Arctica
  • Contribute Register Now
  • About
  • Hope
    • Stories
    • Donation Process
  • Family Services
  • Get Involved
    • Outreach
    • Contribute
    • Volunteer
    • Events
  • Professional Partners
    • Hospital Partnerships
    • Medical Examiners
    • Funeral Homes
  • Careers
    • Careers
    • Current Openings
Arctica
  • About
  • Hope
    • Stories
    • Donation Process
  • Family Services
  • Get Involved
    • Outreach
    • Contribute
    • Volunteer
    • Events
  • Professional Partners
    • Hospital Partnerships
    • Medical Examiners
    • Funeral Homes
  • Careers
    • Careers
    • Current Openings
April 23, 2019
  • by Carolyn.Larsen
  • 0 Comments

I am both an organ donor AND a recipient, so I can attest to the miracles on both sides of organ donation.

In 2003, my son Nick was born with a brain tumor. He underwent multiple brain surgeries at Primary Children’s and received the very best care. I wanted to pay forward the wonderful care that Nick received from the doctors and nurses at Primary Children’s Medical Center. In 2010, I was able to do that by becoming the 50th Good Samaritan kidney donor in the state of Utah. This amazing program matches willing donors with people waiting for a kidney transplant. I was matched with Mollie Jones, a young mother who had been on dialysis for over 10 years. We were able to meet before the surgery and got to recover in rooms next door to each other during our hospital stay. To know Mollie was to love her and during our time together I absolutely grew to love her. We stayed friends after the transplant and I am so grateful for the incredible opportunity I had to participate in this amazing program. I would absolutely encourage anyone thinking about it to become a living kidney donor – you have a spare to share!

After being an organ donor, I became an organ recipient. In 2011, I was diagnosed with a progressive eye disease and in 2017, I received a donated cornea. I was so happy to be a part of the donation process as a donor and it is equally amazing to be a recipient. I am so grateful someone made a choice that literally gave me my sight back.

As Mary Roach said in her book “Stiff”, organ donation – it’s the only way you can be in two places at once!


Share This Post
    Prev Post
Next Post    

Archive

  • Twice Blessed
  • Jeri Wehrli – Organ Recipient
  • Jayden’s Gift of Life
  • Kevin Beckwith – Liver Transplant 2012
  • Heaven’s Miracle
  • Brycen McKen
  • My new heart
  • Priscilla Morgas – Giver of Life
  • Alex Stewart – Heart Recipient
  • Jan Dovey – Liver Recipient
  • Marlee and Brandon
  • Krista Bellusci – Organ Donor
  • Sophie Hansen – Liver Recipient
  • Vicki Hortin – Kidney Recipient
  • Brady Dransfield – Donor Recipient
  • Diane Warsoff – Living Donor
  • University of Utah Transplant Team
  • Alice Walsh – Donor Mother
  • Dennis Dalton – Liver Recipient
  • Caleb Johnson – Organ Donor

P: 801-521-1755
6065 S Fashion Blvd, Ste 125
Murray, UT 84107

Follow us

Utah
facebook instagram-icon twitter Linkedin

Idaho
facebook instagram

Quick Links

  • Contact
  • YesUtah!
  • YesIdaho!