Winter Newsletter 2024 - The Living Bank

Our Mission Is to eliminate the shortage of organs for lifesaving transplants by being a trusted education resource for living organ donation and the leading provider of advocacy services for living donors.

Our Vision Is for living organ donation to be widely known, understood, and available to those needing a lifesaving transplant, and for living donors to receive the independent advocacy and support they need before, during, and after transplantation.

Dear Friends, Imagine the impact of your generosity– a life saved, a family reunited, and a future made possible.

I hope this letter finds you well and thriving in good health. I’m writing to you with a heartfelt purpose—to share an opportunity that allows you to be part of a mission that saves lives every day.

At The Living Bank, we aspire to eliminate the critical shortage of organs needed for transplant.

The reality is stark— each year only 40% of those on the national waiting list receive a lifesaving organ. Sadly, many die waiting. These deaths can be prevented if more people know that living organ donation is an option. Public awareness is vital to reversing this trend and core to our vision.

Imagine the impact of your generosity— a life saved, a family reunited, and a future made possible.

Your involvement is not just a donation, but an investment in a future where the shortage of organs is a challenge of the past. Together, we can transform lives and ensure that no one has to die waiting for a transplant.

With gratitude and thanksgiving,

Stats The need for organs is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation.

National Transplant Waiting List

104,709 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.*

97,363 are waiting for a kidney

9,427 are waiting for a liver

95% of those on the waiting list could be saved through living organ donation.

17 People Die every day waiting for a transplant.

But There is HOPE! A living person can donate a kidney or liver lobe today and save the life of a loved one, a friend, or a complete stranger.

* Based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Data - November 2024

Programs The Living Bank advances its mission with the following programs and services:

Public Education Living Organ Donation Awareness Our community awareness program provides education on living organ donation and empowers communities to make informed health decisions. The program is provided to inform, inspire, and invoke our communities to start the living donation conversation. Additionally, we support our local and national communities through multiple communication channels, including online, print, social media, and in‑person presentations in community and corporate venues throughout the region.

Professional Education Independent Living Donor Advocate NetworkTM (ILDAN TM ) The Independent Living Donor Advocate Network™ (ILDAN™) is an online community of social workers, nurses, professional counselors, clergy, and other health professionals who serve in live donor transplant programs. The Living Bank produces a live webinar each quarter and offers previously recorded presentations for on demand viewing. Attendees may earn one credit of continuing education for each ILDAN™ course completed. We provide this important resource at no cost to health professionals.

Professional Services Independent Living Donor Advocacy The Living Bank’s licensed clinical transplant social workers serve as Independent Living Donor Advocates (ILDAs) to live donor transplant programs in the Texas Medical Center and throughout the Nation. ILDAs serve to protect and promote the best interests of living organ donors, ensuring their decision to donate is informed and free from coercion.

The Living Donation Storytelling Project Hear real-life stories…and share your own!

At the heart of every transplant story lies a narrative of hope, courage, and human connection. The Living Donation Storytelling Project seeks to bring these stories to light, creating a meaningful dialogue around the life-changing impact of living kidney donation.

This innovative digital library offers a platform for individuals from all walks of life to share their personal experiences with the world.

The Power of Stories The Living Donation Storytelling Project exemplifies the belief that storytelling is a powerful tool for change. This project not only humanizes the complex world of organ donation but also empowers potential donors and recipients to make informed decisions.

Launched in the summer of 2018, this project uses innovative storytelling technology to allow participants to record their journeys anywhere, anytime, using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. An email invitation provides access to record a video story, guided by openended prompts. These prompts ensure each story is educational, impactful, and seamlessly stitched into a cohesive narrative.

The library now houses a diverse range of stories from individuals across various backgrounds,

highlighting the profound and personal nature of living donation. By sharing these candid experiences, storytellers not only raise awareness but also emphasize the urgent need for living donors to address the kidney donor shortage.

Support Living Organ Donation By engaging with the stories shared in the digital library, you can help us spread the word about the importance of living organ donation. Together, we can work towards reducing the organ donor shortage and increasing the number of successful transplants.

To learn more about the Living Donation Storytelling Project or to share your story, visit the website by scanning the QR Code. Join us in amplifying voices and inspiring change within the transplant community.

View stories

The Living Bank is partnering with Dr. Amy Waterman on The Living Donation Storytelling Project. The project is an educational resource developed by Dr. Waterman and the Patient Engagement Research Lab.

Leading the Charge

Tell

my story

Dr. Amy D. Waterman is a national transplant innovator and esteemed leader in transplant medicine. She is the Director of Patient Engagement, Diversity, and Education, representing both J.C. Walter Transplant Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Houston Methodist Research Institute. She has authored over 100 research articles and developed numerous educational programs.

These initiatives focus on expanding patient access to transplants, reducing disparities, and promoting informed decision-making.

Her dedication is driven by three core beliefs:

Explore living donation

// Kidney patients deserve informed choices about their treatment options. // Potential donors must understand the donation process. // Collective efforts between patients, families, and professionals can mitigate the kidney donor shortage.

Dr. Waterman’s work at the Patient Engagement Research Lab at Houston Methodist Hospital continues to explore barriers to kidney transplantation and develop interventions to overcome them

Join

the community

Sharing candid experiences, storytellers raise awareness and emphasize the urgent need for living donors. Storytelling is a powerful tool for change.

The Living Bank’s 55th Anniversary Gala Celebrate Life 2024 On October 11TH we celebrated living organ donors and the lives saved by their extraordinary gift. Dr. Amy D. Waterman was the recipient of the Glen W. Karsten Memorial Award in recognition of her exceptional innovations and contributions to living donor education.

Partnership Highlight The Health Museum + The Living Bank

The Living Donor Panel The Living Bank moderated a panel that included living kidney donors, Monique Wisdom and Angela Hawkins; living kidney recipient Annette Kaiser; Independent Living Donor Advocate, Sharon Coplon, LMSW; Health Educator and Researcher, Dr. Amy Waterman; and retired transplant surgeon, Dr. Pat Wood Did you know that a person can donate a kidney or a liver lobe while they are alive!

The Kidney Cart We are excited to be sponsoring the Museum’s Science Discovery Kidney Cart. Visitors can spend five minutes learning about the vital functions of their kidneys and what happens if their kidneys stop working. We’ve created fun, educational giveaways that visitors can take and share with their family and friends.

Global Teen Medical Summit The Living Bank hosted a lunch and learn at this year’s summit.

The Global Teen Medical Summit (GTMS) is a week-long summer program to explore modern-day health and bioscience challenges with experts from the Texas Medical Center.

Partnering with some of the brightest minds in medicine today, this experience provides access to thought leaders involved in cuttingedge medical research, clinical practice, policy, and entrepreneurship.

Here’s How YOU Can Help!

Get Involved I Call Us I Visit our Website I Follow Us on Social Media (713) 961-9431 I www.Livingbank.org

YOU Have the Power to Spread the Word Living donation IS an option.

Living Donation is the fastest option with the best long-term results.

Living Donation can save a life today!

Tell Your Story

Record your story on The Living Donation Storytelling Project website

Living Donors I Transplant Recipients I Caregivers

Mark Your Calendars Donate Life Month April 2025

Living Donor Day April 2, 2025

Professional Education Independent Living Donor Advocate Network™ (ILDAN™)

SWAYTHA GANESH, MD Medical Director of the UPMC Living Donor Program Benefits of Living Donor Liver Transplantation NOW ON DEMAND

TYLER BALDES, LMSW Independent Living Donor Advocate The Living Bank Donor Ambivalence About the Recipient NOW ON DEMAND

Professional Services ILDA Services Available Nationwide

THE LIVING BANK’S UNIQUE MODEL ENSURES INDEPENDENT LIVING DONOR ADVOCACY FOR YOUR PATIENTS. HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS VIRTUAL TELEHEALTH TRANSLATION SERVICE

Realizing our Purpose Serving

13

Offered

38

Transplant Centers

Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) Services

On Demand Webinars Continuing Education for Transplant Professionals

California + Florida + Michigan Texas + Washington + Wisconsin

4

Produced

Developed

Public Education

25,000

Live Webinars Continuing Education for Transplant Professionals

Constituents Nationwide

In-Person + Online + Print + Newsletter

Provided

3,300

Independent Living Donor Advocate Evaluations for Living Kidney Donors + Living Liver Donors

In-Person + Telehealth

Responded to

over

Registered over

1,200

1,500 Inquiries

via email + telephone about living + deceased whole-body donation

transplant professionals for continuing education.

Live+On Demand Webinars

Awarded over

550 credit hours of continuing education

Social Workers + Nurses + Other Healthcare Professionals

at no cost to our attendees

Follow us on Instagram for Bean comics and educational content!

How Your Kidneys Work

Kidney (Right)

Liver

Kidney (left)

The Beans are The Living Bank’s cast of whimsical, organ-inspired characters that seek to spread living donation awareness via social media.

Each kidney contains up to a million functioning units called nephrons. A nephron consists of a filtering unit of tiny blood vessels called a glomerulus attached to a tubule.

This is how we work on the inside, Bean!

Nephrons are teeny tiny!

Teeny tiny, but also doin’ things that are super mighty!

When blood enters the glomerulus, it is filtered and the remaining fluid then passes along the tubule. In the tubule, chemicals and water are either added to or removed from this filtered fluid according to the body's needs, the final product being the urine we excrete.

Bean, I think we’re kind of a big deal.

We totally are!!

I am Count Beanula!

I crave to clean...your blood!

That’s quite a list, Liver! What’s on it?

It’s my daily task list!

I like to stay nice and organ-ized!

Shop

The perfect gift this holiday season.

The Living Bank + Vineyard Vines created these one-of-a-kind custom silk ties and key fob.

Urine Amazing Bean Tie $75.00

I’m a Liver and a Fighter Tie $75.00

Lone Star Bean Key Fob (front) $20.00

Lone Star Bean Key Fob (back)

Wear your support for living donation and shop with us online!

livingbank.org/shop/

Thank you

TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS Erin Aafedt Jacquelyn Acres Marcia Allen Arturo Almaraz Dr. Yasser Alsalmay Joan R. Ames Donna M. Anderson Nancy Anderson Sam and Cathy Atkins John Ballard Timothy B. Baloian Anne Marie Bartholomay Rita Baughman

Charities Aid Foundation America Courtney Chavez Anne Clare Mrs. Guy R. Clabourn, Jr. Kathleen Conlon Roger Coutant Mark and Cathy Curran Ms. Ann Davis Helma DeFronzo Salil V. Deshpande, MD Ray Domino Nancy Dop

James M. Gwynn

George S. Littell

Anne Hall

Locke Lord LLP

Jesse Lipson

Diane K. Loeffler

Wesley Hemmings

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Loneker, Sr.

Christine F. Henderson Paula Hern and Tom Barbour Anne Hershbell Frances Hill Joyce Hirano Dale F. Hoagland Sara Hogan Beryl Hogshead Jim Hooks

Allen Lovejoy Elizabeth M. Mager Michele Maio Deborah Maurer Ms. Maureen M. McCart James M. McCarthy LaVonne McCombie James McIlroy

Karen and Charles Baughn

Ms. Angie Dugick

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Ramsay M. Elder

Linda S. Becker

Carolyn A. Ernst

Mr. Thomas E. Houston and Mr. Wayne Wilson

Mary Bell

Marguerite Lesley Fant

Steven K. and Judy M. Howell

Ruth Bernhardt

Karen Farrell

Paul and Cheri Inglis

Pat and John Berry

Martin J. Feeney, Jr.

Les and Lyn Jacobs

James Bertrand

Jule Fey

Stephanie Bice

Linda Field

John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science

Andrew Muema

C.J. Johnson

Beverley Mukombe

Robert Johnson

Tom and Sarah Murphy

Mark A. Biscone Mark J. Biscone, Ph.D. Robert A. Bladorn Mrs. Rita N. Blumenfeld Diane Boisvert Karen Borek Debra and Glenn Bradley Bonita Brennan Kevin Brown Stuart B. Brown Kristine Browning, RN Judy Burdette Beverly Burmeier Laura Burt Gail Butler Sam Bybee Nancy and Steve Bynon Thomas B. Campbell Ms. Michelle Carbone Carolyn M. Carollo Vincent Cerisano David and Janice Champion

EEPB

Dr. Harold and Mrs. Sandra Fields

Steve Houck Houston Methodist Hospital

Sargent B. Means Memorial Hermann Health System Jonathan Mezlo Merle and Bonnie Miller Mary Mitchell Arline H. Moss Ken Moss

Mr. Raymond K. Fink

Carol Jones-Pufpaff

Linda Murray

Sherrie Finn

Kent Kantz

Virginia A. Myer

David L. Finney

Michael and Phylis Karas

Carole Neubrand

Danny Foceri

Dietmar and Pat Karle

Donald P. Neville

Frederick Forthuber

Dorothy Kaufmann

L. T. Newton

Delaina Foster

The Kayser Foundation

Mary Nolan

Norman W. Fraga

Paul Kirscht

Nora’s Home

Martha Friedman

Steven Koehler

Linda Novick

George and Carole Fuller

Paul Kouba

Dotty Oelkers

Joe Garson

Elizabeth M. Koup

Christine A. O’Mahony, MD

Margaret and John Gibbens

Ken Kramlich

Jim and Lindy Orr

Kaye and Ed Gill

Stanley Krauhs

Lauri Orwig

Veronica M. Gillespie

Jacqueline Lang

Carol Paradowski

Laura Godfrey

Mr. and Mrs. Ivar Larsen

Celeste Pardee

James and Linda Graham

Nancy LeBoeuf

Daniel L. Parker

Glenn McConkey

Micheal B. Lee

Linda Parkhill

Sue Gray

Kristine W. Levenhagen

A. Lynette Parsons

David M. Gregory, Esq.

Mr. Timothy S. Libassi

Karen Pasewark

Alfred O. and Janet L. Grimminger

LifeGift

Peter J. Peloquin

Catherine Lightfoot

Concepcion Pena

Limb Design, LLC

Charles Peters

Edward Grodsky

Kent Ping

Patricia Roser

Ms. Emily C. Smith

John J. Vrablik

H. Russell Pitman

Madeleine Ross

Alice Snyder

Eric Walther

Kathy Prentice

Diesa Samp

Ms. Wendy Solomon

R. Bruce Wanlass

Becky Price

Lisa M. Sanders

B.J. Spence

Jack Watson

Ms. Saleha Abdul Rab

Martha R. Saville

Ms. Wendy Stapley

Ms. Shari Wescott

Louise D. Raimondi

Gretchen M. Schmalz

Sean and Julia Steinke

Susan and Bill Wescott

Patti Ramsey

Susan A. Schneider

Ralph Tamper

Virginia Wiggins

James P. Reardon

Guy A. Schneider

Texas Children’s Hospital

David and Dorothy Wilson

Matt and Tami Regan

Mary L. Schrader

Constance E. Ressler

Jay and Peggy Schroller

Craig Vollmers and Katherine Timmins

Brenda J. Riner

Patricia Schwartz

Mr. and Mrs. George Roberts

Barbara Seder

Evelyn M. Rollison Anne and Joe Romano Marianne Rosenthal

Robert and Joyce Shaffer Mr. and Mrs. Scott Shaw

Lillian Woo

Mr. and Mrs. Lynn C. Tindall

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick H. Wood III

Warren J. Tripp

Janis Wright

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Carl Wrubel

Sue Utter

Lee and Sheila Shaw

Lynn Van Orden

Corbett Smith

Jill Veber

Michael Yacobellis David Yarbrough Leslie E. Zalles

TRIBUTE DONATIONS IN HONOR OF Daniel Beauchamp

David C. Bray

Nancy and Hans Strohmer

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem

Angelica Hale

Kelly Perdue

Elizabeth M. Brannon

in honor of

in honor of

in honor of

Diann Browell

in honor of

in honor of

Rudyne Walker

Gay Roane

in honor of

Mr. and Mrs. John Durie and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henricksen

Dana Edson

The Vandaveer Consulting Group, Inc. in honor of

Amy Waterman, Ph.D.

IN MEMORY OF Clay Anderson in memory of

Joan S. Anderson, Ph.D.

David N. Hooper in memory of

Donna Lynn Brenner Gladys Carter Sharon Bradley Dorie Damuth in memory of William E. “Bill” Dark Robert Bradley Cynthia Devlin Guy Klingensmith Sherese Buie Carol Miller in memory of Carter Moore Barbara Cordelia Forte Johnson Thelma Louise Clanton Neff Barbara Duncan Jessica Harris Thompson in memory of Tracy Christopher Duncan Kenneth Clyde Wyatt

J. Guez

in memory of

Joan Anderson, Ph.D.

Ruth A. Hearson in memory of

John Paul Hearson

Roy Henry Hunt in memory of

Carol Ferris

Jody Johnston in memory of

Karen Ing and Sally Joy

Sharon Kerby

Teresa Radosti

Earnest E. Kerby

Marlies Stanton

Marilyn Lenz

Peggy Rowe

Gary Everett Joe’s father Nancy Robbins

Joyce Lynn Whitley

Diana L. McCracken

David Castro

Jim McCracken and Robert Augustin

Hazel Thomas

in memory of

in memory of

in memory of

Carolyn Morris in memory of

Larry Bell William Blevins Charles Burleson

Dolores Olejniczak in memory of

Raymond and Catherine Olejniczak

in memory of

in memory of

Katherine Smith in memory of

in memory of

John Medrano

Louis and Donna Urschel in memory of

Shawn Urschel

Mollie Whisler in memory of

Joan S. Anderson Ph.D.

Board of Directors Chair

Diesa Samp, DNP, MHA, RN, CCTC, NEA-BC, Texas Children’s Hospital Vice Chair

Salil V. Deshpande, MD, MBA, United Healthcare Treasurer

Catherine Lightfoot, CPA, CHBC, EEPB Tax | Audit | Advisory Secretary

Kathleen Wood Living Kidney Donor

Mark J. Biscone, PhD, MPH, FACHE, ACHE – SouthEast Texas Chapter Living Kidney Donor

Christine M. Caruso, UPMC David M. Gregory, JD, Locke Lord LLP Ayke Hoppenreijs, Family Circle of Care Living Kidney Recipient

Beverley Mukombe, MBA, MSN, RN, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Kelly Perdue, CPA, President and Chief Executive Officer The Living Bank

In Memory of our Trailblazing Founders

Joan Anderson, PhD Louise Johnson Glen Karsten Esther Phillips Margorie Robertson

The Living Bank was founded in 1968 as the first organ donor registry in the Nation; and the first provider of organ donation and transplantation education.

THE LIVING BANK 4545 Post Oak Place | Suite 340 | Houston, TX 77027 800.528.2971 www.livingbank.org Instagram @livingbank Facebook @livingbank Email cathleen@livingbank.org