Each year at UK HealthCare, an average of 250 people are given a second chance at life through the miracle of organ transplantation. This lifesaving work depends wholly on the generosity of donors and their families. These are the people who make the selfless decision to give the gift of life.
We asked our transplant recipients to write letters sharing their experiences. These letters – read by organ recipients and others and featured in an installation called “Dear Donor” – include the words they wish they could say to their donors. Their words are intimate glimpses into the profound impact a
donor’s sacrifice can have.
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
Following a visit with her primary care doctor in the late 90s, where bloodwork showed concerning liver levels, Gayle Best embarked on a medical journey that led her from the classroom to a liver transplant ward. Diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, Gayle endured years of living with the condition, relying on medication to manage her symptoms until they became too much to handle and forced her to leave her job. In May 2000, Gayle's life took a profound turn when she underwent a liver transplant. This transformed Gayle's life and allowed her to return to teaching, which she continued to do until retiring in 2022. “Please remember to pray for the people who donated the organs," Gayle said. "They’re responsible for me being here today.”
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
1 May 2024
Dear Donor: Joshua Taylor
Joshua Taylor was only 27 when he came down with a case of strep throat that would change his life. It led to a diagnosis of viral cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle. Joshua’s journey included a pacemaker to control his heartbeat and a cardiac arrest followed by weeks in a medically induced coma. He went through several of the most advanced and invasive heart procedures, including ECMO and an LVAD. After over a decade of trying all other measures, Joshua underwent the 12-hour double transplant surgery that finally provided him with a healthy heart, a healthy kidney, and a second chance at life. "This was a huge wake-up call, and I don’t take life for granted at all," Joshua said.
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
1 May 2024
Dear Donor: Katrina Thompson
Diagnosed with diabetes at 21 years old, Katrina Thompson did her best to care for herself, despite inadequate insurance coverage, while also caring for her family as a single mother. After 17 years of managing as best she could, she found herself facing kidney failure, a consequence of uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. When her nephrologist first mentioned that she might be a candidate for transplant, her mind went blank. "I was petrified, just petrified," Katrina remembers. "But when I was 40 years old, they put me on the transplant list."
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
1 May 2024
Dear Donor: James Fielding
A routine physical turned into a life-altering diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, and James Fielding found himself in a battle for survival. After a tumultuous period of hospitalizations, procedures and setbacks, James finally received the gift he desperately needed. On Feb. 6, 2020, James received a liver transplant. "I feel like the most fortunate person in the world," James said. "I thank God for the blessing that these people gave me."
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
19 Apr 2024
Dear Donor: Garrett Dykes
In 1999, Garrett Dykes' life took an unforeseen turn when, at age 16, he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. By the time he was 32, he was in stage 5 kidney failure and suffering from debilitating fatigue and memory issues. In 2017, after nearly three years on peritoneal dialysis, Garrett received a kidney transplant. “For the family to think about giving a second chance to a stranger, when they’re dealing with the worst kind of loss, that’s changed my whole life," Garrett said.
At any time, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Without donors, organ transplantation is not possible. To learn more or to register as a donor, please visit donatelifeky.org.
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