Stories of Hope
Adilem
Adilem, from Colorado Springs, received a life-saving liver transplant when she was just six months old. Although she was born seemingly healthy, by two months old, her skin began to turn a deep yellow. After a liver biopsy and further tests doctors discovered her liver was failing. Despite undergoing a procedure called the Kasai surgery, it was unsuccessful, and Adilem was placed on the transplant waitlist.
Four months later, thanks to the selfless generosity of a donor family, Adilem received a new liver. This remarkable gift changed her life forever, allowing her to grow up strong, healthy, and full of joy.
“Every day, I think about Jack, the donor, and his parents. There are no words to express my gratitude; they gave my daughter the gift of life,” says Milagros Estrello, Adilem’s mother.
Adilem’s transplant gave her the chance to grow, laugh, and live fully, reminding us all of the priceless value of organ and tissue donation.
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,” […]