2008 Donation Stories

Lisa Petrilli
Lisa Petrilli is enjoying an active life thanks to the successful kidney transplant she received more than a year ago. This busy wife and mother of two daughters also found the time and energy to return to work in the field of marketing. She’s thrilled to be able to now lead a normal lifestyle after being limited by the restraints of daily kidney dialysis.

While waiting for her kidney transplant, Lisa often volunteered for Donate Life Illinois by sharing her story to stress the critical need for donors. Even though Lisa has a big family and many close friends, none tested as a match to be her kidney donor; she was also listed on the national waiting list for a donor, but no match was located.

One of the biggest challenges Lisa faced with being on dialysis was its limitations: if her daughters cried-out for her during the night (after bad dreams or if they were sick), Lisa was unable to go to them because the dialysis tubes were not long enough to reach their rooms. Fortunately, Lisa’s husband was there to fill-in. Still, it crushed Lisa that she could not run to comfort her girls.

A determined Lisa wrote about her situation in a story that appeared in her church bulletin. This story caught the eye of a fellow parishioner who was not acquainted with Lisa but was touched by her story and eager to help. The parishioner was found to be a match and was able to be a living donor to Lisa. The two women now share a wonderful friendship. According to Lisa, “It’s been a great year!”

Tonisha Daniel
Tonisha Daniel has a smile as bright as a shining star, and with good reason: An anonymous organ donor gave her the gift of life when she received a liver transplant in 2004.

At the age of 15, Tonisha was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. The disease drained her energy, so she had to give up contact sports, dancing and singing in the school choir. Another one of the devastating effects of the disease was memory loss. Although she had always been a straight-A student, it became extremely difficult for her to maintain her 4.0 GPA. She had to be hospitalized twice during the school year, causing her to miss nearly a month of school.

All of that changed after her liver transplant!

Today, Tonisha loves being a student at the University of Illinois. She contributes to the school newspaper, is a member of the National Honor Society, sings in the choir and is part of a youth group. She also works part-time to promote the critical need of organ and tissue donation by sharing her story and registering donors. Tonisha is a perfect example of how life truly does go on!

Micaela T. Prunty
Micaela Prunty is a normal, active 7-year-old girl, able to do all the fun things kids her age do at school and at play. She is looking forward to ballet recitals and soccer games. However, her future didn’t look so bright when she was just a baby. Micaela was in desperate need of a lifesaving liver donor.

When the wait for an organ to become available for Micaela seemed hopeless, it was determined that Micaela’s mother would be able to donate a piece of her own liver to little Micaela. The donation was a success, and now, nearly seven years post-transplant, Micaela is feeling wonderful. She is in perfect health and enjoying the 1st grade.

Micaela and her mother Isa now share a special connection that extends beyond the traditional mother-daughter bond.

Ian Fitch
Ian Fitch is feeling good and enjoys being an active 8th grade student. He is looking forward to starting high school next fall. However, one thing Ian is not looking forward to is the day he will have to go back on the waiting list for a new liver.

Just days after birth, Ian's doctors discovered that he had biliary artesia, a condition that hardens the liver. When he was just 15 days old, Ian underwent surgery to replace damaged bile ducts and remove his scarred gall bladder. When Ian was 4 years old, his parents were told he would eventually need a liver transplant to survive, and he was placed on the national transplant waiting list.

Right now, Ian's liver is healthy enough for him to be taken off the waiting list but he knows that someday his life will depend on the generosity of an organ donor. Until that time, Ian stays active working on his role in his school play, and is preparing to receive the Christian sacrament of Confirmation.

Corinne Roche
Corinne Roche is excited about her future in college, pursuing career dreams and enjoying activities like swimming. She now has the freedom to make these choices because of the generosity of an organ donor who gave Corinne a lifesaving kidney.

Diagnosed with kidney disease as an infant, Corinne received her first transplant before she was 2 years old. The condition returned when she was a teen, putting her back on the organ waiting list. While waiting, Corinne had to undergo nightly dialysis treatments that made it impossible for her to participate in normal teenage activities like sleepovers with friends. She dealt with constantly not feeling well and suffered from fluctuating blood pressure and leg numbness.

Even with her health challenges, Corinne found the strength to volunteer on behalf of organ and tissue donation. She shared her personal story with others, asking them to join the donor consent registry.

Corinne reports that since receiving her transplant she feels great. She is attending college and considering a career in communications. For the first time she is healthy enough to hold a part-time job, and can take family vacations free of any dialysis machine! Her life has completely changed thanks to her transplant.

Brianne Bacon
Brianne Bacon was considered to be a ray of light by her family and friends. She enjoyed playing with her Barbie dolls, playing softball, and drawing.

At age ten, Brianne began to feel ill. Because she had always been such a healthy child, her parents were surprised when she began complaining of headaches. Testing revealed that she had a tumor near the brainstem and that surgery would be necessary. Brianne was very brave through her treatment that included two surgeries and caused her to miss a significant amount of school. Sadly, Brianne passed away.

Reeling from the horrible emotional battle of Brianne's illness and subsequent brain death, her family made the decision to donate.

Brianne saved four lives.

The Bacons know that Brianne's death, although the most painful experience possible, resulted in the miracle of life for others. As time went by, her parents were able to meet some of the people that had received Brianne's organs. “Even though we lost Brianne, we gained an extended family,” commented her mother, Stacy.

Jarrett and Brittney Payton
Jarrett and Brittney Payton share a common ambition to be positive role models in the community. This brother and sister team strive to make a difference in the lives of all those within their reach. They take enormous pride in honoring the memory of their father, Walter Payton, by helping to educate the public about the critical need for organ and tissue donation.

Brittney Payton
Brittney Payton has a show-stopping smile and a charismatic personality—traits that most definitely run in the family! Brittney was born in 1985, the year her father led the Chicago Bears to their legendary Super Bowl triumph. A true daddy’s little girl, Brittney has a passion for sports and a desire to help others.

Brittney is a dedicated student and is finishing her studies at DePaul University. She will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in June 2008. Inspired by her love of sports, she plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. Even with a full schedule of college classes, this busy young woman volunteers her time to help many worthy causes. Among these is speaking about the need to register as an organ and tissue donor.

Brittney is a vibrant and intelligent young woman driven to achieve great things.

Jarrett Payton
Jarrett Payton is an outgoing, talented young man with the same charm and personality for which his legendary father was known. Jarrett is an honored athlete, played in five, major college bowl games, and was the MVP of the Orange Bowl in 2002.

Jarrett attended the University of Miami where he played football all four years. He played with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent for two years until leaving to play with the Canadian Football League, where he continues to make a name of his own with the Montreal Alouettes.

As a talented rap artist, Jarrett enjoys being creative and has plans to release a CD in the future. He is passionate about helping others and volunteers his free time to promote lifesaving organ and tissue donation.

Angelique Marseille
Angelique Marseille is a great example of how donation and transplantation work together to allow life to go on.

Through the generosity of a donor, Angelique received a successful liver transplant in 1992. Feeling healthy and filled with ambition, she returned to school and received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She married the man of her dreams and they are the proud parents of two sons.

Today, she maintains a healthy balance of family and work. She has a wonderful family and she enjoys a rewarding career as a therapist. For Angelique, each day is another opportunity to be grateful for the generous gift of life she received.

Don Smith
Don Smith enjoys every day of his golden years because a donor gave him a second chance at life when Don received a lifesaving kidney transplant in 1994.

Whether he’s outside taking in nature’s beauty while chopping wood, or sharing laughs and fun times with his grandchildren, Don makes the most of each and every day. He is also a busy volunteer on behalf of organ and tissue donation sharing his personal story with members of the community and helping them to register their wishes to be donors.

Don does whatever he can to help educate others on the importance of registering as donors. He says that donation gave him the gift of returning to a normal life, a gift no words can properly explain.