Stories of Hope
Cody
When you say “Yes” to becoming an organ and tissue donor, you’re not just checking a box. You’re bridging hope from one life to the next. Cody, of Pueblo, Colo., is one of the many donor recipient stories in our community. In 2023, Cody felt like an “abutment” on that bridge of hope. After serious illness left him in desperate need of a liver transplant, in early 2024, Cody received the gift of life from a generous donor. Organ donation stories can help inspire the community to check the box at the DMV. That’s why Cody is now determined to share his story to help Coloradans understand the impact.
“When you make that decision to be a donor, you’re not only affecting one person’s life, you’re making a ripple effect through everyone they’re connected with, hundreds of lives,” said Cody. “It’s a ripple effect that your donation can offer to the community.” Liver donor stories, like Cody’s, show our community’s collective commitment to being “Rocky Mountain Strong.” Thanks to his generous donor and their family, Cody is enjoying his newly bought home with his fiancé (and their dog) and living each day to honor his donor’s precious gift.
“Statistically, I shouldn’t be here right now,” said Cody. “Something I think about every day is that that gift to me is a debt I can’t repay. So, I hope to be able to tell the donor’s family at some point that that gift is very much appreciated, more than I can express.”
More Stories
Dustyn
“He had a heart of gold. He would do anything for anybody,” recalls Laura, remembering her son Dustyn, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 30. Those who knew him best describe Dustyn as kind, warm, and endlessly generous. He had a deep love for animals and a spirit that made people feel […]
Katie
Loved ones of Katie Hankins, affectionately known as “Katie Bug,” remember her as a kind, vibrant soul who was always radiating love and joy. After Katie passed away in May of 2025, she became an organ donor, saving and healing many lives. Katie’s family describe her as a spirited dancer whose laughter filled every room […]
Micah
Micah was born in 2002 with cerebral palsy and faced many medical challenges from the start. Despite this, he lived a joyful and full life. “He was a great force; he was integrated into a typical classroom. He spread joy with children that he came in contact with. Everything he did, he just loved life,” […]