Chesterton native, Ball State University student awarded Indiana Donor Network Foundation educational scholarship
August 21, 2024
CHESTERTON, Ind. – Edith Estridge, 20, has been awarded a $6,500 educational scholarship from Indiana Donor Network Foundation.
She graduated in 2023 from Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Indiana. Estridge is currently attending Ball State University majoring in Japanese.
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Indiana Donor Network Foundation established its scholarship fund in 2005 to provide educational scholarships for immediate family members of Indiana residents who are organ and tissue donors in addition to living organ donors, organ transplant recipients, people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants and immediate family members of organ and tissue donors and transplant recipients.
Those selected as scholarship recipients often help raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation in saving and healing lives.
In the past five years, Indiana Donor Network Foundation has awarded $114,000 in educational scholarships, which are made possible each year thanks to the generosity of contributions made by Indiana Donor Network employees and the general public.
Other recipients this year included Martha Hunter of Carmel ($8,000), Katherine Gaff of Syracuse and Halle Mitchell of Jacksonville, Florida ($5,000 each) and Eric Casad of Terre Haute ($2,000).
In the essay portion of her application for the scholarship, Estridge shared her connection to organ donation.
As a high schooler, she had to endure witnessing her father’s transformation from a funny and involved father to a shell of the man he once was, his health failing and facing death.
Her father, Darren, was battling debilitating liver disease and finally diagnosed with late-stage cirrhosis.
Estridge’s father was placed on the national transplant waiting list but quickly elevated on the list when his condition deteriorated. After six months of waiting, a match was found. After successful transplant surgery and a few months of recovery in the hospital, he returned home.
“He immediately seemed to be so much better. Though there was still lots to improve on, he finally seemed a bit like the dad I once knew,” she said. “I’m so incredibly grateful he was able to receive his new liver and to his donor. My family is so thankful.
“Sometimes, a single organ donation can save more than just one life. Sometimes, it can save a whole family.”
Despite all the hardships her father’s condition caused during high school, Estridge maintained her high grades and graduated with honors. She began studying Japanese in eighth grade and credits her teachers and friends in her Japanese classes for helping her through her father’s ordeal.
“Throughout my years of taking Japanese, I have learned a lot – and not just the language,” Estridge said. “I’ve learned all humans have the capacity to form relationships regardless of where they are from or what language they grew up speaking. When going through a tough time like my family did, one of the best ways to cope is to have people who will look out for you. In the end, we’re all human and need to help each other out.”
Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeIndiana.org. Learn more about Indiana Donor Network.
Indiana Donor Network’s mission is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Its vision is to be a leader in organ and tissue recovery. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates donation in 85 of the state’s 92 counties and serves transplant hospitals throughout the U.S.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of nearly 400 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
About Indiana Donor Network Foundation
As a subsidiary of Indiana Donor Network, Indiana Donor Network Foundation enhances the lives of those touched by donation through education, innovation, caring and support. The Foundation raises funds through individual contributions, special events and sponsorships to support transplant recipients and the families of donor heroes. For more, visit Indiana Donor Network Foundation online.
Indiana Donor Network® and the Indiana Donor Network Foundation® are federally registered trademarks.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, tissue and cornea donation and transplantation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
