in.
Episode Highlights:
- Donation truly takes a community. Andi reviews how many entities come together to make everything happen.
- Barry Massa is the Executive Director of Life Center and has had that position since June of last year.
- Life Center is part of 56 Organ Procurement Centers across the United States; 48 of those are members of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Barry explains what AOPO does.
- Andi asks why some centers aren’t a part of AOPO.
- Andi asks Barry what some of his biggest challenges are.
- “The whole donation and transplantation system has been under the microscope as of late”, says Barry.
- Barry talks about their positive outlook and taking on the focus to a more proactive stance and educating where misinformation is happening.
- The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine was asked by Congress to do a research study on the entirety of the donation and transplantation system which was reported in February 2022. Barry talks about the results
- Some people who need to be on the transplant list are not because of one reason or another. Barry explains.
- An executive order by former President Trump addressing issues with transplants and encouraging more transplants to occur stirred the change. Barry said it started as a Kidney Health Initiative.
- Barry talks about the trends over the last 5 years. He also talks about taking a systematic approach to ensure that organs are used and don’t have to be discarded.
- What changes do hospitals need to have?
- What government agencies need to come together to dialogue more change?
- What does donation and transplantation look like in the next 5 years?
- Andi asks Barry to share the biggest misconceptions he hears.
- Andy defines Barry as a bridge builder who desires to do the very best he can to improve everything.
3 Key Points:
- Barry explains how AOPO works and the beauty of working together to save lives.
- Every OPO has looked to see what they can do better. Organ donations and organs transplanted have gone up over the last 5 years and many are working to continue that.
- In 5 years, Barry envisions a much more cohesive donation and transplantation system that allows more people to get transplanted.
Resources:
https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://lifepassiton.org/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Donna Jones Baker who recently received the gift of life through the donation of a kidney and a heart. Donna has learned to appreciate organ donation and its ability to help save so many lives!
Episode Highlights:
- February 14th is National Donor Day, a day to honor all those who have been affected by organ donation.
- Donna was originally born in Paducah, Kentucky and went to Murray State University.
- After getting married, Donna lived in Baltimore for 22 years before moving to Cincinnati to become the CEO of The Urban League.
- Had it not been for the heart attack that she suffered, Donna believes she would still be at The Urban League.
- Initially, Donna received a Z-pack for what she thought to be a cold or a flu.
- Donna was able to make it to the hospital after suffering from a heart attack where she was equipped with an LVAD.
- Doctors wanted to give Donna a heart transplant, but couldn’t because they discovered cancer on her kidney.
- After doctors removed her kidney, Donna was placed on the transplant list for a new heart and kidney.
- According to the numbers, people of color suffer disproportionately from the effects of COVID.
- The months between her kidney removal and kidney/heart transplant were very scary for Donna.
- Doctors feared that Donna’s remaining kidney would not be able to support her and that she would have to go on dialysis.
- The same doctor that fixed Donna’s LVAD performed her heart and kidney transplant.
- Donna had to be careful with the medications that she took because the heart and kidney don’t want the same things.
- With the help of her husband, Greg, Donna was able to make it through a transplant during a pandemic.
- Donna advises those going through a similar situation to try not to think about it all the time.
- The gifts of life and grandchildren keep Donna grateful for every day that she opens her eyes.
- Through the pandemic, Donna has remained in touch with her children and grandchildren via Zoom.
- Working in organ donation is a tough job, but one that saves many lives.
- Donna hopes to schedule a trip to Baltimore to visit her grandchildren once the pandemic is over.
- Right now, there are over 100,000 people in need of a life-saving transplant surgery.
3 Key Points:
- After initially thinking she had the flu, Donna agreed to host a round table event on Friday the 13th. That following Sunday, she suffered a heart attack from Giant Cell Myocarditis.
- Many African Americans decline to become organ donors out of a fear that if someone of note needed an organ, doctors would take it from them without consideration for their lives.
- To stay in touch and grow with her family members, Donna has started a Sunday night Zoom Bible study.
Resources Mentioned:
- LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter)
- Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn)
- Donna’s Story
- Urban League Of Greater Southwestern Ohio
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series of exploring all the parts and roles in the donation process at the OPO. Many different entities come together to make it all possible. Today, Tracie Shelton, the Chief Administration Officer joins the show to share about her role in the organization. Tune in!
Episode Highlights:
- Andi reviews the departments that she has spoken with over this series and the value of how so many come together for the life-saving gifts of organ donation.
- The nature of working in an OPO is very gratifying and mission-focused. If you are looking to move into something that has more meaning and a way to give back to the community, a role at LifeCenter or in an OPO may be for you.
- Andi introduces Tracie Shelton, who is new to the OPO and is the current Chief Administration Officer.
- Tracie has extensive experience in healthcare. She is a nurse by background and has held a lot of leadership roles at high performing hospitals in the area.
- Life Center has been the opportunity of a lifetime for Tracie, she says. She explains when she came in and went to the community breakfast right away.
- Andi asks Tracie what it has been like to switch from larger organizations to a smaller one. She shares the benefits.
- Regulations are Tracie’s speciality and she wants to add value to support the mission and all teams.
- What does a typical day look like for the Chief Administration Officer since it can look different each day? Who reports to this role?
- The level of professionalism and work at LifeCenter is amazing, Tracie says.
- The relationships between LifeCenter and donor families are so strong. Tracie talks about that importance as she has seen the other transplant side in healthcare.
- What skills are necessary for a role like Tracie’s?
- Andi reminds the listeners that there are 104,398 men, women, and children who need an organ transplant. How can you help?
3 Key Points:
- Tracie sees being at LifeCenter as an opportunity of a lifetime because of the mission-focused and life-saving work.
- What does a typical day look like for the Chief Administration Officer since it can look different each day?
- You have what it takes when you have the leadership skills, you often need to just be. Tracie talks about confidence building, communication, and the feeling that you can really rely on each other.
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series on ‘The Donation Process Through The Lens Of The OPO’, exploring how things work and who is involved. There will be two additional guests for the series that will join in to share what they do within the OPO. Today, Matt Niles joins the show to discuss his new role at Life Center as the Chief Operations Officer. Tune in!
Episode Highlights:
- Andi reminds the audience that she has interviewed people in every department of the OPO because each one plays a critical role in the donation value chain. You can check out any of the interviews from previous episodes at : https://lifepassiton.org/ or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
- It truly takes a community to facilitate donation. Andi reviews everyone who is involved.
- The purpose of this series has been two-fold: 1) to explain more about the OPO’s role and functionality so that the audience understands how the organ, eye, and tissue donations come to be as well as the intricacies of the life-saving and life-healing process. 2) If you are considering a career change, especially to something with deeper meaning to you, you can learn more about the different roles to the piece of the puzzle.
- Andi introduces Matt Niles who is new to Life Center specifically but not new to the OPO world.
- Matt Niles shares his background in Organ Procurement. He has been in the donation field since 2001.
- Matt is from a small rural town in Pennsylvania. His family was very big on volunteering and he volunteered in their small community hospital when he was in junior high school.
- At age 14, he saw a pamphlet about organ donation in the hospital. He filled out the donor card that evening with his parents.
- Matt has been with Life Center for 3 months. Previously, he has been in many different roles that ultimately led him to being the COO here.
- Matt shares his goals as he has taken over the role of CEO with Life Center. He says a lot of changes are happening in the industry and he wants to best prepare everyone for moving forward in those changes.
- The field of transplant is relatively new, only being around for about 40 years so there are a lot of innovations and changes everyday.
- Matt has had friends who have received transplants and he has had a friend who passed away waiting on the National Transplant Waiting List and he is a donor family. He is very passionate about it being his life’s work.
- Organ transplantation doesn’t happen without donation so it is an incredibly important process.
- Matt talks about everything that he oversees. Andi asks him to share the expertise that he brings.
- Matt shares the personal story of his grandfather who was a donor.
- Donor families and the people waiting are Matt’s WHY and focus.
- Andi talks about the value of Matt’s outside perspective and ability to challenge Life Center for growth.
- Matt has the perspective of a donor family, as an ICU and ER nurse where he cared for patients at their bedside, and as a clinician being a part of the process when the OPO comes in and provides the opportunity of donation to a family. He started out as a donation coordinator at the OPO in Pittsburg, PA
- When he wanted to go back to grad school he switched over to a large hospital as a director of the medical ICU and dialysis centers. He remained the chair of the hospital donor committee.
- After grad school, he had the opportunity to return to OPO as a director in Washington D.C.
- Andi asks Matt to share what a day in his work looks like and how it starts.
- What about the philosophy of some people in the community who believe that if they are a registered donor they will be killed for their organs?
- What does it take to qualify to be a donor?
- There are so many misconceptions in healthcare in general and even more in donation and transplants. Matt says it is their responsibility to acknowledge the doubts and fears but also bring the powerful truths and educate so families can make the right decision for them.
- Andi asks Matt to share what he finds most challenging about his role today.
- What does it take to be a COO at an Organ Procurement Organization?
- Andi reminds everyone that there are 104,398 men, women, and children who need a life-saving organ. Learn what being a donor really means or register as a donor at https://lifepassiton.org/or https://registerme.org/
3 Key Points:
- Matt Niles shares that his school of thought has always been that he won’t need his organs anymore when he is gone so he should give them to someone who does; It has been a very straightforward decision for him since he was 14 and led him to his career and where he is today.
- Transplant is a relatively new field, only having been around about 40 years. Matt says there are innovations and changes everyday that they need to stay on top of and ahead of and ultimately eliminate the deaths that are occuring on the waiting list.
- Matt clarifies what it takes to qualify to be an organ donor and that the hospital always 100% of the time tries to save all patient lives.
Resources:
- https://aopo.org/
- https://lifepassiton.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
- https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson winds down the series on ‘The Donation Process Through The Lens Of The OPO’, exploring how things work and who is involved. If you missed the previous episode in the series, you can find them at lifepassiton.org or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Today, Andi talks with Maryanne Krumpleman, the finance manager. Tune in to hear how this piece of the puzzle comes together.
Episode Highlights:
- Andi explains how Life Center works with so many different entities to facilitate organ donation.
- The United Network of Organ Sharing houses the waitlist of the more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ.
- Andi reminds the audience of the ‘book ends’ to this process and that it is the people. The people who designate themselves to be donors or their families…it all begins with that yes and that is how everything unfolds.
- If you’re thinking about a career change, as many look to do something with more meaning, organ donation is a wonderful career path; They give back every single day.
- Maryanne Krumpleman is the finance manager of Life Center. Prior to COVID in 2019, she made the decision to leave corporate America where she had spent most of her career. She says it was the best decision of her life to start working for Life Center in 2020.
- Five years ago, Maryanne’s best friend’s husband was in need of a kidney. It turns out his wife was a match to be a donor which is very unusual. They went through the transplant process in 2017 and are doing very well today.
- What does the finance department do at the Life Center?
- Maryanne explains that they are a nonprofit organization but structured similarly to a hospital.
- How do all of the employees get paid as well as health insurance, insurance on the building, all other vendors that are included?
- After a family gives the authorization, Life Center’s finance department takes on the cost of donation.
- Andi asks Maryanne Krumpleman to explain the aspects of finance.
- There are many parts to the ‘checks and balances’ of the finances for Life Center. Maryanne explains how many things must get approved by the board of directors and Executive Director as well as audits and aligning with all government regulations.
- What is a sack fee?
- Healthcare in general is expensive and Andi explains there is a cost to make everything operate efficiently and appropriately.
- Maryanne explains that there is a pay scale for different types of tissues.
- Andi asks Maryanne what the most challenging aspects of her job are.
- All of the managers have a great passion for the overall mission.
- Maryanne explains that in a corporate world, all the meetings were about how much money could be made, the bottom line, etc. She shares how it is truly a breath of fresh air at Life Center because the focus is not on money but on the mission of saving and enhancing the lives of people.
- What kinds of skills would you need to fill a similar role to Maryanne’s?
- Maryanne talks about how they receive memorial contributions and how their responsibility is to use those funds to spread the word and utilize them well.
- Andi says the generosity of the community has been overwhelming to see over the years and the importance of educating the community in return.
- home at the end of the day.” -Maryanne
- “Today there are 104,869 men, women, and children who are in need of a lifesaving organ and also today 21 of those individuals will die because the organ they needed was not available,” says Andi. She explains how you can help.
3 Key Points:
- Maryanne’s eyes were opened to how many people are on the list waiting for kidneys specifically when she was alongside her best friend and her husband going through the transplant process.
- There are many aspects of the finance department. Maryanne explains all aspects from weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. and how all the monitoring and auditing works as well as in accordance with the government.
- Life Center is passionately committed to the mission of saving and enhancing lives. It is challenging and very rewarding. The organization is set apart by how all of their functions work together for the overall goal and truly making a difference.