2009 Donation Stories

Jonathan Bell Dekalb, IL
Thirteen-year-old Jonathan Bell has a hero who saved his life: the anonymous donor who gave his heart so that Jonathan could live.

Jonathan had always been an active and healthy young man, so it was a surprise to his family when he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart cannot adequately pump blood. In fact, in Jonathan’s case, his heart was working at 10% of its capacity.

Within hours of his diagnosis, Jonathan was admitted to the hospital where he waited for a heart to become available. Last Easter, after only a few weeks, a donor heart became available and saved Jonathan’s life.

Today, Jonathan is well on his way to making a full recovery. He manages his numerous daily medications, handles his school studies, and loves teasing his brother.

Emery Bock Ashley, IL
Emery Bock is an inquisitive, happy, four-year-old boy whose family considers him a “little miracle.” Emery was born with lungs that did not properly develop, and he needed a double-lung transplant to survive. In January of 2006, at just one year old, he received his lifesaving transplant.

Today, Emery continues to learn and develop with the help of home therapists, teachers and his family. He loves learning new things and his favorite activity is coloring. His parents even turned the walls of his room into chalkboards so that Emery can have fun “decorating” his room every day!

He is a true fighter, and always has a smile for anyone he meets. Emery’s love for life and awesome courage continue to carry him through his journey. Emery and his family live by the motto: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away!”

Roger Grandys Dekalb, IL
Roger Grandys was living a normal, happy life. He and his wife Corinne were raising two boys, coaching soccer, and going to work. While Roger had always been a member of the organ donor registry, he never thought he would be the one to need an organ.

However, then his heart began failing. Over several years, his doctors gave him medicine and treatment for his condition to no avail. He needed a heart transplant. But within three months of his diagnosis, his condition deteriorated and he required hospitalization.

Roger got the call in January 1998. A young man who he would later learn was named Trent had died and his distraught parents selflessly donated his organs and tissues. Since receiving his gift, Roger celebrated over 30 years of marriage, watched his younger son graduate college and start a teaching career, and attended his older son’s wedding. Now Roger is a doting grandfather to his grandchildren, Alyssa and Nate. Last summer, his family had a surprise 60th birthday party for him. This man, who was given a death sentence before age 50, was celebrated by the many who know and love him, including special guests Eunice and Tom, the parents of his donor Trent.

Megan Herdegen Arlington Heights, IL
Megan Herdegen, 29, is breathing a lot easier these days, less than two years after receiving a double lung transplant. Her need for a transplant came from life-long asthma and fibrosis caused by medications used to treat her condition.

Her life has completely changed since receiving her gift. She is able to exercise and completed all 94 floors of this year’s Hustle Up The Hancock—a climb to the top of the John Hancock Center that raises funds for lung disease research, advocacy and education. Megan is also thrilled to be able to perform in theater again, which is her first love.

Most importantly, the transplant has given Megan the hope of a future with her sister and nephew who mean everything to her. Now she can play with her nephew and looks forward to watching him grow up. She and her sister have formed an even closer bond and consider each other best friends.

Megan and her family are so grateful that someone chose to be a donor, and enabled Megan’s life to go on.

Lopez Family, Israel, Lidia, Eduardo and Israel JR. Morris, IL
One of the cornerstones of the Lopez family is a loving and a giving spirit. This quality was fully personified in their 10-year-old daughter Viridiana, who wanted to become a doctor.

One day Viridiana saw her mother’s driver license and asked about the meaning of being an organ and tissue donor. When her mother explained that if something happened to her, she wanted to save other lives, Viridiana replied with enthusiasm, “If something happens to me, I also want to save lives.”

Tragedy struck in 2004 when the family was traveling to a soccer practice and their van was rear-ended by another vehicle. The crash killed Viridiana.

Amidst the tragedy of loosing their daughter, Israel and Lidia made the decision to honor Viridiana’s wishes and give the gift of life. Viridiana is a heroine to the seven people whose lives she saved through organ donation.

Annika Tiede Normal, IL
Eight-year-old Annika Tiede is a little girl with big plans for her future. Maybe she’ll work with animals as a zookeeper; or enforce the law as a police officer; or maybe she’ll be like one of her favorite American Idol contestants and be a singer. Whatever career she chooses, Annika is looking forward to a busy future—one made possible because of an organ donor.

Annika was born with biliary atresia, a disease affecting only newborns, in which bile from the liver is unable to drain. Without intervention, almost all babies with this disease die within the first year of life. By the age of 3, Annika had undergone two liver transplants and was diagnosed with a post-transplant complication that can lead to lymphoma if not treated aggressively. This created additional complications and ultimately caused her to be re-listed for another liver transplant at age six.

In the fall of 2008, Annika received her liver transplant, thanks to the generosity of another family who chose to donate their child’s organs.

Today, Annika is having fun just like other little girls her age. She attends elementary school, loves to listen to music and plays dress-up with her younger sister, Frankie. Thanks to an organ donor, Annika has her whole life to look forward to.