facebook
Stories of Hope: Turia Pitt
Australian Saved by United States Tissue Bank
Turia Pitt, an elite athlete, acclaimed speaker, author, mining engineer and former model recently visited Gift of Life Donor Program. Her visit was a remarkable triumph – one of many since Turia suffered burns over 65 percent of her body when a firestorm trapped her during an ultra-marathon in the Australian outback in 2011.
The Australian physicians struggling to save Turia knew she needed donor skin grafts, yet no donated skin was available at the time in Australia. Her doctors turned to Musculoskeletal Tissue Foundation (MTF), a leading U.S. tissue bank for help. The generosity of 16 Americans, including donors from Gift of Life Donor Program’s region, helped save Turia’s life.
Her amazing recovery has allowed her to reclaim her elite status as an athlete and complete the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. On January 2, she participated as a rider on the Donate Life America float in the Rose Parade, raising awareness about life-saving organ and tissue donation.
Turia is engaged to be married to her long-time partner Michael Hoskin, and is hoping to start a family soon.
Stories of Hope: Yvette
Yvette was diagnosed in 2001 with primary sclerosing cholangitis, this liver disease eventually put her on the transplant waiting list for over six years. While she waited, Yvette started volunteering in several organizations and enjoyed the work of educating her
Stories of Hope: Pastor Jum
Living near a hospital in his native country of Burma, Pastor “Jum” Maw San Awng remembers health professionals venturing into the streets to ask for blood donations for patients undergoing surgery and treatment inside the hospital. As someone with a
Stories of Hope: Masahiko “Mas” Sato
“A hero of mine is a 21-year-old girl who was willing to share her gift of life with me. A young girl whose name I do not know has allowed me to regain most of my strength. My family and