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

Mike Hargett

Faced with so many health problems, many people would have given up. But Mike has faced it with courage and determination. Now, with a donated heart, a donated kidney, and enthusiasm, he's moving forward.

Nancy Barbelli

After an airborne bacteria infected her right eye, "simple" tasks became impossible for Nancy. Thanks to a cornea donor, she now has her vision and her life back.

Nathan Westerlund

Today, Nathan is an enthusiastic husband, professional, volunteer, and board member thanks to the generosity of three liver donors and a kidney donor.

Kidney recipient Nelson Zepeda with his wife

Nelson Zepeda

Nelson's illness came suddenly and quickly led to a life of medications, restrictions, and dialysis. But now, because of the generosity of a donor, Nelson is living to encourage those still on the waiting list.

Norrine Smokey-Smith

Norrine is grateful for breath, life, and the ability to serve -- both the Donate Life community and the Native American community.

Phil Weitz Rsx for SOH

Phil Weitz

Phil, a retiree in Umatilla, is one of our most enthusiastic longtime volunteers. In December 2022, he will celebrate 10 years with the donated heart that saved his life – and almost as long volunteering for DLNW.

Rob Ayers

Today, Rob and Jen and their two children -- Lauren and Jonathan -- live life to the fullest. And it's all thanks to a generous donor!

Robby Holmes

After being shot and nearly losing an eye, Robby has a lot of reason to be angry or bitter. Instead, this cornea recipient lives his life with an attitude of gratitude, forgiveness, and perseverance.

Sarah Holtz

Kidney recipient, Sarah, is excitedly living her "best life." For her, that includes her family, her teaching career, volunteering for Donate Life Northwest, and being a regular blood donor.

Sarah Pearson

Sarah received a heart in 2014. And when she passed away just 2 years later, she gave a final gift -- the gift of sight.