The Donate Life Missouri team strives to encourage donor registry amongst Missourians to help meet the needs of Missouri residents who are in need of an organ or tissue transplant. For more information, visit DonateLifeMissouri.com.

Visit our calendar for a list of events during National Donate Life Month. Visit our Event Kit page to learn how you can host your own registry drive.

Gov. Nixon signed the proclamation before sharing a few words with representatives from Mid-America Transplant Services, Midwest Transplant Network, Heartland Lions Eye Banks, Gift of Life and the Missouri Kidney Program. These nonprofit organizations collaborate to create the Donate Life Missouri state team; support efforts to educate Missourians about organ, eye and tissue donation; and work to increase the number of registered donors. 

To learn more about National Donate Life Month and to find resources to celebrate, visit the Donate Life website.

For more information about the “Be An Organ Donor” license plates, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. 

The “Be An Organ Donor” license plate is just one way Missourians can  support the Organ Donor Program Fund, which has been in existence since 1996. Visit the DHSS for more information on contributing to the Organ Donor Program Fund.

This all-time record represents an 11 percent increase from 2010 and is four more organs than 2011. These figures show the effectiveness of collaborating with our hospital partners to enhance clinical practices that improve the quality of organs recovered for lifesaving transplants.

“2012 was an amazing year for organ donations, but these results wouldn’t happen without Donor Families and the help of our partners” MTS President and CEO Dean F. Kappel said. “We’re always humbled by a family’s decision to donate, and we strive to do our best to ensure each family is supported with compassion and information throughout the donation process. With more than 1,500 people on the local waiting list, we look forward to saving more lives in 2013.”

As Patty Kallal described her week in Pasadena, California for the 2013 Rose Parade, her stories about the event capture the emotion and meaning surrounding the Donate Life float. But the most telling statement about its impact is her future plans to attend the parade. “My goal is to go out there again for a weekend in December and help work on a floragraph or the float,” she said after returning to her home in Jerseyville, Illinois. 

Patty’s late husband, Mike “Popeye” Kallal, was one of 72 donors remembered with memorial floragraph portraits on the Donate Life float for the 124^th Tournament of Roses Parade, themed “Journey’s of the Heart.” Mike’s floragraph was partially decorated in Pasadena before Patty and her family put the finishing touches on it in December at an event in Jerseyville.

She saw the finished floragraph in Pasadena on Sunday, December 30 at the Floragraph Family Brunch, an event specifically for the families of those honored on the float. Rosemary Rodriguez, who created Mike’s floragraph, was holding it. “I knew I would cry, but when I met Rosemary, that’s when I lost it,” Patty said. “I wanted to meet her. I knew she would get to know Mike through working on his picture.”  

View more photos of the Donate Life
parade float in our photo gallery

Patty – who attended the parade events with her three children, son-in-law, and two grandchildren – learned that Rosemary and her family began volunteering with the float after her son died. “The people who worked on the float, like the Rodriguez family … many of them lost a loved one,” Patty said.

2013 Donate Life float

Patty and her family walked to the Rosemont Pavilion, where the Donate Life float was created and housed, on Saturday. That’s when they first saw the float and placed on the float a rose dedicated to Mike.  “Even walking there, you could feel this aura,” Patty said. “You felt the closeness, this bonding. Everybody there was so nice and so accommodating.”

In the meantime, she met many other people touched by organ and tissue donation, like the two families she sat with at the Donate Life Gala Dinner. One was a donor mother whose eight-year-old son donated his organs. The daughter of the other family at the table received his heart. “I expected to meet a lot of amazing people, and we did,” Patty said. “Amazing people, amazing stories.”

Another highlight was the float judging. The day before the parade, judges walk to each float, which is prepared just as it will be presented during the parade. “Everyone who will be on that float during the parade is on the float during judging,” Patty said. “It’s like a dress rehearsal.”

Then one member of each donor family stepped forward and formed a circle around the float as the song “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins played. “The music was playing and everyone was singing,” Patty said. “It was very moving. It was a bond that brought everyone together.”

Former Saint Louis University basketball standout Larry Hughes received a Donate Life Champion award from Mid-America Transplant Services (MTS) and Donate Life America on Wednesday at halftime of the Billiken’s men’s basketball game against Eastern Illinois.

Donate Life America worked with state affiliates nationwide to present more than 50 Donate Life Champion awards to well-known athletes, teams and other role models within the sports community who have demonstrated remarkable support for organ, eye and tissue donation. As part of a national initiative, the Donate Life Champion awards are being given to select members of the athletic community from across the country who have inspired others to give the gifts of life, sight and mobility. National Donate Life Champions include pro-golfer Erik Compton; NFL analyst and retired quarterback Boomer Esiason; Wake Forest University’s head baseball coach, Tom Walter; the Arizona Diamondbacks; and San Francisco Giants coach Mark Gardner.

Visit our photo gallery for more photos from Wednesday’s game at Saint Louis University 

Larry received the award because he has supported organ and tissue donation through activities with The Larry Hughes Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of The Larry Hughes Foundation (LHF), many people have been inspired to join the organ and tissue donor registry. 

In addition to the halftime ceremony, MTS representatives signed up fans to the organ and tissue donor registry. Fans were  encouraged to take photos in front of a Donate Life-themed backdrop and upload the photos to social outlets, tagging Donate Life Missouri in posts to Facebook and Twitter.

Larry and his mother Vanessa created LHF in August 2000, while he was in the beginnings of a 12-year NBA career. LHF provides families with children who are less fortunate the necessary resources and support to dream big and reach for higher goals. While named after Larry, the idea came about on behalf of his younger brother, Justin, who was born with a heart defect and received a heart transplant at age 11. Justin Hughes was a donor when he passed away in May 2006 at the age of 20. LHF believes no child should go without medical attention or medication when dealing with a life-threatening illness. 

Justin Hughes’ donor was Dana Spencer, whose parents presented the award to Larry Hughes on behalf of MTS during a halftime, on-court ceremony. Dana Spencer was 16-years-old when she died in a tragic car accident less than a mile from her home. Her parents, Bob and Pattie, gave the Gift of Life to several individuals waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.

Through LHF, Larry started the “I Promise” campaign, to encourage organ and tissue donation. He also hosts the Dunk’n for Donors registry drive and a “Roaring Twenties Casino Night” to support organ and tissue donation. In addition, LHF is committed to helping the St. Louis community.

Fans of Larry are encouraged to join the organ and tissue donor registry in his honor, to become known as a FanForLife.  Each FanForLife has the potential to save up to 8 lives through organ donation, and improve the quality of life for up to 50 people through eye and tissue donation. To join the organ and tissue donor registry, visit www.mts-stl.org/signup.

Larry was nominated by MTS, which has partnered with The Larry Hughes Foundation for numerous events. MTS has served as the regional organ and tissue procurement organization for Missouri, southern Illinois and northeastern Arkansas for 38 years. In addition to recovering organs and tissue for transplant, MTS provides comprehensive services to donor families, offers a wide variety of educational programs to schools, and partners with our community. With a mission to save lives through excellence in organ and tissue donation, MTS has been at the forefront of both enhancing the quality of organs and tissue for transplant as well as increasing awareness of donation in the communities it serves. The organization is a two-time Missouri Quality Award Recipient (2008 & 2010). 

Avatar surveyed more than 500,000 employees nationwide in approximately 250 companies. MTS, the regional organ procurement organization serving Missouri, southern Illinois, and northeast Arkansas, scored above the 90^th percentile for employee engagement and overall job satisfaction. In addition, Avatar noted that MTS received the highest overall employee engagement score of all companies surveyed.

“Over the years, we’ve consistently sought to ensure that our employees feel valued and engaged in our efforts to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation,” says Dean F. Kappel, MTS president and chief executive officer. “Surveys such as this are a chance for employees to offer feedback on how we can continuously improve. By listening and acting on recommendations, we believe it then translates into better, more satisfied employees who go above and beyond in helping each other and those we serve.”

The employee survey, conducted in June-July 2012, found that 94 percent of MTS employees had high overall job satisfaction and believed strongly in MTS’ mission to save lives through excellence in organ and tissue donation (15 percent above the national norm).

All employees — 100 percent — believed that MTS offered excellent job benefits, with 92 percent also citing the opportunities for ongoing training and development. In addition, 96 percent of employees felt that MTS made it possible for them to directly contribute to the organization’s success. In characterizing the overall work environment, nine out of 10 employees said they enjoyed working with their co-workers, describing them as friendly and helpful. High marks also were received for MTS’ willingness to offer flexible work schedules.

“We are honored that our employees gave the organization high marks for overall satisfaction and benefits,” says Kappel. “No matter what their job description, they are on the frontlines of saving lives through organ and tissue donation. We deeply appreciate all that they do to extend life to others and look forward to continuing to make MTS a great place to work.”

About MTS

Mid-America Transplant Services (MTS) has served as the regional organ and tissue procurement organization for Missouri, southern Illinois, and northeastern Arkansas for 38 years. In addition to recovering organs and tissue for transplant, MTS provides comprehensive services to donor families, offers a wide variety of educational programs to schools, and partners with our community. With a mission to save lives through excellence in organ and tissue donation, MTS has been at the forefront of both enhancing the quality of organs and tissue for transplant as well as in increasing awareness of donation in the communities it serves. The organization is a two-time  Missouri Quality Award Recipient (2008 & 2010). Learn more at www.mts-stl.org.

Emily Rodenback is a two-time kidney recipient. Most recently, she received a kidney through a paired, living donation less than three months ago at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Emily doesn’t know her donor. But on Thursday night at the Candlelight Memorial Ceremony, she said “thank you” to donors during a touching and stirring tribute to those who have given the Gift of Life.

“I haven’t met my donor yet, so this is my way of being able to thank him even though we haven’t connected yet,” said Emily, who received her first kidney in 1997 from her mother. “I have many friends who are transplant recipients and have received donations from deceased donors. This is a way for me to honor them too.”

Visit our photo gallery for more images
from the Candlelight Memorial Ceremony

Emily was one of five recipients who gave roses and shared hugs and tears during the ceremony with the Donor Families of about 140 Donors. The recipients – Emery Patterson, Emily Rodenback, Richard Macias, Rory McCue and Pearl Hollan – represented the four transplant centers in St. Louis: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Saint Louis University Hospital.  These institutions annually partner with Mid-America Transplant Services to host the Candlelight Memorial Ceremony. 

As each Donor name was read, a Donor Family member approached the stage to receive a rose.

Candles were raised in honor of Donors to conclude the Candlelight Memorial Ceremony.

“I knew it would be emotional, but I didn’t know it would be that emotional,” Emily said. “The reading of the names … to see the Donor Families and see the little ones give roses to them. I know the donors feel the connection to us, and they can see the life in us. I think that’s incredible.”

The ceremony included a poem by kidney recipient Joseph Hines, the singing of “True Colors” by recipient Jared Anderson, and two songs by Andrea Eads, a singer and Donor Family from Nashville, Tennessee.  Andrea performed “By Your Side,” a song about her father who was a donor in December of 2011.     

“The songs were amazing,” said Crissy Patterson, whose five-year-old daughter Emery is a liver recipient from Children’s Hospital. “The first song by Andrea about her dad, how in the world could she get up and sing that? It was awesome. I’m sure everyone was feeling that. And the part in the poem when Joseph said he was going to take care of their loved one … my daughter doesn’t understand that yet. We try to teach her, but to be that powerful to say, ‘I’m going to take care of your loved one, it’s now my responsibility.’ That was incredible too.”

For Amy and Troy Wildhaber, whose son Zac was an organ donor earlier this year, seeing recipients was soothing.  “It wasn’t really an option not to come,” said Amy. “It’s a lot of people that have the same story and understand. And there is comfort in seeing recipients. That’s something we’ve not experienced a lot of.”

Charity Hollan, whose three-year-old daughter Pearl received a kidney about one year ago at Cardinal Glennon, wanted to be involved to help explain how Pearl was saved.

“It’s really hard to explain to a three year old how she got healthy,” said Charity. “Being able to participate in a ceremony like this makes it a tangible event. She knows we’re here to celebrate the fact that someone donated a kidney to her.”

Richard Macias, a kidney recipient from Saint Louis University Hospital, has volunteered at local dialysis centers since receiving his transplant in October. Thanking Donor Families while giving roses was an opportunity to extend his volunteer work. “When you have someone to talk to and guide you through what the process entails, I think it’s very important,” he said. “This is another avenue for me to help others, that’s why I wanted to do this.”

Showing gratitude to donor families was important for Rory McCue, a 2011 double lung recipient from Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “This is a way to say thank you for those who came before me and thank my Donor Family and just be part of all of this energy. Seeing everyone say thank you and in my own way saying thank you was important.”



Two years to the date after his kidney transplant, Team Ohio’s Troy Lewis walked in the opening ceremonies of the Transplant Games of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

His against-all-odds journey was bumpy, but his transplant also saved his brother’s life.

Troy was in Stage 5 renal failure in 2010; he waited six months for a kidney and spent 12 weeks on dialysis. Meanwhile, Troy’s four brothers checked to see if they could help their brother. “None were a match,” Troy said. “We went to our church, and we had so many people coming forward to get tested. At one point, we found a match, or what we thought was a match, a 26-year-old man from my church, about 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. I was excited.”

Troy was three days from surgery when the doctor canceled the surgery. The potential donor had the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), of which 95% of Americans have had. Troy had not contracted EBV, therefore could not receive the kidney. “Suddenly,” Troy said. “I had a one and 400 chance of finding a suitable kidney.”

Troy researched Alliance for Paired Donation (APD) in Toledo University Medical College. “If you have a loved one that will give a kidney, you can receive a kidney from the bank,” Troy said. “The problem was, there were only 300 kidneys in the bank, and my odds were one in 400.”

APD had a match.

In Colorado Springs, Colorado, a man by the name of Jay Julian had recently watched Seven Pounds, the 2008 film featuring Will Smith and a story of transplantation. “He got done watching that movie,” Troy said, “looked over to his wife, and said, ‘I think I’m supposed to give my kidney to somebody.’”

Jay’s kidney was a match for Troy. On July 28, Troy received Jay’s kidney. Two days later, Troy’s brother, Tony, went into surgery to donate a kidney for a person in Florida. There were complications. “This three-hour surgery turned into a 10 hours,” Troy said. “It nearly cost him his life.”

Tony had a cyst over one of his kidneys. Behind the cyst was an aneurysm. It burst as surgery began, and Tony crashed on the table. Doctors were able to revive him, stabilize him, recover the kidney and place it in the Floridian.

A construction worker in Ohio, Troy wrote a book about his journey. For more information, visit his Facebook page.

Remember All Officers

Jess Chairez, right, is a donor dad. He attends each Transplant Games because the athletes and living donors are like a second family to him.

Throughout the four-day event, Jess tells his son’s story: how Officer Joseph Chairez wanted to be an organ donor, and as a 24-year-old Sacramento, Calif. police officer, suffered a fatal aneurysm in 2000. He saved four lives through organ donation.

Jess has handed out various pins remembering his son with “SAC PD” and his badge number “238” since 2000.

As part of the Games, Jess shows large quilts with police badges from various departments nationwide. He continues to use the opportunity to remember all officers.

Walking with Michelle

Team St. Louis was lined up before the Opening Ceremonies when we noticed the t-shirt to the right. We wanted to know more about Michelle.

We learned Michelle tragically passed away nine months ago. Her parents, John and Peggy (pictured on the left and right) attended the Games with one of her recipients, Eric.

Eric received Michelle’s lungs, and nine months after the transplant, ran in the 5K run/walk the morning of the Opening Ceremonies.



If only the entire world would show the level of sportsmanship, friendship, and respect as the track and field competitors did Monday at the 2012 Transplant Games of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Meet Joe Eitzel. Joe is a member of Team Virginia and a 10-year-old liver recipient who had a rare disease called ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC).  The condition causes ammonia to build up to unsafe levels in the blood because the liver lacks the necessary enzymes. 

Many children with OTC have developmental delays and can’t walk. Joe ran the 50 meter dash Monday, but stopped just short of the finish line.

You see, Joe was competing against Deven Shelton from Team St. Louis. Deven is six-years-old and also has OTC. Deven uses a walker in 50 dash.

The two met at the 2010 Games in Madison, Wisconsin and had an instant bond.“Joe immediately took to Deven,” Joe’s father, Rich, said. “I think there was that connection. Joe knows TC.”

On Monday, Joe knew he was racing against Deven, and that he could beat Deven in the race. He also knew there were four competitors for three medals. As Deven made the walk down the front straight away in front of more than 1,000 fans cheering him on. Joe stopped just short of the finish line. He turned, and cheered for Deven until he crossed the finish line. Then Joe crossed the line.

Deven Shelton, left, and Team Virginia’s Joe Eitzel.

Deven earned a medal.

“There are very few kids that are actually walking around today, or even alive today, that have had this disorder,” said Steve Shelton, Deven’s father. “There’s only a handful that have survived it, and two of them are here on the same day and they’re practically friends now.”

Steve and his wife, Amanda, didn’t realize what had happened until after the race.“I was so focused on Deven that I didn’t notice Joe,” Steve said. “But when I heard what he did … pretty much turn on the waterworks for me. It was emotional, especially knowing that Joe planned that himself. Dad put the idea in his head, but Joe wanted to do that.” 

Turns out Joe won a medal in the 50, too, when another competitor was disqualified for crossing a lane line.Deven also won bronze in the softball throw.

Racewalking and Celebrating the Gift of Life 

Laurie Brown, right, won four medals on Monday.

Before the first race of the day, the 1500 meter women’s racewalk, Terri Garner from Team Northern California approached the official starter and told him she was a little unsteady. She was told at one time she wouldn’t be able to walk.

On Monday, she walked the 3-and-3/4 laps of the track to complete the racewalk.

As Team St. Louis’s Laurie Brown finished, Terri still had a lap to go. Laurie caught up with her and walked with her to encourage her.“When she talked to the official, I knew we would go back and walk with her to give her support,” Laurie said. “I know when I’m out there alone racing, it’s the last lap and you’re the last one – and I’ve been there – it’s hard to stay motivated and keep going.”

On the back straight away, the other race walkers joined Laurie and Terri. They cheered for her until they all crossed the finish line.  “I just wanted to be there and give her positive support,” Laurie said. “I was glad to see all the race walkers join.”

Laurie earned a gold medal in race walking, one of four medals she won on the day.