Stories of Hope

Our goal at Donate Life Northwest is to educate and encourage people to sign up on their state donor registry. Why? To offer hope to the parents of an 11-year-old boy given six months to live unless he receives a heart transplant. To give grieving families the knowledge their loved one left a selfless legacy. To join in celebration of lives saved and sight and mobility restored because a person's decision to donate was known and honored at their time of death. Because organ, eye and tissue donation is about one human being offering the gift of life to another. Submit Your Story

Gary Lodge

At age 34, Gary’s life came to a sudden end when a blood clot lodged at the base of his brain. In the midst of a devastating loss, Brenda knew Gary wanted to be an organ, eye and tissue donor – he had a ‘D’ on his license.

Jay Salazar

Juan "Jay" Salazar's parents and three sisters miss him every day, but they say it's remembering that Jay gave the gift of life that gives them the courage to continue on.

Smiling Caucasian man with salt-and-pepper hair and goatee wearing sunglasses and a green t-shirt that reads "Keep Calm and Squatch On"

Jeff Simmons

Jeff was only 46 when he died of cardiac arrest. Because he said yes, he restored the sight of a 61-year-old woman.

Justin Boyce

While Justin left behind the memories of an active young man that brought smiles to his classmates and family, it was his legacy of being an organ donor that left the biggest impact.

Organ donor, Lily, a teenaged Hispanic girl with long, dark curly hair against a dark background

Lillian Rodriguez

Lillian "Lily" Rodriguez's death was unexpected and devastating, but her family finds some peace in knowing that she blessed others with the gift of life. 

Loren Leighton

Loren's death was sudden and unexpected, but he lives on through his kidney and liver donations. His wife and daughters also continue to share his lifesaving legacy.

Smiling young Caucasian man with short dark hair wearing a Portland Trailblazers cap

Mackenzie Hoover

When Mackenzie was just 16, he decided to register as a donor. Almost 10 years later, a tragic accident and brain injury led to him giving the gifts of life and sight.

Smiling teen girl with long, curly dark hair

Mandi Christensen

Mandi only lived on this earth for 16 years, but her years were good years – years full of faith, hope, and love that she freely shared with everyone around her.

Mark Phillips

Mark went to Louisiana seeking to give to those hit by Hurricane Katrina. Despite his tragic death, Mark was still able to give the gifts of sight, health, and mobility.

Nathan Cadwallader

Nathan became an organ donor at age 17, donating his liver and both kidneys. He will always be remembered for the lives he saved.