angel fund gala

The Reason Why: Angel Fund Gala

For those fortunate enough to receive an organ donated for transplant, they truly have been given the gift of life. Their goal is to stay focused on getting healthy again to honor that gift. The last thing they need to worry about is unexpected burdens that may rob them of their ability to maintain the health of that organ. For too many people, it’s a real possibility. Enter the Angel Read More »

writing to recipient

Writing to Transplant Recipients

The decision to write to transplant recipients is a personal one. As a donor family you may choose when you write to the recipients, if you choose to write to them at all. There is also a misconception that donor families and transplant recipients must wait the infamous “one-year” before writing to each other anonymously through Indiana Donor Network. Please know that there is no timeframe that specifies each party Read More »

Charles

In a Time of Tragedy, We Found Our Hero

About a year and a half ago, I lost my best friend and the father of my three beautiful children. He was only 31 at the time. We became boyfriend and girlfriend right out of high school. I went into nursing school and would come home from school with all kind of medical discussions. One of them donation. I told him that there was no way that I would donate Read More »

Fore Life Open

Driving Passion with Each Shot at the Fore Life Open

Each summer, we gather together our partners in donation at the Fore Life Open. We could not have ordered a more beautiful day on a more gorgeous course. Nearly 100 golfers played 18 holes at the impeccable Pete Dye course – The Bridgewater Club in Carmel. Golfers enjoyed a day on the links and raised significant funds to support good work at Indiana Donor Network, like scholarships for students who Read More »

young Bernadine

Supporting Families: No Matter the Outcome

I can’t say enough wonderful things about the fine people who manage or volunteer at Indiana Donor Network. They contacted me the night Mom, pictured above, died (almost 3 months ago) and asked if our family would consent to organ or tissue donation. After a quick consult with my six awesome siblings, the answer was a resounding “yes.” The folks from Indiana Donor Network could not have been more compassionate Read More »

advocacy

Mending Grief Through Advocacy

Volunteering for Indiana Donor Network as a grieving donor family member can mean much more than the act of the volunteer work itself. It oftentimes serves as a source of healing and comfort during a difficult time. Donor families choose advocacy through Indiana Donor Network as a way to help other donor families who have lost a loved one in addition to paying it forward and giving back.  Through advocacy Read More »

Gift of Life Celebration

We Remembered. We Paid Tribute. We Celebrated the Gift of Life.

After a week of rain and cold, the sun shined bright over the Indiana Landmarks Center, a restored Romanesque Revival-style church, making it the perfect day at the perfect venue to host donor families for a day of remembrance and celebration. On Saturday, April 8th, 44 Indiana Donor Network employees joined forces during National Donate Life Month at the Indiana Landmarks Center to volunteer their time for the Gift of Read More »

threads of compassion

“It’s my way of giving the families a hug…”

Sharron Clearwater of Indianapolis knew she wanted to find an opportunity to volunteer in the community. That’s why she reached for the phone in December 2013 when she saw Indiana Donor Network featured on a local television station. The news story was promoting Indiana Donor Network’s Threads of Compassion program, which provides comfort shawls to donor families at the time of their loved one’s organ, tissue or eye donation. Sharron Read More »

advocacy

Blog Spotlight: An Advocate Family

On Jan. 16, 2015, Indiana Donor Network entered our lives. Our 21-year-old son, Cody, was in the hospital and doctors said there was nothing else they could do to save him. That’s when our angels at Indiana Donor Network stepped in to give us support, resources and guidance in our darkest, life-changing moments. Cody made the decision to become a registered organ donor when he obtained his driver’s license. Our Read More »

Haleigh Mann

“Organ donation turned my tragedy into something beautiful…”

My name is Haleigh Mann. I am a senior, studying music education at Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. It is my hope to be a middle/high school band director after graduating in the spring. Organ donation is very near and dear to my heart and it is my hope that my story influences others to check the box and become an organ donor. On Jan. 7, 2013, my Read More »