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Gift of Life Stories

Gift of Life Stories

Kyle Hommel

Kyle Hommel
When Kyle Hommel was placed on the kidney transplant waiting list, his family was optimistic that he would not wait long. But after nine grueling months and no options in sight, his mother Caroline decided to take action. She donated her own kidney to save her son’s life. Today, Kyle is healthy and enjoying the music he loves.

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Greg Satterlee
In July of 2000, Greg Satterlee was 35 years old and in seemingly perfect health when one day he sat down to eat a meal and realized he wasn’t able to swallow. Over the next week, he became very ill. On August 10, Greg was sent to New England Medical Center in Boston where he was diagnosed with complete liver failure, although the cause was unclear. Three days later he was placed on the UNOS waiting list for a liver transplant. The call came a mere 5 days later. “I was very lucky to get a donated liver so quickly,” Greg recalls. “However, I was ranked very highly on the list because I was extremely ill. My doctor told me at the time I went on the list that if I didn’t receive a liver within two weeks, I would have died.” His second chance at life came from Darren, an 18 year-old man from Bermuda who suffered brain death due to a motorcycle accident. Darren’s mother decided to donate his organs; giving Greg and four other people the gift of life. In November of that year, he was able to meet his mother’s donor, and thank her for helping save his life. Today, four years later, Greg is back at work full-time. He enjoys boating, piping with the New York State Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band and golfing. He is a volunteer with CDT and is committed to raising awareness so that people understand how important it is to discuss organ donation with their families.

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Satterlee

Sweet

Kayla Sweet
Kayla Sweet enjoys astronomy, riding her bike, and collecting unique statues for her garden. She loves animals and the Backstreet Boys. Kayla may sound like the typical thirteen-year-old, but there is something setting her apart from other kids her age – Kayla is a kidney recipient. Kayla was suffering from a congenital defect. Nine years ago, doctors informed her mother that Kayla’s kidneys were not growing at the same pace as the rest of her body and her kidneys were the size of a three-year-old. While Kayla was waiting for a kidney, she was introduced as the “poster child” for CDT’s “Got Organs” campaign with WPYX (106.5FM), stealing the hearts of all who saw her. In December of 2001, Kayla’s face graced an ad encouraging people to donate their organs. Ironically, the day the ad appeared, Kayla got the call. A kidney was available. Today, Kayla is doing well. She has returned to school and is enjoying doing the things she loves. She has written to the family of her donor, who left behind two children just a bit younger than herself and hopes to meet them one day.

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Wes Merritt
A fun family vacation on the New Jersey Shore turned to tragedy, when Sarah Merritt, eager to explore her new environment, fell from a second-story window. Despite their devastating loss, the Merritt family found hope when given the opportunity to donate little Sarah’s organs. “Organ donation gave us some control in a situation where we otherwise had none,” recalls Wes Merritt, Sarah’s dad.  “And over time, it allowed us to find some ultimate meaning from an inexplicable tragedy.”

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Wes Merritt

Vaniglia

Candie Faye Vaniglia
As a donor family, we want you to know that losing a child is the lowest point in your life. When we were offered the option of organ donation, we were given the first glint of hope in a time of despair. Organ donation gave us something positive to hold on to as we worked through this terrible tragedy. In loving memory of our daughter, Candie Faye Vaniglia, and the lives she saved.
With love, The Vaniglia Family.

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