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This Thing Called Life is a podcast dedicated to acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson introduces you to powerful organ, tissue, and eye donation stories from individuals, families, and front-line healthcare teams. These stories are meant to inspire and remind you that while life can be challenging and unpredictable, it’s also incredibly beautiful. We hope this podcast inspires you to connect with our life-saving and life-healing mission.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Title: EP 131: “Three Hearts, One Journey: The Massie Family’s Journey with Alport Syndrome”
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this episode of This Thing Called Life, we meet Katelyn Massie, whose family’s story is one of strength, resilience, and hope. Katelyn, her mother Amanda, and her brother Hunter all live with Alport Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that leads to kidney disease and, for many, the need for a transplant. Katelyn shares how her family’s challenges have turned into a powerful story of advocacy, awareness, and gratitude for the gift of life.
Katelyn has turned her personal challenges into purpose — pursuing a Master’s Degree in Bioengineering at the University of Washington and working on developing a portable dialysis device that could change the future for patients like her.
- Andi Johnson introduces Katelyn Massie, the daughter of Amanda and sister of Hunter, who joins the podcast from Vanceburg, Kentucky, where she is currently receiving dialysis treatment.
- Katelyn shares her background, including her Alport Syndrome diagnosis, her Master’s Degree in Bioengineering, and her innovative work on a portable dialysis device at the University of Washington — a project inspired by her own experience as a patient.
- Katelyn addresses the widespread misconceptions surrounding organ donation, encouraging listeners to research thoroughly and rely on credible medical sources instead of fear-based narratives.
- She clarifies that being a registered organ donor does not affect the quality of medical care you receive — an important myth to dispel.
- Katelyn emphasizes making informed decisions based on facts and personal conviction rather than hearsay or outdated assumptions.
- Andi inquires about the process of learning more about living kidney donation and how individuals can register as donors.
- Katelyn highlights the UK Living Donor Clinic, sharing her positive experience and the inspiring number of people willing to get tested for potential matches.
- She mentions that her father was told he didn’t need to get tested because there were already so many individuals in the pipeline — a beautiful testament to generosity in action.
- Katelyn encourages others to take initiative, reminding listeners that every potential donor adds hope for someone waiting.
- When asked about her daily life, Katelyn opens up about her family’s shared journey, explaining the emotional and physical toll of living with kidney disease.
- She shares that she and her brother attend dialysis together, which helps them both find comfort and strength in shared understanding.
- Katelyn recounts emergencies when her low hemoglobin levels required hospitalization — moments where her brother’s presence made all the difference.
- Andi expresses deep gratitude to Katelyn for her courage and transparency, wishing her family continued strength and healing as they wait for transplants.
- The episode closes with a heartfelt reminder from Andi: over 100,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant — 90,000 of whom need kidneys.
- Listeners are encouraged to register as organ donors or consider living donation through trusted platforms such as RegisterMe.org and Network for Hope.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Knowledge Over Fear: Katelyn reminds listeners that misinformation is one of the biggest barriers to organ donation. By turning to medical and scholarly resources, individuals can make empowered, informed decisions rooted in truth rather than fear.
- The Power of Family Support: Facing dialysis alongside her brother Hunter, Katelyn’s story highlights how shared strength and empathy within families can turn even the hardest challenges into moments of connection and resilience.
- Innovation and Hope for the Future: Through her studies in bioengineering and her work on a portable dialysis device, Katelyn represents the next generation of changemakers — patients turned innovators who are redefining what’s possible for kidney health.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“I think that there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding organ donation and that that gives people a lot of hesitation, but I would just encourage people to do your research and really look into it and look at it from scholarly sources, rather than, like, fear mongering.”
- Katelyn Massie
“And I've actually had really great success with that, because UK has told me that they just have a massive list of people willing to get tested to the point where they haven't even, like they contacted my dad when he was willing to get tested and told him, like, we have plenty of people in the pipeline. We don't need you, and they haven't called him back to ask him to get tested.”
- Katelyn Massie
“It's stressful for sure, because I'm worried about myself, but then I also have to worry about Hunter and mom as well.”
- Katelyn Massie
“It gives me a lot of anxiety just worrying about them all the time, but at the same time, it's kind of nice to have people that understand what I'm going through and that I can relate to, like Hunter and I go to dialysis together.”
- Katelyn Massie
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Title: “The Ripple Effect: Maggie Luken’s Journey of Loss, Love, and Life”
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this deeply moving episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson welcomes Maggie Luken, whose story reminds us that even in profound loss, love can create ripples of life.
When tragedy struck, Maggie Luken chose compassion. In this moving interview, she reflects on a year marked by major back surgery, the loss of two brothers, and the life-giving decision that followed. Inspired by her brother Brendon’s organ donation, Maggie became a living donor herself. Now an Ambassador for donation, Maggie's story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and how one act of kindness can create ripples of life.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Andi Johnson welcomes Maggie Luken, setting the stage for a story of resilience and hope.
- Maggie opens up about her lifelong battle with back issues due to a genetic defect — a condition that began affecting her as early as age 12.
- Over time, severe back pain led her to use a wheelchair and undergo extensive physical therapy.
- After having two children, Maggie’s condition worsened, leaving her unable to stand for more than five minutes and suffering intense nerve pain.
- She describes her bilateral spinal fusion and discectomy — a major surgery that replaced damaged discs with metal rods and screws. Maggie recalls the painful recovery but also the immediate relief she felt when the nerve pain vanished.
- Now, 2.5 years post-surgery, Maggie shares her gratitude for a full recovery and no longer needing medical visits for her back.
- Tragedy struck when her 24-year-old brother Brendan suffered a heart attack while at the gym. Maggie recounts the devastating details, including a delay in help and the family’s desperate hope as Brendan was placed on ECMO life support for a week.
- Despite their faith in a miracle, scans revealed irreversible brain damage, forcing the family to face the unimaginable.
- Maggie shares the heartfelt decision to donate Brendan’s organs, knowing his legacy would live on through others.
- She finds comfort in knowing that Brendan’s heart, kidneys, and eyes gave life and sight to multiple people.
- Reflecting on his legacy, Maggie describes Brendan as a source of inspiration, pushing her to continue his story through advocacy.
- She also reveals the unexpected loss of her second brother, Colin, just months later, to an accidental overdose — a loss that deepened her purpose in helping others.
- Maggie shares how she was inspired by a podcast episode and a local kidney recipient’s story to become a living donor herself.
- With the unwavering support of her husband and community, she embarked on the journey to donate a kidney — describing the procedure as less invasive than her back surgery and the recovery as surprisingly manageable.
- Maggie speaks candidly about her emotional healing after the surgery and how the experience became part of her process of grief and renewal.
- She encourages listeners to consider organ and living donation, reminding them that it’s not only life-changing for the recipient but healing for the donor as well.
- Maggie shares how her advocacy inspired Carrie, a local dietitian, to donate her own kidney to a stranger — a ripple effect that continues to grow.
- She closes by reflecting on her brothers’ legacies, her mission to honor them, and the hope that others will be moved to give life through organ donation.
- Andi Johnson thanks Maggie for her openness and courage, closing with a message of gratitude for those who turn tragedy into purpose.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Turning Pain into Purpose: Maggie’s story shows how personal tragedy can become a powerful catalyst for compassion. Her choice to become a living donor transformed grief into hope — not only for herself but for others in need.
- The Ripple Effect of Donation: From Brendan’s selfless organ donation to Maggie’s own kidney gift — and now Carrie’s — one act of kindness can inspire a chain of generosity that touches countless lives.
- Healing Through Advocacy: Maggie’s work as an organ donation ambassador highlights how sharing personal stories can encourage others to register, donate, and change lives while preserving the memory of loved ones.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“After having two children, you carry two babies and your back. It really does a number on it, right? So, yeah. By the end of 2022, I couldn't stand for more than five minutes at a time. My nerve was completely pinched. I had been told I wasn't allowed to pick up my kids anymore.”
- Maggie Luken
“And so I have like, two metal rods and four screws and a fake disc in my back now, yeah, but I feel great. It's, I mean, as soon as I woke up from surgery, the nerve pain was gone. It's, you know, it's awful their recovery. I'm not gonna lie, it's the hardest thing physically that I've ever gone through.”
- Maggie Luken
“We found out that he had a heart attack at the gym where he worked at Planet Fitness, and nobody tried to help him. They just walked around him for almost five minutes before they tried to help or called 911, and so by the time the paramedics got there, they were able to restart his heart, but it had been 40 minutes…”
- Maggie Luken on her brother, Brendan’s heart attack
“It's really crazy to think that you know somebody out there is literally seeing the world through my brother's eyes. Somebody's heart is pumping blood through his heart valves. You know, there's somebody who has a personal liver now, and people have kidneys, and we got a message from someone who received like tissue and they were able to heal from something that they had been struggling with.”
- Maggie Luken
“So the actual incisions for where it's done are very small, and then they do take it out in one piece, and so you have the larger, like, it's basically a C-section score. So I kind of just felt like I didn't have a C-section with either of my children, but I kind of just felt like I had to chill again. Like, after you have a baby, you're just taking it easy.”
- Maggie Luken on her surgery
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega.
This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation.
Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://aopo.org/
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Title: "Meeting My Kidney Sister: Sarah Green-Moore’s Story of Healing and Purpose"
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode of This Thing Called Life, we sit down with Sarah Green-Moore, a kidney transplant recipient whose story is as inspiring as it is extraordinary. Sarah shares the unforgettable moment she met her “kidney sister” — the woman receiving the other kidney from the same donor — in the hospital lobby just before their transplants. Now, thriving with a new lease on life, Sarah is paying it forward by caring for her 8-year-old daughter who needed her when she was least expecting it. This is a moving story of second chances, sisterhood, and the power of showing up when it matters most.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Title: "Legacy in Life and Loss: Adria Johnson on Her Son’s Gift of Hope"
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this powerful and emotional episode of This Thing Called Life, we sit down with Adria Johnson, President and CEO of Metro United Way in Louisville, Kentucky, as she shares the deeply personal story of losing her son, KJ, in a tragic car accident. KJ made the selfless decision to become an organ donor — a choice that gave the gift of life to others even in his passing.
Joined by Barry Massa, CEO for Network for Hope, this episode also sheds light on the critical difference between DCD (Donation after Circulatory Death) and brain death, offering clarity and compassion for families navigating organ donation.
Together, Adria and Barry bring heart, hope, and understanding to a conversation that touches every aspect of life, love, and legacy.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Guests introduced: Host Andi Johnson welcomes Barry Massa and Adria Johnson, who share their experiences with organ donation.
- Adria’s story: She recounts losing her son, KJ, in a car accident and the remarkable impact of his donation — his heart saved a 36-year-old man, and his kidneys gave two mothers renewed life.
- Barry’s perspective: He reflects on how KJ’s story fuels his passion for the mission of organ donation and inspires his work every day.
- Support from COTA: Adria and her family received compassionate care from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, which walked alongside them during the most difficult moments.
- KJ’s decision: Paperwork revealed that at just 18 years old, KJ had already elected to be an organ donor, a decision that turned his loss into hope for others.
- The Honor Walk: KJ’s hospital held a moving ceremony to honor his life and gift of donation, a moment that deeply touched his family.
- Hospital partnerships: Barry stresses the critical role of strong hospital relationships in ensuring organ donation success.
- Understanding donation: The episode clearly explains the difference between brain death and DCD. Brain death occurs when all brain function ceases, while DCD is donation after the heart stops — both allowing for organ donation under specific conditions.
- Family acceptance: Adria shares how she fully supported her son’s decision, finding comfort in his selflessness.
- Aftercare support: Network for Hope’s Aftercare department provided Adria’s family with ongoing emotional and memorial support, helping them through grief and connection with recipients.
- Organizational challenges: Barry speaks about recent challenges in the field, including investigations, corrective action plans, and congressional hearings around organ procurement modernization.
- Medical recommendations: HRSA guidance calls for neuro exams every 12 hours for DCD cases to ensure accurate assessment.
📝 Key Takeaways
- The power of one decision: At only 18 years old, KJ’s choice to register as an organ donor transformed his tragic passing into a legacy of life, saving and improving the lives of multiple recipients.
- Compassion and support matter: From COTA’s care to Network for Hope’s Aftercare team, Adria’s family experienced how vital emotional and practical support is for donor families navigating both loss and healing.
- Education brings clarity and courage: Understanding the differences between brain death and DCD helps families make informed decisions, reduces fear, and fosters greater trust in the organ donation process.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“You know, it was hard enough to prepare to say goodbye to my son and know that KJ would no longer be here, but he had elected at the age of 18 to be an organ donor, unbeknownst to us, and certainly, I consider him probably the premier selfless hero that I will know in my lifetime because of that gift.”
- Adria Johnson
“You know, it really takes a lot of dedication, and if you're just in it for a job, you'll never make it. You have to be passionate about the mission.”
- Barry Massa
“And when that decision was made, what I really appreciated was, again, just the tenderness, the comprehensive way in which they prepared us for all of it, you know, just what needed to take place for the duration of K J's hospital stay.”
- Adria Johnson
“And very early on in when I became Executive Director of Life Center, before becoming CEO of Network for Hope, I felt like relationships with their hospitals were going to be the key for our success to honor those gifts of donation.”
- Barry Massa
“ I didn't have any reservations, like I said, from the minute all of this started for us, and even just in being made aware that you know your son did elect to be an organ donor, and if you know that is something you all want to pursue.”
- Adria Johnson
“I mean, from the minute we had to get through all of that painful episode, and you're now kind of adjusting to life without this person, it was. I mean, just consistent check-ins:
‘How is your family doing?’ I mean, even the you know, helping us in terms of, ‘do you want to try and have some connectivity with the folks that have been the recipients of his gifts?’ So there's all of that also added an element of support. “
- Adria Johnson on receiving support from the AfterCare Team
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Title: Twice Gifted: Beth Otto’s Journey As a 2 Time Kidney Recipient
🎙️ Episode Summary
In today’s episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson interviews Beth Otto. At just 25 years old, Beth Otto received her first life-saving kidney transplant from a deceased donor. Years later, a second transplant — this time from a selfless friend — gave her a renewed lease on life. In this inspiring episode, Beth opens up about her journey as a two-time kidney recipient and how those experiences shaped her purpose. Motivated by the care she received, Beth became a nurse, dedicating her life to helping others. This episode is a powerful reminder of the impact of organ donation and the resilience of the human spirit.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Beth’s Journey as Patient and Nurse: Beth Otto, a two-time kidney transplant recipient, shares her dual perspective as both a nurse and a patient.
- 35 Years in Healthcare: Beth has worked as a nurse for over three decades, bringing compassion and purpose to every role she has held.
- Symptoms Overlooked: Early warning signs such as back pain and fatigue were ignored until Beth discovered her blood pressure was alarmingly high—260 over 180—before teaching an aerobics class.
- First Transplant Experience: Beth recalls her first kidney transplant from a deceased donor and the time she spent on peritoneal dialysis beforehand.
- Living with Gratitude: She reflects on the gift of life she was given, sharing how she now lives with deep gratitude and purpose, never taking moments for granted.
- Choosing Nursing as a Calling: Inspired by the care she received, Beth pursued nursing school and built a career dedicated to patient care.
- Diverse Nursing Career: Over the years, Beth worked in physical medicine and rehabilitation, cardiac care, and wellness, blending personal passion with professional expertise.
- A Family Friend’s Gift: Beth’s second transplant came from her mother’s longtime friend—who became her perfect living donor match.
- The Difference with Living Donation: Beth shares how the experience of having a living donor was unique—allowing her to build an ongoing relationship and celebrate life together.
- Community Inspiration: Beth believes her donor’s act of generosity inspired many others in the Fort Thomas community to register as organ donors.
- Raising Awareness Through Storytelling: Her journey has helped alleviate fears and spread awareness about the importance of organ donation.
- The Power of Living Donation: Beth emphasizes how living kidney donors can make a profound and immediate difference in someone’s life.
- Celebrating Milestones: Every September 18th, Beth and her donor celebrate their transplant anniversary together, honoring the bond and the gift of life they share.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Every Organ Donation Extends Far Beyond One Life. Beth’s story shows how organ donation not only restores health but also inspires communities to register, talk openly, and advocate for donation.
- Living Donors Create Unique Bonds. A living donation carries a special connection between donor and recipient—allowing them to celebrate milestones together and share a lifetime of gratitude.
- Purpose Through Gratitude. Beth transformed her personal health journey into a 35-year nursing career, using her experiences to fuel compassion, service, and advocacy for others facing similar challenges.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“So then went to the hospital. They ended up finding out that I had just had complete renal failure. They tested me, and I had no kidney function whatsoever.”
- Beth Otto on her firsthand experience of Kidney Failure
“Thank you from the bottom of my kidney. I don't ever take a moment for granted. I live every day as hard and as fast as I can, and try as hard and as fast as I can to help everybody else have that same joy.”
- Beth Otto
“So that's why I went back to nursing school, and that's where I felt like what I gained from being in the hospital, and the care that I received while I was getting my transplant, I was like, Okay, this is I gotta do this.”
- Beth Otto on going to nursing school
“And so I really always wanted to become a heart nurse, okay? And so I ended up getting and working in cardiac and the cardiac unit cardiac rehab, and I did that for 19 years, and then I worked alongside wellness and cardiac care.”
- Beth Otto on her roles as a heart nurse
“And the perfect match is obviously an identical twin. She was the second-best thing, just a perfect match. She said the only thing that would have been better was if I had had a twin.”
- Beth Otto on her 2nd kidney transplant
“I guess they differ because I have the ability now to be with my donor all the time. Yeah, we go out frequently. We, you know, celebrate each other's successes, stories, and lives. We're all family, right? Her husband always says, “they're all here”, and so that's just a really fun way, and it's really true.”
- Beth Otto on how the 2 transplants differ
“That's what I hear often from people who have been donors, living kidney donors, as much of a blessing as they have been to that person that they're able to help, they feel they were equally as blessed because they were able to give this gift.”
- Andi Johnson
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega.
This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation.
Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://aopo.org/
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Title: One Family, Three Transplant Journeys: Life with Alport Syndrome
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Amanda and Hunter, a mother and son living with Alport Syndrome—a rare genetic disease that affects just 1 in 50,000 live births. Their story is one of resilience, family strength, and the life-changing power of organ donation.
Amanda and Hunter share their family’s long history of transplants and the challenges of living with this condition, which impacts not only the kidneys but also the ears and eyes, leading to hearing and vision loss over time. From Amanda’s first transplant on New Year’s Day 2015, to Hunter’s sudden kidney failure at age 20, to Caitlin’s emergent transplant journey—this episode paints an intimate picture of how one family continues to navigate illness, hope, and healing together.
Most importantly, Amanda and Hunter underscore the critical importance of organ donation and living donors, emphasizing how education and awareness can make a profound difference for families like theirs.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Introducing the Guests: Andi welcomes Amanda and Hunter, who both live with the rare genetic disease Alport Syndrome.
- What is Alport Syndrome?: Amanda explains that it affects type four collagen in the kidneys, also present in the ears and eyes, leading to kidney failure, hearing loss, and vision loss over time.
- A Family History: Amanda recounts her lifelong connection to the disease, being diagnosed in infancy, and how her grandparents also faced kidney disease.
- Amanda’s First Transplant: At age 31, on New Year’s Day 2015, Amanda received her first kidney transplant after traveling to Arkansas when a match was found through the University of Kentucky.
- 10 Years of Health, Then Rejection: The transplant allowed her to live relatively healthy for a decade, until October of last year, when she was diagnosed with chronic rejection. Her kidney function has now dropped to 9%, and she is preparing for dialysis access surgery.
- Hunter’s Journey: Diagnosed young, Hunter went into kidney failure suddenly at age 20. Now on hemodialysis, he shares the physical exhaustion and emotional toll of treatment while awaiting a kidney transplant.
- Milestones Interrupted: Hunter turned 21 while on dialysis, reflecting on the difficulty of celebrating life milestones while facing health challenges.
- Caitlin’s Emergent Case: Amanda’s daughter, Caitlin, experienced a different path, requiring an emergent ICU stay. She had a tunnel calf, placed her GFR, and got down to four or five before she started dialysis.
- Facing Uncertainty: Hunter opens up about the mental and emotional strain of waiting for a transplant, but finds reassurance in his family’s shared experiences.
- Searching for Hope: Amanda, Hunter, and Caitlin are currently seeking a living donor, while also remaining on the waiting list.
- The Power of Living Donation: Amanda discusses how living donors have transformed her family’s story and recalls the touching moment she received a letter from her donor.
- Holding on to Dreams: Hunter shares his hope to return to his passion for music, which has been put on hold due to his health.
- Closing Gratitude: Andi thanks Amanda and Hunter for their openness and for shining a light on the life-saving importance of organ donation.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Alport Syndrome Impacts More Than Just the Kidneys. The disease affects collagen in the kidneys, ears, and eyes—causing kidney failure along with hearing and vision loss. Families living with Alport face a multifaceted battle that extends beyond dialysis and transplants.
- Living Donation Changes Lives. Amanda and her family’s story highlights how living donors can provide not just organs, but hope, extra years of health, and renewed possibilities for families facing genetic diseases.
- The Emotional Toll Is Real, But So Is Resilience. From Amanda’s transplant journey to Hunter’s daily dialysis struggles, the episode underscores both the emotional challenges of waiting for a transplant and the strength families draw from one another while navigating uncertainty.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“Alport Syndrome is a relatively rare genetic disease. I think it affects my daughter has all the stats, like one in 50,000 live births, about 200,000 people across the United States. It affects the type four collagen in the kidney, which is also found in the ears and the eyes. So, along with deterioration of the kidneys, it also causes hearing loss, vision loss over time.” - Amanda
“So I got the call. We were getting ready to have dinner for New Year's Eve, and I got a call from UK (University of Kentucky) saying we have a match out of Arkansas. I went to the hospital by myself, and they did all of my testing, and then everything was perfect. Somehow it was kind of miraculous, and they did the transplant the next day.” - Amanda
“I noticed kind of recurring symptoms…They did a biopsy at that point and showed signs of just chronic rejection, which the average lifespan is about 10 to 12 years for a kidney, so they really couldn't find a cause for it. They just said it was chronic.” - Amanda
“Well, it was kind of just out of nowhere, when it first happened, when I first knew I was going into kidney failure. It was literally just no warning, in one day. It's like a switch flipped, and that was just the case.” - Hunter
“It leaves you pretty drained… once you're off of it, the rest of the day, you're pretty much useless. It just saps everything out of you; you're not really left with much energy. So usually it's just getting off dialysis. If I have anything that needs to be attended to, I'll just do it real quick and then just go home and breathe, you know, fall asleep immediately.” - Hunter
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
"Full Circle: Interview with Markeyah Lewis on Life, Lupus, and the Gift of a Kidney"
Markeyah Lewis was diagnosed with Lupus, leading to early kidney failure. When her mother wasn’t a direct transplant match, they turned to Advanced Kidney Donation—a life-changing decision that helped Markeyah receive her transplant in 2022. Now a mother and soon-to-be Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Markeyah shares her powerful story of resilience, motherhood, and the miracle of second chances.
✨ Episode Highlights
- Andi introduces Markeyah Lewis and invites her to reflect on how they first met four years ago, during her battle with lupus.
- Markeyah shares her inspiring story of resilience and hope amid life-altering circumstances.
- She describes undergoing hemodialysis during her senior year of college.
- Her mother, although not a direct donor match, was determined to help.
- Markeyah explains how Advanced Kidney Donation allowed her mother to donate to another person—making Markeyah a priority on the transplant list.
- In 2022, her mother donated a kidney to a stranger named Charlie, with whom they still keep in touch.
- Andi and Markeyah discuss the importance of honoring the gift of life after a transplant.
- Markeyah offers heartfelt advice for those battling chronic illness, emphasizing the importance of a strong support system.
- They explore the role of faith in navigating health struggles and finding purpose.
- Markeyah shares her deep gratitude for her mother’s selfless act.
- She opens up about her pregnancy journey, which was unexpectedly smooth despite the risks associated with lupus and kidney disease.
- Markeyah also details her mother’s donation journey and her current health.
- She expresses thanks to their medical team and looks forward to becoming an occupational therapist.
- The episode concludes with Markeyah reflecting on her first Mother’s Day.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Markeyah's story sheds light on the power of organ donation and the impact of Advanced Kidney Donation. Her mother’s courage to donate a kidney to a stranger not only saved a life but also gave Markeyah a new beginning.
- Despite the challenges of chronic illness, Markeyah’s journey illustrates the importance of faith, community, and perseverance.
- Her experience of motherhood and her educational pursuits underscore the promise of living life fully post-transplant.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“I believe it's called advanced kidney donation, where she is not able to donate to me, but she is able to donate to someone else who is in need of a transplant, and that essentially makes me a priority.”
- Markeyah Lewis
“So your mom affectionately named her kidney that she donated brown sugar. Yes. So brown sugar is doing well with Charlie.”
- Markeyah Lewis
“And so I think that is like the biggest promise that I can keep, again, to my donor and their family and myself, is just to continue to live my life fully.”
- Markeyah Lewis
“It was often hard for me to imagine what my life would be like, not on dialysis or, you know, not battling a chronic illness. And it may seem simple, but really truly, just don't give up.”
- Markeyah Lewis
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
This episode of TTCL will feature an interview with Luis Santiago from NFH on La Mega.
This monthly interview will inform the Spanish Community about Network For Hope and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation.
Resources:
https://getoffthelist.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
https://aopo.org/