High school science teacher and platelet donor Aaron is passionate about encouraging the next generation of blood donors.

Madison was just 19 years old when she lost her battle with addiction. As a registered organ and tissue donor, she donated her liver and kidneys to save three lives.

Shawn’s adult children Shatoya and Darryl both have sickle cell disease and receive blood transfusions every four weeks to manage their symptoms. “Without the transfusions, they probably wouldn’t be here or have the quality of life they do now,” she says.

Konner received countless blood transfusions during his recovery from a terrible motorcycle accident. Today, he’s grateful to be alive—and for the blood donors who helped him along the way.

Benton has endured a number of health challenges that required surgeries, during which he received blood transfusions to keep him strong.

Dan passed away unexpectedly in 2022 and his mother, Audrey, and widow, Ashley, made the courageous decision to donate his heart, lungs, kidneys and liver to save lives.

After succumbing to a major brain bleed, Cordell donated his organs and tissues to save lives. Now, his family encourage others to learn what it means to be a registered donor.

Mary has antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disease that causes blood clots to form throughout her body. She receives treatment from Versiti’s Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, MD, MS, and credits her with saving her life.

Yasmeen Anis-Shah was diagnosed with beta thalassemia major, an inherited blood disorder, at just 6 months old. To manage her disease, which impedes the flow of oxygen throughout her bloodstream, she receives two units of blood every month.

After passing away from a massive heart attack, Tyler donated his tissues to heal others’ lives. “I’m glad that he helped somebody—that’s what he would have wanted,” says his mother, Karen. “To me, he’s living on.”