organ donation

February 6, 2020

Stem cell recipient and donor meet in person for first time

Josh Ferris was sitting in a hunting blind on Nov. 15, 2018, the first day of deer season in Michigan and the one-year anniversary of his stem cell donation, when he received an email from Todd Adams of Nashville, the recipient of his life-saving gift.

By Tom Wilemon
Vanderbilt Transplant Center members recently held a reception celebrating the 6,000th kidney transplant since the program’s inception.
October 30, 2019

VUMC reaches milestone 6,000th kidney transplant

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center recently celebrated its 6,000th kidney transplant.

By Matt Batcheldor
August 1, 2019

VUMC performs its first transplant using rehabilitated lungs

For the first time at Vanderbilt, doctors have performed a transplantation with donated lungs that were rehabilitated using a procedure called ex vivo lung perfusion.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 9, 2019

Rehab technique may boost supply of donor lungs

A new regeneration technique could potentionally add to a limited supply of donor organs for an increasing population with end-stage lung disease.

By Matt Batcheldor
Patsy Williams received her kidney from her brother, Barry Ford, 40 years ago at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
May 8, 2019

Kidney transplant patient, brother share 40-year journey

In 1979, Patsy Williams and her brother, Barry Ford, made a decision that has given her many more years of life.
Ford gave Williams his kidney at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They recently gathered for a luncheon to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Williams’ transplant, along with dozens of their closest friends and family. She is thought to have lived longer with her transplant than anyone else who received one at Vanderbilt.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 25, 2019

Flag-raising ceremony honors gift of organ donation

Eighty individuals donated the gift of their organs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center last year, more than any other hospital in the nation, and they and their families were saluted on April 16 at the 10th annual Donate Life Flag-Raising Ceremony.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 11, 2019

Family’s journey an inspiration for organ donation awareness

Heroes come in all sizes, and Mikayla Honeycutt was a small but mighty one. Born with a congenital brain condition called Dandy-Walker Syndrome, she had too much fluid in her brain.
By Matt Batcheldor
February 21, 2019

New sculpture honors organ donors, families

Vanderbilt University Medical Center employees and guests gathered in the sixth floor atrium of the Critical Care Tower on Feb. 14 to dedicate “The Gift of Life,” a metal sculpture memorializing the final, selfless act of VUMC’s organ donors and their families.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 18, 2017

My Southern Health: The importance of organ donation—a young mother’s story

Ashleigh-Anne Hughes’ inspiring organ donation story, and how her transplant led her to a life of advocacy work.
By VUMC News and Communications
April 13, 2017

Event honors all who are involved in organ donation

The white nylon flag unfurled every year during the annual Donate Life Flag-raising Ceremony at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) extols a significant message.
By Jessica Pasley
March 30, 2017

Organ donation awareness event set for April 6

On Dec. 11, 2015, Jamie Heard woke up earlier than usual. She said she went through her normal routine, which included morning prayers.
By Jessica Pasley
July 21, 2016

VUMC lauded for organ donation awareness efforts

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been awarded Platinum status by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a leader in organ, eye and tissue donation awareness.
By Jessica Pasley
April 14, 2016

Event celebrates lives touched by organ donation

As Carol Topley sat beside her husband’s bed in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, she knew the end was imminent. She wanted to make sure Joe’s wishes were honored and reminded his nurse that he was an organ donor.
By Jessica Pasley
1 2 3