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Join us as we sit down with Marilyn Day, a founding member of Transplant Village and a two-time kidney recipient who has dedicated over a decade to guiding others through the transplant journey.

In this episode, Marilyn shares how her personal story highlights the transformative power of sharing your journey to inspire action and find living donors within your social network. Discover how platforms like Facebook and Instagram have become invaluable tools for connecting patients with potential donors—reuniting people with long-lost connections, activating supportive family members who simply didn’t know, and even forging bonds with complete strangers.

Marilyn’s insights remind us that people can’t help if they don’t know how. She offers practical advice on building a supportive community and tapping into your network to create life-changing opportunities. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about the power of hope, connection, and the courage to ask for help.

Links:
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Transplant Village
Northwestern Donor Champion Program
Living Kidney Donors Network
GiftWorks
Marilyn’s Faith Story
The Big Ask the Big Give (NKF)
Johns Hopkins Donor Champion Program
Organ Transplant Support
Tools for Patients at NKR Transplant Centers

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In this episode, Anthony Cernera, a three-time living organ donor, opens up about his transformative journey of giving and personal healing. His story began with a simple Facebook post that sparked a deep desire to help others, leading him to donate a portion of his liver, kidney, and stem cells. These selfless acts not only changed the lives of his recipients but also had a profound impact on Anthony's own mental health, helping him navigate struggles with depression and addiction.

Anthony shares his powerful connections with his recipients, including Lance, his kidney recipient, and a leukemia patient in California, and how these bonds have supported his commitment to sobriety. He emphasizes the role of support systems and the importance of being transparent during the donor evaluation process. This episode highlights how service and connection can be healing, providing a sense of purpose and belonging, which Anthony has found through both organ donation and his involvement in recovery work.

Listen in for an uplifting reminder of how kindness and selflessness can create positive change, not only in the lives of recipients but also for the donors themselves. This episode is a great source of hope and inspiration for kidney donors who may have to jump through some extra hoops due to their mental health history.

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GiftWorks
Three Time Living Donor Hopes to Inspire Others to Donate
Anthony Cernera in Men’s Health
Fairfield Man an Organ Donor Three Times Over

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What would compel an American living in Germany to navigate a labyrinth of legal and cultural barriers to donate a kidney to a stranger? Join us as we uncover the incredible story of Will Johnson, whose altruistic journey sheds light on the stark contrasts between organ donation practices in the US and Germany. In this episode, recorded in a charming house near Munich, we reveal Germany's current regulations surrounding kidney exchange and the low rates of living donations that Will encountered in his quest to give the gift of life.

Embark on a transatlantic journey with us as we explore the emotional and logistical hurdles Will faced, from initial inspiration to the surprising medical discoveries along the way. Hear about the practical steps of coordinating evaluations across borders, and the varied reactions from peers and workplaces in Germany. Through Will's story, we gain a deeper understanding of the personal sacrifices and triumphs that come with kidney donation, highlighting the incredible impact of what happens when we choose to love a stranger.

Will shares: “I’ve been the recipient of much kindness and generosity throughout my life and have been blessed with good health. It felt like the right time to give back. When I learned about altruistic kidney donation, I knew without a doubt this was the perfect opportunity to do something meaningful.”

Living Kidney Donation in Germany
Global Observatory on Donation
From Germany to America: A Living Kidney Donor Story | National Kidney Foundation
Facts and myths about altruistic organ donation | Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation | Oxford Academic
Market Design Blog | Al Roth
Market Design Blog (second article) | Al Roth
Berlin Kidney Exchange Article
Living Organ Donation Donor Rate Statistics
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GiftWorks

Donor Diaries Website
Donor Diaries on Facebook