Celebrating Motherhood
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize all moms for their unconditional love and support. Donor Alliance honors all mothers, including those who are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant. Our organization, which facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation, also recognizes mothers who received the gift of life, and those who had a child who has given the gift of life.
For Tony Young of Denver, he shares a special “motherly” bond with a woman named Robin who lives in Texas. In 2020, a dark time in Robin’s life transformed into a bright spot in Tony’s life. Tony had his first heart attack when he was 25-years-old and a second one in his 30’s. He was added to the waitlist for a heart in 2020. After a month in the hospital, he received the news he was anxiously waiting for – there was a donor. Robin’s daughter, Sicily, was that heroic donor.
Tony received lifesaving and healing gifts from Sicily, a heart and kidneys. To show his appreciation, on the 4th anniversary of his transplant, Tony and his mother traveled more than 700-miles to surprise Robin in Dallas. During a difficult time in their lives, Robin and her family saying “yes” to organ and tissue donation has allowed Tony to return to the things he loves, including cooking.
“I’m certainly no chef, but I enjoy cooking. It’s a love language for me,” Tony said. “For a very long time I sent Robin photos of some of my better meals, typically Sunday dinners. I told her for a long time I wanted to cook for her.”
Thanks to Lowe’s Home Improvement, where Tony works, he was able to surprise Robin with a new propane grill! On the exact day Tony received his lifesaving and healing gifts, he and his mother fired up the new grill and cooked lunch for Robin and her family. They feasted on cedar plank salmon, grilled chicken, and Tony’s favorite okra dish with rice. (Just to name a few of the items on the special menu!)
It was a small token of love for Tony’s second chance at life. This Mother’s Day, this story serves as a reminder that a mother’s love can leave an unconditional legacy.
How can you provide support to those on the waiting list this Mother’s Day?
You can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor by saying Yes, the next time you obtain or renew your driver license/state ID or register today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. The little heart with the Y on your driver license means you have joined the Donate Life registry.
That little heart has a big impact – one person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. So, it’s important to also discuss your decision with your family. During a difficult time, families have told Donor Alliance they found comfort knowing their loved one’s decision.
Jennifer Muriett to serve as Board Secretary beginning July 2024
DENVER – May 10, 2024 – 
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system, has announced Jennifer Muriett as the Board Secretary for the 2024-2026 term. Muriett is the Chief Operating Officer of Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming.
As Board Secretary for the OPTN, Muriett will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and play a crucial role, along with her board colleagues, in overseeing organ allocation policy development for the U.S. donation and transplantation system. Her two-year term will begin July 1, 2024.
“Donor Alliance is thrilled Jennifer Muriett will be utilizing her skills on a national level,” said Jennifer Prinz, President, and CEO of Donor Alliance. “Her expertise and passion to save and heal lives will undoubtedly enhance the OPTN’s efforts across the United States, including here in Colorado and Wyoming, to honor the lives of heroic organ donors while providing those in need with lifesaving transplants.”
With an early background in critical care nursing, and more than 26 years of experience in the donation and transplantation industry, Muriett has a passion for advancing organ donation and transplantation.
“I am honored to serve as the OPTN Board Secretary and work alongside dedicated professionals who share my commitment to honoring the gift of organ donation, improving patient outcomes and promoting equitable access to lifesaving organs,” Muriett said.
About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the U.S. – Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than 120 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process and ensures their loved one’s gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Donor Alliance also facilitates tissue donation to save and heal more lives across our community. In addition, the organization manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries, which are symbols of the cause. When someone has the little heart with the Y on their driver license or state ID, it means they have joined the Donate Life registry. Through Donate Life, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation to inspire them to register. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
It’s National Nurses Week!
National Nurses Week, an observance held from May 6 to May 12 each year, recognizes the profound impact nurses have made, especially most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of uncertainty, nurses have shown to be unwavering beacons of compassion. They’re often the solitary faces of comfort in hospitals when we need it most. Their dedication knows no bounds, working 12-hour shifts and shouldering tasks that may seem insurmountable to many. From the frontlines of patient care in hospitals to the vital role they play in preventive healthcare within doctors’ offices, nurses epitomize the essence of selflessness and care.
Showing Support for Transplant Nurses & Donor Caregivers
Nurses play a big role in the organ and tissue donation process. From providing support to helping families navigate the complexities of organ and tissue donation, their expertise helps Donor Alliance honor a person’s decision to give the gift of life.
Nurses’ tireless efforts also helps Donor Alliance ensure a person’s lifesaving and healing gifts are received by transplant centers and tissue processors in a safe and timely manner.
To all nurses, Donor Alliance extends its heartfelt gratitude for honoring the gift of life each day. Without their partnership, Donor Alliance would not be able to facilitate organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming.
There are also other unsung heroes—the caregivers. They provide steadfast support to transplant recipients and living donors. They offer solace, advocacy, and love throughout the journey of donation and transplantation. Their strength in times of uncertainty is a testament to the power of compassion and caregiving.
How You Can Give the Gift of Life
In honor of National Nurses Week, there are ways you can provide support to those waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Currently, there are nearly 1,300 people in Colorado and Wyoming on the waitlist and more than 100,000 people nationally. Say “yes” to registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor the next time you obtain your driver license or state ID. You can also register today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. Once you register, you will receive the little heart with the Y on your license. That little heart has a big impact – one person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation.
As we celebrate and express gratitude for nurses and caregivers, let’s remember the essence of their work lies in caring for life. It’s a gift that transcends boundaries and transforms futures for those waiting for a lifesaving and healing transplant.
